1 Samuel 26:23 Meaning and Explanation
“The LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered thee into my hand to day, but I would not stretch forth mine hand against the LORD’s anointed.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David asks the Lord to repay each person according to their righteousness, noting that he spared Saul though God had delivered him into his hand.
What Does 1 Samuel 26:23 Mean?
David commits the whole matter to God's justice: the LORD render to every man his righteousness and his faithfulness. He affirms that God had indeed placed Saul in his power, yet he would not raise his hand against the Lord's anointed.
David trusts that God sees and rewards faithfulness, and so he need not vindicate himself by force. He has done right and leaves the reckoning to heaven. This is the freedom of those who fear God more than men: they can act justly without grasping for their own reward, confident that the righteous Judge of all will render to each exactly what is due.
1 Samuel 26:23 in the Original Language
tsedaqah (צְדָקָה), 'righteousness' -- right standing and conduct that God Himself sees and repays.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 26:23
What does 1 Samuel 26:23 mean?
David asks the Lord to repay each person according to their righteousness, noting that he spared Saul though God had delivered him into his hand.