1 Samuel 24:12
in 1 Samuel 24May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
KJV
The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
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This verse in 1 Samuel 24
Commentary
4 notes on this verseThe Lord judge between me and thee,.... And make it appear who is in the right, and who in the wrong: and the Lord avenge me of thee; if he continued thus to persecute him: but mine hand shall not be upon thee; to kill thee, though it may be in my power again to do it, as it has been; but this I am determined upon, let me suffer what I will, I will not lay hands on thee to do thee any hurt, but leave thee with God to requite all the evil done to me by thee.
This site's exposition
May the LORD judge between you and me
on 1 Samuel 24:12-13
David hands his case to the LORD rather than his own hand: “May the LORD judge between you and me”. Clarke calls this the common refuge of the oppressed, who call on God as judge when no earthly court will hear them.
The record, by era
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
The Lord judge between me and thee - Appeals of this kind to God are the common refuge of the poor and oppressed people. So also among the Hindoos: God will judge between us. Mother Kalee will judge. Sometimes this springs from a consciousness of innocence, and sometimes from a desire of revenge.
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
He seems to have been naturally susceptible of strong, and, as in this instance, of good and grateful impressions. The improvement of his temper, indeed, was but transient--his language that of a man overwhelmed by the force of impetuous emotions and constrained to admire the conduct, and esteem the character, of one whom he hated and dreaded.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
My father, indeed see. Meaning, pay attention to the matter, and also see the evidence, for the corner of your robe is in my hand, and I could have killed you. 6 As easily as having cut off the corner of your robe.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
11 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט | yishpot | may he judge | H8199 → | 202 times |
| יְהוָה֙ | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| בֵּינִ֣י | beini | between me | H996 → | 407 times |
| וּבֵינֶ֔ךָ | uveinekha | and between you | H996 → | 407 times |
| וּנְקָמַ֥נִי | unekamani | and he will avenge me | H5358 → | 35 times |
| יְהוָ֖ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| מִמֶּ֑ךָּ | mimeka | from you | H4480 → | 1188 times |
| וְיָדִ֖י | veyadi | and hand my | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| לֹ֥א | lo' | not | H3808 → | 5168 times |
| תִֽהְיֶה־ | tihyeh- | it will be | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| בָּֽךְ׃ | bakh | on <the> you |
יִשְׁפֹּ֤טmay he judge
yishpotH8199 →202 times
יְהוָה֙Yahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
בֵּינִ֣יbetween me
beiniH996 →407 times
וּבֵינֶ֔ךָand between you
uveinekhaH996 →407 times
וּנְקָמַ֥נִיand he will avenge me
unekamaniH5358 →35 times
יְהוָ֖הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
מִמֶּ֑ךָּfrom you
mimekaH4480 →1188 times
וְיָדִ֖יand hand my
veyadiH3027 →1618 times
לֹ֥אnot
lo'H3808 →5168 times
תִֽהְיֶה־it will be
tihyeh-H1961 →3559 times
בָּֽךְ׃on <the> you
bakh
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Psalms 35:1Contend with my opponents, O LORD; fight against those who fight against me.
it leads to
- Psalms 43:1
Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; deliver me from deceitful and unjust men.
- Psalms 119:154
Defend my cause and redeem me; revive me according to Your word.
- Jeremiah 51:36
Therefore this is what the LORD says: “Behold, I will plead your case and take vengeance on your behalf; I will dry up her sea and make her springs run dry.
- Isaiah 49:25
Indeed, this is what the LORD says: “Even the captives of the mighty will be taken away, and the plunder of the tyrant will be retrieved; I will contend with those who contend with…
- Proverbs 23:11
for their Redeemer is strong; He will take up their case against you.
- Psalms 43:1
Through
1 Peter 2:23When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.
it leads to
- Isaiah 53:7
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so He did not…
- 1 Peter 4:19
So then, those who suffer according to God’s will should entrust their souls to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.
- Isaiah 53:7
Through
Psalms 43:1Vindicate me, O God, and plead my case against an ungodly nation; deliver me from deceitful and unjust men.
it leads to
- Psalms 7:8
The LORD judges the peoples; vindicate me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and integrity.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Psalms 7:8
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies5
About 1 Samuel
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763) and John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament.