1 Samuel 28 · Verse 2

1 Samuel 28:2

And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.
1 Samuel 28:2, King James Version

1 Samuel 28:2 in other translations

BSBDavid replied, “Then you will come to know what your servant can do.” “Very well,” said Achish. “I will make you my bodyguard for life.”
WEBDavid said to Achish, “Therefore you will know what your servant can do.” Achish said to David, “Therefore I will make you my bodyguard forever.”
ASVAnd David said to Achish, Therefore thou shalt know what thy servant will do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of my head for ever.
YLTAnd David saith unto Achish, ‘Therefore--thou dost know that which thy servant dost do.' And Achish saith unto David, ‘Therefore--keeper of my head I do appoint thee all the days.'
DARBYAnd David said to Achish, Thereby thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of my person for ever.
BBEAnd David said to Achish, You will see now what your servant will do. And Achish said to David, Then I will make you keeper of my head for ever.
WebsterAnd David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of my head for ever.

What does 1 Samuel 28:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do--This answer, while it seemed to express an apparent cheerfulness in agreeing to the proposal, contained a studied ambiguity--a wary and politic generality. Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever--or, "my life"; that is, "captain of my bodyguard," an office of great trust and high honor.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do - This was another equivocal answer; and could only be understood by his succeeding conduct. It might imply what he could do in favor of the Philistines against Israel; or in favor of Israel against the Philistines. Achish understood it in the former sense; and therefore he said to David, I will make thee keeper of my head for ever; i.e., Thou shalt be captain of my life-guards.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 28:1-6

David could not refuse Achish without danger. If he promised assistance, and then stood neuter, or went over to the Israelites, he would behave with ingratitude and treachery. If he fought against Israel, he would sin greatly. It seemed impossible that he should get out of this difficulty with a clear conscience; but his evasive answer, intended to gain time, was not consistent with the character of an Israelite…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 28:1-6 →

1 Samuel 28:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
דָּוִד֙da.VidDavidH1732
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אָכִ֔ישׁ'a.KhishAchishH397
לָכֵן֙la.Khen<to> thereforeH3651
אַתָּ֣ה'a.TahyouH859
תֵדַ֔עte.Da'you will knowH3045
אֵ֥ת'et<obj.>H853
אֲשֶׁר\־'a.Sher-[that] whichH834
יַעֲשֶׂ֖הya.'a.Sehhe will doH6213
עַבְדֶּ֑ךָ'av.De.khaservant yourH5650
וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אָכִישׁ֙'a.KhishAchishH397
אֶל\־'el-toH413
דָּוִ֔דda.VidDavidH1732
לָכֵ֗ןla.Khen<to> thereforeH3651
שֹׁמֵ֧רsho.Mera watchmanH8104
לְרֹאשִׁ֛יle.ro.Shiof head myH7218
אֲשִֽׂימְךָ֖'a.si.me.KhaI will make youH7760
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
הַיָּמִֽים\׃\ \פhai.ya.Mimthe daysH3117

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 28:2

  • Romans 12:9

    Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

  • 1 Samuel 27:10

    And Achish said, Whither have ye made a road to day? And David said, Against the south of Judah, and against the south of the Jerahmeelites, and against the south of the Kenites.

  • 2 Samuel 16:16-19

    And it came to pass, when Hushai the Archite, David’s friend, was come unto Absalom, that Hushai said unto Absalom, God save the king, God save the king. And Absalom said to Hushai, Is this thy kindness to thy friend? why wentest thou not with thy friend? And Hushai said unto Absalom, Nay; but whom the Lord, and this people, and all the men of Israel, choose, his will I be, and with him will I abide. And again, whom should I serve? should I not serve in the presence of his son? as I have served in thy father’s presence, so will I be in thy presence.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Surely.
27:10; 2Sa 16:16-19; Ro 12:9

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 28:1

    And it came to pass in those days, that the Philistines gathered their armies together for warfare, to fight with Israel. And Achish said unto David, Know thou assuredly, that thou shalt go out with me to battle, thou and thy men.

  • 1 Samuel 28:2

    And David said to Achish, Surely thou shalt know what thy servant can do. And Achish said to David, Therefore will I make thee keeper of mine head for ever.

  • 1 Samuel 28:3

    Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

Read all of 1 Samuel 28

1 Samuel 28:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y David respondió á Achîs: Sabrás pues lo que hará tu siervo. Y Achîs dijo á David: Por tanto te haré guarda de mi cabeza todos los días.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et David dit à Akish: Aussi tu sauras ce que ton serviteur fera. Et Akish dit à David: Aussi je t’établirai, pour toujours, gardien de ma personne.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und David sprach zu Achis: So sollst du denn auch erfahren, was dein Knecht tun wird. Und Achis sprach zu David: So will ich dich denn zum Hüter meines Hauptes setzen alle Tage.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixitque David ad Achis: Nunc scies quæ facturus est servus tuus. Et ait Achis ad David: Et ego custodem capitis mei ponam te cunctis diebus.