1 Samuel 26:21 Meaning and Explanation
“Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Saul confesses his sin, calls David home, and admits he has acted as a fool and erred greatly.
What Does 1 Samuel 26:21 Mean?
Moved by David's mercy, Saul breaks into confession: I have sinned. He invites David to return, promises to harm him no more, and acknowledges that because his life was precious in David's eyes, he himself had played the fool and erred exceedingly.
The words sound like genuine repentance, and in the moment perhaps they are. Yet Saul's history warns that feeling sorrow is not the same as lasting change. Mercy received can soften the hardest heart for a season, and the kindness of the innocent has power to draw confession from the guilty. Whether such a moment ripens into true turning is the question every conscience must answer for itself.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 26:21
What does 1 Samuel 26:21 mean?
Saul confesses his sin, calls David home, and admits he has acted as a fool and erred greatly.