1 Samuel 29
The full text of 1 Samuel 29 in the Trinity Bible Version — clear modern English, translated from the original Hebrew. Free to read.
1 The Philistines gathered all their forces at Aphek, while Israel was camped by the spring that is in Jezreel.
2 The Philistine lords were passing in review by hundreds and by thousands, and David and his men were passing in review at the rear with Achish.
3 The Philistine commanders said, "What are these Hebrews doing here?" Achish said to the Philistine commanders, "Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days—or rather these years? I have found nothing wrong in him from the day he deserted to me until today."
4 But the Philistine commanders were angry with him, and they said to him, "Send the man back! Let him return to his place that you have assigned him. He must not go down with us into battle, or he may become our adversary in the battle. For how could this one reconcile himself to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of these men?
5 "Is this not David of whom they sang in their dances, saying, 'Saul struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands'?"
6 Achish called David and said to him, "As the LORD lives, you have been upright, and your going out and coming in with me in the camp has been good in my eyes. I have found nothing wrong in you from the day you came to me until today. But you are not pleasing in the eyes of the lords.
7 "Now return and go in peace, so that you do not do anything evil in the eyes of the Philistine lords."
8 David said to Achish, "But what have I done? What have you found in your servant from the day I came into your presence until today, that I may not go and fight against the enemies of my lord the king?"
9 Achish answered David, "I know that you are as good in my eyes as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the Philistine commanders have said, 'He must not go up with us into battle.'
10 "Now rise early in the morning—you and your lord's servants who came with you—and go to the place I have assigned you. Do not take to heart any worthless talk, for you have been good in my eyes. Rise early in the morning, and when you have light, go."
11 So David and his men rose early to depart in the morning, to return to the land of the Philistines. And the Philistines went up to Jezreel.
Translation notes (7)
- 1 Samuel 29:2a The Hebrew word s'ranim means 'lords,' which was the title for the five Philistine rulers.
- 1 Samuel 29:3a The Hebrew sarey P'lish'tim means 'commanders of the Philistines'; this term is distinct from s'ranim, meaning 'lords', in verse 2.
- 1 Samuel 29:4a The Hebrew le-satan means 'as an adversary' or 'accuser'; the commanders fear David will turn on them in the middle of the battle.
- 1 Samuel 29:6a Achish swears by the LORD (YHWH), which is unusual for a Philistine; this may be an accommodation to David's God or a common way of telling the story.
- 1 Samuel 29:8a David's protest is unclear: 'my lord the king' could refer to Achish or be intentionally vague, and 'enemies of my lord' is similarly unclear.
- 1 Samuel 29:9a The Hebrew ke-mal'akh 'elohim means 'like an angel' or 'messenger of God'.
- 1 Samuel 29:10a The Hebrew d'var beliyya'al means 'word of worthlessness'; this may refer to the commanders' insults.
About this translation
The Trinity Bible Version (TBV) is Trinity Bible's own translation of Scripture, made directly from the original Hebrew rather than revised from an older English Bible. Completed in 2026, it is the most modern English Bible translation available, and it is exclusive to Trinity Bible. Reading the TBV here on the web is free — the full study edition, with original-language tools and notes on every verse, lives in the Trinity Bible app.
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