And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.
Parallel translations
- WEB He said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have done good to me, whereas I have done evil to you.
- BSB and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.
- NKJV Then he said to David: “You are more righteous than I; for you have rewarded me with good, whereas I have rewarded you with evil.
- NASB And he said to David, “You are more righteous than I; for you have dealt well with me, while I have dealt maliciously with you.
- NLT And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Saul confesses that David is more righteous than he, repaying good for evil. He openly admits David's innocence and his own wrongdoing.
Overview
Saul acknowledges the moral reversal at the heart of the story: David has returned good while Saul has returned evil. This admission from David's persecutor publicly vindicates David's integrity. The pattern of overcoming evil with good, which here disarms even an enemy king, finds its fullest expression in the gospel call to bless those who persecute us.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Matt 5:44But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
- 1 Sam 26:21Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.
- Gen 38:26And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
- Rom 12:20–21Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.
- Ps 37:6And he shall bring forth thy righteousness as the light, and thy judgment as the noonday.
- Exod 9:27And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.
- Matt 27:4Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 24:17 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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