1 Samuel 29 · Verse 8

1 Samuel 29:8

And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
1 Samuel 29:8, King James Version

1 Samuel 29:8 in other translations

BSB“But what have I done?” David replied. “What have you found against your servant, from the day I came to you until today, to keep me from going along to fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
WEBDavid said to Achish, “But what have I done? What have you found in your servant so long as I have been before you to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?”
ASVAnd David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been before thee unto this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
YLTAnd David saith unto Achish, ‘But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant from the day that I have been before thee till this day--that I go not in and have fought against the enemies of my lord the king?'
DARBYAnd David said to Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee to this day, that I should not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?
BBEAnd David said to Achish, But what have I done? what have you seen in your servant while I have been with you till this day, that I may not go and take up arms against those who are now making war on my lord the king?
WebsterAnd David said to Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant, so long as I have been with thee to this day, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king.

What does 1 Samuel 29:8 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 8 David said - what have I done? - Dr. Chandler and others may say what they will to make David act a consistent part in this business; but it is most evident, whatever his intentions might be as to the part he was to take in the approaching battle, he did intend to persuade Achish that he would fight against Israel; and affects to feel his reputation injured by not being permitted on this occasion to show his fidelity to the king of Gath. It was in the order of God's gracious providence that the Philistine lords refused to let David go with them to this battle. Had he gone, he had his choice of two sins - First, If he had fought for the Philistines, he would have fought against God and his country. Secondly If he had in the battle gone over to the Israelites, he would have deceived and become a traitor to the hospitable Achish. God, therefore, so ordered it in his mercy that he was not permitted to go to a battle in which he was sure to be disgraced, whatever side he took, or with what success soever he might be crowned.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 29:6-11

David scarcely ever had a greater deliverance than when dismissed from such insnaring service. God's people should always behave themselves so, as, if possible, to get the good word of all they have dealings with: and it is due to those who have acted well, to speak well of them.

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 29:6-11 →

1 Samuel 29:8 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.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
דָּוִ֜דda.VidDavidH1732
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אָכִ֗ישׁ'a.KhishAchishH397
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
מֶ֤הmehwhat?H4100
עָשִׂ֙יתִי֙'a.Si.tihave I doneH6213
וּמַה\־u.mah-and what?H4100
מָּצָ֣אתָma.Tza.tahave you foundH4672
בְעַבְדְּךָ֔ve.'av.de.Khain servant yourH5650
מִיּוֹם֙mi.yOmfrom [the] dayH3117
אֲשֶׁ֣ר'a.SherwhenH834
הָיִ֣יתִיha.Yi.tiI wasH1961
לְפָנֶ֔יךָle.fa.Nei.kha<to> before youH6440
עַ֖ד'aduntilH5704
הַיּ֣וֹםhai.Yomthe dayH3117
הַזֶּ֑הha.Zeh<the> thisH2088
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
לֹ֤אlo'notH3808
אָבוֹא֙'a.Vo'I will goH935
וְנִלְחַ֔מְתִּיve.nil.Cham.tiand I will fightH3898
בְּאֹיְבֵ֖יbe.'o.ye.Veiagainst [the] enemies ofH341
אֲדֹנִ֥י'a.do.Nilord myH113
הַמֶּֽלֶךְ\׃ha.Me.lekhthe kingH4428

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

Cross references for 1 Samuel 29:8

  • Psalms 34:13-14

    Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.

  • Matthew 6:13

    And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.

  • 1 Samuel 17:29

    And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?

  • 1 Samuel 12:3

    Behold, here I am: witness against me before the Lord, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

  • 1 Samuel 26:18

    And he said, Wherefore doth my lord thus pursue after his servant? for what have I done? or what evil is in mine hand?

  • 2 Samuel 16:18-19

    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.

  • 1 Samuel 20:8

    Therefore thou shalt deal kindly with thy servant; for thou hast brought thy servant into a covenant of the Lord with thee: notwithstanding, if there be in me iniquity, slay me thyself; for why shouldest thou bring me to thy father?

  • 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.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
But what have.
12:3; 17:29; 20:8; 26:18
with. Heb. before. that I may not.
28:2; 2Sa 16:18,19; Ps 34:13,14; Mt 6:13

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

Context

  • 1 Samuel 29:7

    Wherefore now return, and go in peace, that thou displease not the lords of the Philistines.

  • 1 Samuel 29:8

    And David said unto Achish, But what have I done? and what hast thou found in thy servant so long as I have been with thee unto this day, that I may not go fight against the enemies of my lord the king?

  • 1 Samuel 29:9

    And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.

Read all of 1 Samuel 29

1 Samuel 29:8 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y David respondió á Achîs: ¿Qué he hecho? ¿qué has hallado en tu siervo desde el día que estoy contigo hasta hoy, para que yo no vaya y pelee contra los enemigos de mi señor el rey?
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et David dit à Akish: Mais qu’ai-je fait? et qu’as-tu trouvé en ton serviteur, depuis le jour où j’ai été devant toi jusqu’à ce jour, pour que je ne puisse pas aller et combattre contre les ennemis du roi, mon seigneur?
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und David sprach zu Achis: Aber was habe ich getan, und was hast du an diesem Knechte gefunden von dem Tage an, da ich vor dir gewesen bin bis auf diesen Tag, daß ich nicht kommen und wider die Feinde meines Herrn, des Königs, streiten soll?
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Dixitque David ad Achis: Quid enim feci, et quid invenisti in me servo tuo, a die qua fui in conspectu tuo usque in diem hanc, ut non veniam et pugnem contra inimicos domini mei regis?