1 Samuel 21:13

KJV1611 – Modern English

And he changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be mad in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיָּ֧שֶׂם דָּוִ֛ד אֶת־הַדְּבָרִ֥ים הָאֵ֖לֶּה בִּלְבָב֑וֹ וַיִּרָ֣א מְאֹ֔ד מִפְּנֵ֖י אָכִ֥ישׁ מֶֽלֶךְ־גַּֽת׃

Transliteration

And wayyāśem Dāwid ʾet-the haddeḇārîm the hāʾēlleh in his bileḇāḇô and wayyîrāʾ exceedingly from face of ʾākîš melek-gat

Grammar Details

• *wayyāśem*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he placed/put
• *Dāwid*: proper noun, masculine singular - David
• *ʾet*: direct object marker
• *haddeḇārîm*: definite article + noun, masculine plural, absolute - the words/matters
• *hāʾēlleh*: definite article + demonstrative adjective, common plural - these
• *bileḇāḇô*: preposition + noun, masculine singular + 3rd masculine singular suffix - in his heart
• *wayyîrāʾ*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he feared
• *ʾākîš*: proper noun, masculine singular - Achish
• *melek*: noun, masculine singular construct - king of
• *gat*: proper noun - Gath

Word Meanings

• *wayyāśem*: put/placed/took note of/considered
• *haddeḇārîm*: the words/the matters/the things/the statements
• *bileḇāḇô*: in his heart/in his mind
• *wayyîrāʾ*: feared/was afraid/was terrified

Other Translations

• Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

  David took these words to heart and was very afraid of Achish king of Gath.

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and altered his countenaunce before them, and shewed himselfe as he had bene madd in their handes, and stackered towarde the dores of the gate, and his slauerynges ranne downe his beerd.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And hee changed his behauiour before them, and fayned him selfe mad in their handes, and scrabled on the doores of the gate, and let his spettel fall downe vpon his beard.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And he chaunged his speache before them, and fained him selfe mad in their handes, and scrabled on the doores of the gate, and let his spettell fall downe vpon his beard.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  He changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and changeth his behaviour before their eyes, and feigneth himself mad in their hand, and scribbleth on the doors of the gate, and letteth down his spittle unto his beard.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  So changing his behaviour before them, he made it seem as if he was off his head, hammering on the doors of the town, and letting the water from his mouth go down his chin.

• World English Bible (2000)

  He changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  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.

Referenced Verses

• Ps 34:1-9 : 1 I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall boast in the LORD: the humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together. 4 I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 They looked to him and were radiant: and their faces were not ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the LORD heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. 7 The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. 8 O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man who trusts in him. 9 O fear the LORD, you his saints: for there is no lack to those who fear him. 10 The young lions lack and suffer hunger: but those who seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. 11 Come, you children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. 12 Who is the man that desires life, and loves many days, that he may see good? 13 Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit. 14 Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. 15 The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their cry. 16 The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. 17 The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears them, and delivers them out of all their troubles. 18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart; and saves such as have a contrite spirit. 19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivers him out of them all. 20 He guards all his bones: not one of them is broken. 21 Evil shall slay the wicked: and those who hate the righteous shall be desolate. 22 The LORD redeems the soul of his servants: and none of those who trust in him shall be desolate.
• Prov 29:25 : 25 The fear of man brings a snare; but whoever puts his trust in the LORD shall be safe.
• Eccl 7:7 : 7 Surely oppression makes a wise man mad, and a bribe destroys the heart.