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Then Achish would say, “Where have you made a raid today?” And David would say, “Against the southern area of Judah, or against the southern area of the Jerahmeelites, or against the southern area of the Kenites.”
1 Samuel 27:10 · New King James Version
Parallel translations
  • WEB Achish said, “Against whom have you made a raid today?” David said, “Against the South of Judah, against the South of the Jerahmeelites, and against the South of the Kenites.”
  • KJV 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.
  • BSB who would ask him, “What have you raided today?” And David would reply, “The Negev of Judah,” or “The Negev of Jerahmeel,” or “The Negev of the Kenites.”
  • NASB Now Achish said, “Where did you carry out an attack today?” And David said, “Against the Negev of Judah, against the Negev of the Jerahmeelites, and against the Negev of the Kenites.”
  • NLT “Where did you make your raid today?” Achish would ask. And David would reply, “Against the south of Judah, the Jerahmeelites, and the Kenites.”

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

When Achish asks where he raided, David lies, claiming attacks on the southern regions of Judah and its allies. He deceives Achish into thinking he has turned against his own people.

Overview

David misleads Achish by naming Judah's own territories as his targets, hiding that he actually struck Israel's enemies. The deception secures Achish's trust but rests on falsehood. The episode honestly records David's compromised conduct, reminding readers that even God's chosen servants are flawed and in need of grace.

Cross-references & the web

Cross-references · 19

  • Judg 1:16The children of the Kenite, Moses’ brother-in-law, went up out of the city of palm trees with the children of Judah into the wilderness of Judah, which is in the south of Arad; and they went and lived with the people.
  • 1 Chr 2:9The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai.
  • 1 Chr 2:25The sons of Jerahmeel the firstborn of Hezron were Ram the firstborn, Bunah, Oren, Ozem, and Ahijah.
  • Gal 2:11–13But when Peter came to Antioch, I resisted him to his face, because he stood condemned.
  • Judg 4:11Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, even from the children of Hobab, Moses’ brother-in-law, and had pitched his tent as far as the oak in Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh.
  • 1 Sam 30:29to those who were in Racal, to those who were in the cities of the Jerahmeelites, to those who were in the cities of the Kenites,
  • 2 Sam 17:20Absalom’s servants came to the woman to the house; and they said, “Where are Ahimaaz and Jonathan?” The woman said to them, “They have gone over the brook of water.” When they had sought and could not find them, they returned to Jerusalem.
  • Prov 29:25The fear of man proves to be a snare, but whoever puts his trust in Yahweh is kept safe.
  • Eph 4:25Therefore putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.
  • Gen 27:24He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He said, “I am.”
  • Gen 27:19–20Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done what you asked me to do. Please arise, sit and eat of my venison, that your soul may bless me.”
  • Ps 119:29Keep me from the way of deceit. Grant me your law graciously!
  • Num 24:21He looked at the Kenite, and took up his parable, and said, “Your dwelling place is strong. Your nest is set in the rock.
  • Ps 119:163I hate and abhor falsehood. I love your law.
  • Judg 5:24“Jael shall be blessed above women, the wife of Heber the Kenite; blessed shall she be above women in the tent.
  • Josh 2:4–6The woman took the two men and hid them. Then she said, “Yes, the men came to me, but I didn’t know where they came from.
  • 1 Sam 15:6Saul said to the Kenites, “Go, depart, go down from among the Amalekites, lest I destroy you with them; for you showed kindness to all the children of Israel, when they came up out of Egypt.” So the Kenites departed from among the Amalekites.
  • 1 Sam 23:27But a messenger came to Saul, saying, “Hurry and come; for the Philistines have made a raid on the land!”
  • 1 Sam 21:2David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has commanded me to do something, and has said to me, ‘Let no one know anything about the business about which I send you, and what I have commanded you. I have sent the young men to a certain place.’

Themes, concepts, people & topics

Topics (4)

Resources, by level

Commentaries & study tools

  • VideoBibleProject — 1 Samuel videosBibleProject · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Free animated overview and word-study videos for this book.

  • VideoWatch teaching on 1 Samuel 27:10YouTube · Lay · Free

    Sermons and teaching on this passage from across YouTube.

  • CommentaryEnduring Word — verse-by-verseDavid Guzik · Lay · Free · evangelical

    Clear, readable, conservative exposition — the best free place to start on any passage.

  • CommentaryClassic commentaries for this verseBibleHub (20+ works) · Pastoral · Free

    Matthew Henry, Barnes, Gill, the Pulpit Commentary, Ellicott, Cambridge, and more — stacked on one page for this exact verse.

  • CommentaryMatthew Henry on 1 SamuelMatthew Henry · Pastoral · Free · evangelical

    The beloved Puritan exposition of this whole book — warm, devotional, and verse by verse (free, CCEL).

  • ReferenceInterlinear, lexicon & Strong'sBlue Letter Bible · Seminary · Free

    Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.

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 27:10 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

Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.