1 Samuel 26:9 Meaning and Explanation
“And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD’s anointed, and be guiltless?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →David forbids the killing, asking who could lift his hand against the Lord's anointed and remain innocent.
What Does 1 Samuel 26:9 Mean?
David's answer is immediate and absolute: Destroy him not. He grounds his refusal not in affection for Saul but in reverence, asking who could strike the Lord's anointed and stand guiltless before God.
David honors the office even while its holder seeks his life, refusing to repay evil with evil. He leaves judgment in God's hands rather than seizing it for himself. This is the heart that the Son of David would perfect, who, when reviled, reviled not again, but committed himself to the One who judges righteously. True faith trusts God to set right what we are forbidden to avenge.
1 Samuel 26:9 in the Original Language
mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ), 'anointed one' -- the title behind 'Messiah,' marking one set apart by sacred anointing.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 26:9
What does 1 Samuel 26:9 mean?
David forbids the killing, asking who could lift his hand against the Lord's anointed and remain innocent.