1 Samuel 23:21
1 Samuel 23:21 in Multiple Translations
“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.
And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
And Saul said, Blessed be ye of Jehovah; for ye have had compassion on me.
And Saul said, The Lord's blessing will be yours, for you have had pity on me.
“The Lord bless you for thinking about me,” Saul replied.
Then Saul said, Be ye blessed of the Lord: for ye haue had compassion on mee.
And Saul saith, 'Blessed [are] ye of Jehovah, for ye have pity on me;
Saul said, “You are blessed by the LORD, for you have had compassion on me.
And Saul said, Blessed be ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.
And Saul said: Blessed be ye of the Lord, for you have pitied my case.
Saul replied, “I hope/desire that Yahweh will bless you for telling that to me.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Samuel 23:21
BAB
Word Study
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
1 Samuel 23:21 Interlinear (Deep Study)
BIB
HEB
וַ/יֹּ֣אמֶר
שָׁא֔וּל
בְּרוּכִ֥ים
אַתֶּ֖ם
לַֽ/יהוָ֑ה
כִּ֥י
חֲמַלְתֶּ֖ם
עָלָֽ/י
וַ/יֹּ֣אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
to say
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
שָׁא֔וּל
Shâʼûwl
H7586
Shaul
N-proper
בְּרוּכִ֥ים
bârak
H1288
to bless
V-Qal-Inf-c
אַתֶּ֖ם
ʼattâh
H859
you(m.s.)
Pron
לַֽ/יהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
The Lord
Prep | N-proper
כִּ֥י
kîy
H3588
for
Conj
חֲמַלְתֶּ֖ם
châmal
H2550
to spare
V-Qal-Perf-2mp
עָלָֽ/י
ʻal
H5921
upon
Prep | Suff
Hebrew Word Study
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Samuel 23:21
וַ/יֹּ֣אמֶר
ʼâmar
H559
"to say"
Conj | V-Qal-ConsecImperf-3ms
This Hebrew word means to say or speak, and it's used in many different ways in the Bible. It can mean to command, promise, or think, and it's translated in the KJV as 'answer', 'appoint', or 'command'.
Definition: 1) to say, speak, utter 1a) (Qal) to say, to answer, to say in one's heart, to think, to command, to promise, to intend 1b) (Niphal) to be told, to be said, to be called 1c) (Hithpael) to boast, to act proudly 1d) (Hiphil) to avow, to avouch Aramaic equivalent: a.mar (אֲמַר "to say" H0560)
Usage: Occurs in 4337 OT verses. KJV: answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. See also: Genesis 1:3; Genesis 18:23; Genesis 25:32.
שָׁא֔וּל
Shâʼûwl
H7586
"Shaul"
N-proper
Shaul is a personal name meaning desired, given to several individuals in the Bible, including a Benjamite who became the first king of Israel and a Levite living during the time of the Divided Monarchy. He is mentioned in 1 Chronicles and 1 Samuel.
Definition: A man of the tribe of Levi living at the time of Divided Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Ch.6.24; son of: Uzziah (H5818H); father of: Elkanah (H0511I); also called Joel at 1Ch.6.36; Also named: yo.el (יוֹאֵל "Joel" H3100U) § Saul or Shaul = "desired" 1) a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the 1st king of Israel 2) an early king of Edom and a successor of Samlah 3) a son of Simeon 4) a Levite, son of Uzziah
Usage: Occurs in 335 OT verses. KJV: Saul, Shaul. See also: Genesis 36:37; 1 Samuel 16:22; 1 Samuel 24:5.
בְּרוּכִ֥ים
bârak
H1288
"to bless"
V-Qal-Inf-c
To bless means to praise or honor God, often by kneeling in worship. In the Bible, people bless God and God blesses people, showing favor and care for them, as seen in the story of Abraham and his descendants.
Definition: 1) to bless, kneel 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to kneel 1a2) to bless 1b) (Niphal) to be blessed, bless oneself 1c) (Piel) to bless 1d) (Pual) to be blessed, be adored 1e) (Hiphil) to cause to kneel 1f) (Hithpael) to bless oneself 2) (TWOT) to praise, salute, curse Aramaic equivalent: be.rakh (בְּרַךְ "to bless" H1289)
Usage: Occurs in 289 OT verses. KJV: [idiom] abundantly, [idiom] altogether, [idiom] at all, blaspheme, bless, congratulate, curse, [idiom] greatly, [idiom] indeed, kneel (down), praise, salute, [idiom] still, thank. See also: Genesis 1:22; Deuteronomy 24:19; Job 2:9.
