Is this not David, of whom they sang to one another in dances, saying: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”
Parallel translations
- WEB Isn’t this David, of whom people sang to one another in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?’”
- KJV Is not this David, of whom they sang one to another in dances, saying, Saul slew his thousands, and David his ten thousands?
- BSB Is this not the David about whom they sing in their dances: ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands’?”
- NASB Is this not David, of whom they sing in the dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, And David his ten thousands’?”
- NLT Isn’t this the same David about whom the women of Israel sing in their dances, ‘Saul has killed his thousands, and David his ten thousands’?”
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
The princes recall the song celebrating David's slaughter of 'ten thousands.' His fame as Israel's champion fuels their distrust.
Overview
The commanders cite the famous refrain praising David's military exploits against the Philistines. Their memory of his reputation confirms why they cannot trust him in battle. The very song that once provoked Saul's jealousy now becomes the instrument of David's rescue from the Philistine campaign.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- 1 Sam 21:11The servants of Achish said to him, “Isn’t this David the king of the land? Didn’t they sing to one another about him in dances, saying, ‘Saul has slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?’”
- 1 Sam 18:6–7As they came, when David returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, the women came out of all the cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tambourines, with joy, and with instruments of music.
- Prov 27:14He who blesses his neighbor with a loud voice early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse by him.
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 29:5 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.