1 Samuel 21:11 net — The servants of Achish said to him,“Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one that they sing about when…

NET Bible

"The servants of Achish said to him,“Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one that they sing about when they dance, saying,‘Saul struck down his thousands, But David his tens of thousands’?”"

— 1 Samuel 21:11, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 21:11 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 21 — Context

8

David said to Ahimelech,“Is there no sword or spear here at your disposal? I don’t have my own sword or equipment in hand due to the urgency of the king’s instructions.”

9

David Goes to Gath The priest replied,“The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the valley of Elah, is wrapped in a garment behind the ephod. If you wish, take it for yourself. Other than that, there’s nothing here.” David said,“There’s nothing like it! Give it to me!”

10

So on that day David arose and fled from Saul. He went to King Achish of Gath.

11

The servants of Achish said to him,“Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one that they sing about when they dance, saying,‘Saul struck down his thousands, But David his tens of thousands’?”

12

David thought about what they said and was very afraid of King Achish of Gath.

13

He altered his behavior in their presence. Since he was in their power, he pretended to be insane, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting his saliva run down his beard.

14

Achish said to his servants,“Look at this madman! Why did you bring him to me?

1 Samuel 21:11 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 21:11 say?
1 Samuel 21:11 in the NET Bible reads: “The servants of Achish said to him,“Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one that they sing about when they dance, saying,‘Saul struck down his thousands, But David his tens of thousands’?””
Where is 1 Samuel 21:11 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 21:11 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 21, verse 11.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 21:11.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 21:11 in?
1 Samuel 21:11 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 21:11?
1 Samuel 21:11 reads (NET): “The servants of Achish said to him,“Isn’t this David, the king of the land? Isn’t he the one that they sing about when they dance, saying,‘Saul struck down his thousands, But David his tens of thousands’?”” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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