אַתֶּ֖ם
ʼattâh
H859
"you(m.s.)"
Pron
You is the translation of a Hebrew word used to address someone directly, like when God says you to someone in the Bible. It can be singular or plural, and is often translated as thee, thou, or ye.
Definition: you (second pers. sing. masc.)
Usage: Occurs in 997 OT verses. KJV: thee, thou, ye, you. See also: Genesis 3:11; Exodus 23:9; Deuteronomy 14:1.
לַֽ/יהוָ֑ה
Yᵉhôvâh
H3068
"The Lord"
Prep | N-proper
Yehovah is another name for God, often translated as 'the Lord'. It is a national name for God in the Jewish faith. This name is used throughout the Old Testament.
Definition: Another name of ye.ru.sha.laim (יְרוּשָׁלִַ֫ם, יְרוּשְׁלֵם "Jerusalem" H3389)
Usage: Occurs in 5522 OT verses. KJV: Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה). See also: Genesis 2:4; Genesis 24:42; Exodus 8:8.
כִּ֥י
kîy
H3588
"for"
Conj
A conjunction used to show cause or connection, as in Genesis 2:23 where Adam says the woman is bone of his bone because she was taken out of him. It is often translated as 'for', 'because', or 'since'.
Definition: 1) that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since 1a) that 1a1) yea, indeed 1b) when (of time) 1b1) when, if, though (with a concessive force) 1c) because, since (causal connection) 1d) but (after negative) 1e) that if, for if, indeed if, for though, but if 1f) but rather, but 1g) except that 1h) only, nevertheless 1i) surely 1j) that is 1k) but if 1l) for though 1m) forasmuch as, for therefore
Usage: Occurs in 3910 OT verses. KJV: and, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + till, truly, + until, when, whether, while, whom, yea, yet. See also: Genesis 1:4; Genesis 26:16; Genesis 42:15.
חֲמַלְתֶּ֖ם
châmal
H2550
"to spare"
V-Qal-Perf-2mp
To spare or have pity is the meaning of this Hebrew verb, as seen in Genesis 43:14, where Joseph spares his brothers. It shows compassion and mercy towards others.
Definition: (Qal) to spare, pity, have compassion on
Usage: Occurs in 40 OT verses. KJV: have compassion, (have) pity, spare. See also: Exodus 2:6; Jeremiah 21:7; Proverbs 6:34.
עָלָֽ/י
ʻal
H5921
"upon"
Prep | Suff
This Hebrew word means on or above something, like a physical object or a situation. It can also imply a sense of responsibility or accountability, as in being on behalf of someone.
Definition: prep 1) upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against 1a) upon, on the ground of, on the basis of, on account of, because of, therefore, on behalf of, for the sake of, for, with, in spite of, notwithstanding, concerning, in the matter of, as regards 1b) above, beyond, over (of excess) 1c) above, over (of elevation or pre-eminence) 1d) upon, to, over to, unto, in addition to, together with, with (of addition) 1e) over (of suspension or extension) 1f) by, adjoining, next, at, over, around (of contiguity or proximity) 1g) down upon, upon, on, from, up upon, up to, towards, over towards, to, against (with verbs of motion) 1h) to (as a dative)
Usage: Occurs in 4493 OT verses. KJV: above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-) on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, [idiom] with. See also: Genesis 1:2; Genesis 24:13; Genesis 41:33.
Study Notes — 1 Samuel 23:21
Show Verse Quote Highlights
Context — Saul Pursues David
19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon?
20Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”
21“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.
22Please go and prepare further. Investigate and watch carefully where he goes and who has seen him there, for I am told that he is extremely cunning. 23Observe and find out all the places where he hides. Then come back to me with certainty, and I will go with you. If he is in the land, I will search him out among all the clans of Judah.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 22:8 | Is that why all of you have conspired against me? Not one of you told me that my own son had made a covenant with the son of Jesse. Not one of you has shown concern for me or revealed to me that my son has stirred up my own servant to lie in wait against me, as is the case today.” |
| 2 | Isaiah 66:5 | You who tremble at His word, hear the word of the LORD: “Your brothers who hate you and exclude you because of My name have said, ‘Let the LORD be glorified that we may see your joy!’ But they will be put to shame.” |
| 3 | Micah 3:11 | Her leaders judge for a bribe, her priests teach for a price, and her prophets practice divination for money. Yet they lean upon the LORD, saying, “Is not the LORD among us? No disaster can come upon us.” |
| 4 | Psalms 10:3 | For the wicked man boasts in the cravings of his heart; he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD. |
| 5 | Judges 17:2 | said to his mother, “The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse—I have the silver here with me; I took it.” Then his mother said, “Blessed be my son by the LORD!” |
1 Samuel 23:21 Summary
In this verse, Saul is saying thank you to the Ziphites for offering to help him capture David, but it's not entirely clear if he's being sincere. He's asking God to bless them, which is a kind thing to say, but his actions don't always match his words. This reminds us of the importance of being honest and having integrity in our actions and words, as seen in Proverbs 10:9. We can learn from this verse to be careful with our words and to make sure they line up with our actions, and to always seek to show kindness and compassion to those around us, just like Jesus taught us in Matthew 22:37-40.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Saul say 'May you be blessed by the LORD' to the Ziphites?
