Lectionary Calendar
Monday, July 14th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

1 Samuel 29:9

"I agree," said Achish. "You're a good man—as far as I'm concerned, God's angel! But the Philistine officers were emphatic: ‘He's not to go with us into battle.' So get an early start, you and the men who came with you. As soon as you have light enough to travel, go."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Angel (Holy Trinity);   Integrity;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Philistines, the;  

Dictionaries:

- Holman Bible Dictionary - Achish;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Disallow;   Esdraelon;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Achish;   Jezreel (2);  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Lords of the Philistines;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Achish answered David, “I’m convinced that you are as reliable as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘He must not go into battle with us.’
Hebrew Names Version
Akhish answered David, I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Pelishtim have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
King James Version
And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
Lexham English Bible
And Achish answered and said to David, "I know that you are good in my eyes, like an angel of God! However, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us into the battle.'
English Standard Version
And Achish answered David and said, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.'
New Century Version
Achish answered, "I know you are as good as an angel from God. But the Philistine commanders have said, ‘David must not go with us into battle.'
New English Translation
Achish replied to David, "I am convinced that you are as reliable as the angel of God! However, the leaders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us in the battle.'
Amplified Bible
Achish answered David, "I know that you are blameless in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us to the battle.'
New American Standard Bible
But Achish replied to David, "I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us into the battle.'
Geneva Bible (1587)
Achish then answered, and said to Dauid, I knowe thou pleasest mee, as an Angell of God: but the princes of the Philistims haue saide, Let him not goe vp with vs to battell.
Legacy Standard Bible
But Achish answered and said to David, "I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go up with us to the battle.'
Contemporary English Version
Achish said: I believe that you're as good as an angel of God, but our army commanders have decided that you can't fight in this battle.
Complete Jewish Bible
Akhish answered David, "I know that you are as good, from my point of view, as an angel of God. Nevertheless, the chiefs of the P'lishtim have said, ‘He is not to go up with us to the battlefield.'
Darby Translation
And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art acceptable to me, as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
Easy-to-Read Version
Achish answered, "I believe that you are a good man. You are like an angel from God. But the Philistine captains still say, ‘David can't go with us into battle.'
George Lamsa Translation
And Achish answered and said to David, I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; but the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go with us to the battle.
Good News Translation
"I agree," Achish replied. "I consider you as loyal as an angel of God. But the other kings have said that you can't go with us into battle.
Literal Translation
And Achish replied and said to David, I have known that you are good in my eyes, like an angel of God. But the rulers of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us into battle.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Achis answered and sayde vnto Dauid: I knowe well that thou pleasest myne eyes eue as an angell of God. But the prynces of ye Philistynes haue sayde: Let him not go vp with vs vnto the batayll.
American Standard Version
And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
Bible in Basic English
And Achish in answer said, It is true that in my eyes you are good, like an angel of God: but still, the rulers of the Philistines have said, He is not to go up with us to the fight.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Achis aunswered and sayd to Dauid: I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angell of God: Notwithstanding, the princes of the Philistines haue sayde, Let him not go vp with vs to battaile.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Achish answered and said to David: 'I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God; notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said: He shall not go up with us to the battle.
King James Version (1611)
And Achish answered, and said to Dauid, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an Angel of God: notwithstanding the Princes of the Philistines haue said, Hee shall not goe vp with vs to the battell.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Anchus answered David, I know that thou art good in my eyes, but the lords of the Philistines say, He shall not come with us to the war.
English Revised Version
And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
Berean Standard Bible
Achish replied, "I know that you are as pleasing in my sight as an angel of God. But the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go into battle with us.'
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Achis answeride, and spak to Dauid, Y woot that thou art good, and as the aungel of God in my iyen; but the princes of Filisteis seyden, He schal not stie with vs in to batel.
Young's Literal Translation
And Achish answereth and saith unto David, `I have known that thou [art] good in mine eyes as a messenger of God; only, the princes of the Philistines have said, He doth not go up with us into battle;
Update Bible Version
And Achish answered and said to David, I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Achish answered and said to David, I know that thou [art] good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding, the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
World English Bible
Achish answered David, I know that you are good in my sight, as an angel of God: notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, He shall not go up with us to the battle.
New King James Version
Then Achish answered and said to David, "I know that you are as good in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the princes of the Philistines have said, "He shall not go up with us to the battle.'
New Living Translation
But Achish insisted, "As far as I'm concerned, you're as perfect as an angel of God. But the Philistine commanders are afraid to have you with them in the battle.
New Life Bible
Achish answered David, "I know that you are pleasing in my eyes, like an angel of God. But the captains of the Philistines have said, ‘He must not go with us to the battle.'
New Revised Standard
Achish replied to David, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless, the commanders of the Philistines have said, ‘He shall not go up with us to the battle.'
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then answered Achish, and said unto David, I acknowledge that, pleasing, thou art in mine eyes, as a messenger of God, - notwithstanding, the princes of the Philistines, have said, He shall not go up with us, into the battle.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Achis answering, said to David: I know that thou art good in my sight, as an angel of God: But the princes of the Philistines have said: He shall not go up with us to the battle.
Revised Standard Version
And A'chish made answer to David, "I know that you are as blameless in my sight as an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He shall not go up with us to the battle.'
New American Standard Bible (1995)
But Achish replied to David, "I know that you are pleasing in my sight, like an angel of God; nevertheless the commanders of the Philistines have said, 'He must not go up with us to the battle.'

