1 Samuel 24:3 web — He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his me…

World English Bible

"He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave."

— 1 Samuel 24:3, World English Bible

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1 Samuel 24:3 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 24 — Context

1

It happened, when Saul was returned from following the Philistines, that it was told him, saying, "Behold, David is in the wilderness of En Gedi."

2

Then Saul took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went to seek David and his men on the rocks of the wild goats.

3

He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.

4

The men of David said to him, "Behold, the day of which Yahweh said to you, 'Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose, and cut off the skirt of Saul's robe secretly.

5

It happened afterward, that David's heart struck him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

6

He said to his men, "Yahweh forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, Yahweh's anointed, to put forth my hand against him, since he is Yahweh's anointed."

1 Samuel 24:3 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 24:3 say?
1 Samuel 24:3 in the World English Bible reads: “He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.”
Where is 1 Samuel 24:3 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 24:3 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 24, verse 3.
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 24:3.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 24:3 in?
1 Samuel 24:3 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 24:3?
1 Samuel 24:3 reads (WEB): “He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.” 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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