Saul said this because the Ziphites had shown compassion to him by offering to help him capture David, and he was expressing his gratitude and acknowledging God's blessing on them, as seen in Psalm 115:13-15 where it talks about God blessing those who fear Him.
What does it mean to have compassion on someone in the Bible?
Having compassion on someone in the Bible means to show kindness, care, and concern for their well-being, as seen in Matthew 9:36 where Jesus had compassion on the crowds, and in this verse, the Ziphites showed compassion to Saul by offering to help him.
Is Saul being sincere when he says 'May you be blessed by the LORD'?
It appears that Saul is being insincere, as he is trying to use the Ziphites to capture David, and his words may be more of a manipulation tactic, as seen in 1 Samuel 23:22-23 where he asks them to investigate and watch David's movements.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the chapter?
This verse is part of a larger narrative where Saul is trying to capture David, and the Ziphites are offering to help him, but it also shows the contrast between Saul's actions and his words, as he claims to be blessed by the LORD but is actually pursuing David out of jealousy and fear, as seen in 1 Samuel 18:8-9.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I can show compassion to those around me, just like the Ziphites showed compassion to Saul?
- How can I discern when someone's words are sincere or insincere, like Saul's words in this verse?
- What are some areas in my life where I may be seeking to manipulate others or use them for my own gain, like Saul is doing in this chapter?
- How can I cultivate a heart of gratitude and acknowledgement of God's blessing in my life, like Saul claims to have in this verse?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 23:21
And Saul said, blessed [be] ye of the Lord,.... He highly commends them for the offer they made to him, blesses God for them, and desires the blessing of God upon them for it: for ye have compassion
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 23:21
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:21
Whilst others harden their hearts against me, and join with David in his treasonable conspiracy, you show your pity to me by your readiness to help me.
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:21
1 Samuel 23:21 And Saul said, Blessed [be] ye of the LORD; for ye have compassion on me.Ver. 21. Blessed be ye of the Lord.] God was much in this hypocrite’ s mouth, but far from his reins: he abuseth that majestic and tremendous name of his, to palliate his cruel purpose of killing David. See the like done by those impudent hypocrites in Isaiah 66:5. But this blessing pronounced by Saul upon the Ziphites was not worth a button to them: nay, it came doubtless as a curse into their bowels, whilst thereby they were heartened and hardened in their sin. For ye have compassion on me.] A flatterer is ευιουςσφακτης, saith one; that is, a kind murderer: a cur-dog, saith another, that sucketh a man’ s blood only with licking.
Sermons on 1 Samuel 23:21
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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Isaiah Chapter 66 by Stephen Kaung | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the book of Isaiah and its message of redemption. He emphasizes that despite God's love for the children of Israel, they rebelled against Him |
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Pharisee and the Tax Collector by Ken Bailey | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the story of the Pharisee and the tax collector in the temple. He highlights nine points of comparison between the two characters, emphasizin |
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The Travail of the Soul by Denny Kenaston | In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of soul travail and how it doesn't fit into the materialistic society we live in. He uses the example of Jacob in Genesis 32, who |
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Spiritual Religion by Ian Murray | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of handling the word of God with sincerity and genuine love for scripture. He warns that simply preaching orthodox teachings d |
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Joy for the Cast-Out by C.H. Spurgeon | C.H. Spurgeon emphasizes the comfort and hope found in Isaiah 66:5 for those who have been wrongfully cast out by their peers due to their faithfulness to God. He acknowledges the |
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That They Much Dispose Persons With Their Mouths to Praise and Glorify God, Is No Sign by Jonathan Edwards | Jonathan Edwards discusses how the mere act of praising and glorifying God with our mouths is not a certain indicator of true religious affections, as even those without grace can |
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New Years' Address, January 1853 by J.C. Philpot | J.C. Philpot delivers a powerful sermon reflecting on the state of the church amidst worldly progress and material prosperity, questioning the lack of vital godliness and grace des |