Contextual Overview

6So Achish had to send for David and tell him, "As God lives, you've been a trusty ally—excellent in all the ways you have worked with me, beyond reproach in the ways you have conducted yourself. But the warlords don't see it that way. So it's best that you leave peacefully, now. It's not worth it, displeasing the Philistine warlords." 8 "But what have I done?" said David. "Have you had a single cause for complaint from the day I joined up with you until now? Why can't I fight against the enemies of my master the king?" 9"I agree," said Achish. "You're a good man—as far as I'm concerned, God's angel! But the Philistine officers were emphatic: ‘He's not to go with us into battle.' So get an early start, you and the men who came with you. As soon as you have light enough to travel, go." 11 David rose early, he and his men, and by daybreak they were on their way back to Philistine country. The Philistines went on to Jezreel.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

as an angel: 2 Samuel 14:17, 2 Samuel 14:20, 2 Samuel 19:27, Galatians 4:14

the princes: 1 Samuel 29:4

Reciprocal: 1 Chronicles 19:3 - but the princes Jeremiah 38:5 - for

Cross-References

Genesis 24:15
It so happened that the words were barely out of his mouth when Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel whose mother was Milcah the wife of Nahor, Abraham's brother, came out with a water jug on her shoulder. The girl was stunningly beautiful, a pure virgin. She went down to the spring, filled her jug, and came back up. The servant ran to meet her and said, "Please, can I have a sip of water from your jug?"
Genesis 29:7
Jacob said, "There's a lot of daylight still left; it isn't time to round up the sheep yet, is it? So why not water the flocks and go back to grazing?"
Genesis 29:8
"We can't," they said. "Not until all the shepherds get here. It takes all of us to roll the stone from the well. Not until then can we water the flocks."
Genesis 29:16
Now Laban had two daughters; Leah was the older and Rachel the younger. Leah had nice eyes, but Rachel was stunningly beautiful. And it was Rachel that Jacob loved. So Jacob answered, "I will work for you seven years for your younger daughter Rachel."
Exodus 2:21
Moses agreed to settle down there with the man, who then gave his daughter Zipporah (Bird) to him for his wife. She had a son, and Moses named him Gershom (Sojourner), saying, "I'm a sojourner in a foreign country."

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Achish answered and said unto David,.... In reply to the questions:

I know that thou [art] good in my sight as an angel of God: for his great wisdom, and graceful behaviour, and inoffensive carriage:

notwithstanding the princes of the Philistines have said, he shall not go up with us to the battle; though Achish had so good an opinion of him, and had declared it in council, yet an order had passed there that he should not go to battle with them; there were but five of them, and Achish was one of the five, so that there were four to one for the dismissing him; and Achish, though a king, was obliged to submit.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 29:9. As an angel of God — There is some reason to think that Achish had actually embraced or was favourably disposed towards the Jewish religion. He speaks here of the angels of God, as a Jew might be expected to speak; and in 1 Samuel 29:6 he appeals to, and swears by Jehovah; which, perhaps, no Philistine ever did. It is possible that he might have learned many important truths from David, during the time he sojourned with him.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile