1 Samuel 22:8 Meaning and Explanation
“That all of you have conspired against me, and there is none that sheweth me that my son hath made a league with the son of Jesse, and there is none of you that is sorry for me, or sheweth unto me that my son hath stirred up my servant against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Saul accuses everyone of conspiring against him and complains that no one pities him or warns him of his son Jonathan's covenant with David.
What Does 1 Samuel 22:8 Mean?
Saul pours out his suspicion. He charges his servants with conspiracy, bitterly noting that none told him of the covenant his son Jonathan made with David. He casts himself as the abandoned victim -- no one is 'sorry' for him -- and twists Jonathan's faithful friendship into treason and ambush.
This is the self-pity of a man who has shut out the truth. Saul cannot see that the conspiracy he dreads does not exist; the real division is between his own heart and God. He demands sympathy while spreading suspicion, and he names love itself a plot. Sin distorts perception until loyalty looks like betrayal and the innocent seem to be lying in wait. The cure is never found by accusing others, but by returning to the Lord who sees the heart truly.
1 Samuel 22:8 in the Original Language
qashar (קָשַׁר), 'conspired' -- to bind together, to plot in secret alliance -- the very fear that ruled Saul's imagination.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 22:8
What does 1 Samuel 22:8 mean?
Saul accuses everyone of conspiring against him and complains that no one pities him or warns him of his son Jonathan's covenant with David.