1 Samuel 21:13 net — He altered his behavior in their presence. Since he was in their power, he pretended to be insane, making marks on the…

NET Bible

"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."

— 1 Samuel 21:13, NET Bible

Read in Another Translation

5 of 21 translations

1 Samuel 21:13 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

1 Samuel 21 — Context

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?

15

Do I have a shortage of fools, that you have brought me this man to display his insanity in front of me? Should this man enter my house?”

1 Samuel 21:13 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 21:13 say?
1 Samuel 21:13 in the NET Bible reads: “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.”
Where is 1 Samuel 21:13 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 21:13 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 21, verse 13.
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 21:13.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 21:13 in?
1 Samuel 21:13 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 21:13?
1 Samuel 21:13 reads (NET): “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.” 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.
GodsGoodBook logo

GodsGoodBook

Making God's Word accessible to everyone

Experience the Bible like never before with multiple translations, powerful search tools, and features to make God's Word personal to you. Completely free, forever.

Features

15+ Bible Translations
Powerful Search Tools
Highlight & Annotate
Share Verses
100% Free Forever
© 2025 GodsGoodBookVersion 1.8.2