1 Samuel 23:4 Meaning and Explanation
“Then David enquired of the LORD yet again. And the LORD answered him and said, Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David inquires a second time, and the Lord reassures him with the promise of victory.
What Does 1 Samuel 23:4 Mean?
Faced with his men's fear, David does not argue or override them; he returns to the Lord and asks again. The second answer is fuller than the first, adding a promise: 'I will deliver the Philistines into thine hand.' Patience receives not rebuke but reassurance.
God meets honest hesitation with patient confirmation. He does not despise the second asking; He answers it with a stronger word. The deliverance is His to give -- 'I will deliver' -- so that the courage David's men lack can rest on God's pledge rather than their own nerve. Strength is found in the One who promises to act.
1 Samuel 23:4 in the Original Language
nathan (נָתַן), ''deliver'' -- to give or hand over, here God's pledge to place the enemy in David's grasp.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 23:4
What does 1 Samuel 23:4 mean?
David inquires a second time, and the Lord reassures him with the promise of victory.