1 Samuel 24:13
in 1 Samuel 24As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Out of the wicked cometh forth wickedness; but my hand shall not be upon thee.
KJV
As saith the proverb of the ancients, Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.
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This verse in 1 Samuel 24
Commentary
7 notes on this verseWickedness proceeded from the wicked - This proverb may be thus understood: He that does a wicked act, gives proof thereby that he is a wicked man. From him who is wicked, wickedness will proceed; he who is wicked will add one iniquity to another. Had I conspired to dethrone thee, I should have taken thy life when it was in my power, and thus added wickedness to wickedness.
This site's exposition
The Lord judge between me and thee
on 1 Samuel 24:12-13
David hands the case to heaven rather than to his own hand, the Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord avenge me of thee, but mine hand shall not be upon thee. Clarke compares the appeal to a wider human instinct, the common refuge of the poor and oppressed to call on God as judge when no earthly court will hear them. He backs it with a proverb already old in his own day, wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, and lets the maxim argue that a man who has spared his enemy twice is not the wicked man Saul's court has painted him.
This site's exposition
As the old proverb says
Henry notes that such sayings carried the wisdom of earlier generations, and this one was already old in David's day. Wesley applies it to the courtiers who called David wicked. The pledge that closes verse 12 is repeated word for word.
The record, by era
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Wickedness, &c. - That is, wicked men will do wicked actions, among which this is one, to kill their sovereign Lord and king; and therefore if I were so wicked a person as thy courtiers represent me, I should make no conscience of laying violent hands upon thee.
As saith the proverb of the ancients,....
The wisdom of the ancients is transmitted to posterity by their proverbial sayings. Many such we receive by tradition from our fathers; and the counsels of common persons are very much directed by this, "As the old saying is." Here is one that was in use in David's time: Wickedness proceedeth from the wicked, that is, 1.
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
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
On the verses either side of this one
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.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
As the ancient proverb says. The proverb of the Ancient One of the world. It may also mean ‘old proverb’ or it may refer to a ‘Kadmonite proverb,’ a nation mentioned in Bereishis:19. [referring to] the Torah, which is the proverb of the Holy One, Blessed is He.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| יֹאמַ֗ר | yomar | it says | H559 → | 5305 times |
| מְשַׁל֙ | meshal | [the] proverb of | H4912 → | |
| הַקַּדְמֹנִ֔י | hakadmoni | the ancient[s] | H6931 → | |
| מֵרְשָׁעִ֖ים | mereshaim | from wicked [people] | H7563 → | |
| יֵ֣צֵא | yetze' | it comes forth | H3318 → | 1067 times |
| רֶ֑שַׁע | resha' | wickedness | H7562 → | |
| 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 |
כַּאֲשֶׁ֣רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
יֹאמַ֗רit says
yomarH559 →5305 times
מְשַׁל֙[the] proverb of
meshalH4912 →
הַקַּדְמֹנִ֔יthe ancient[s]
hakadmoniH6931 →
מֵרְשָׁעִ֖יםfrom wicked [people]
mereshaimH7563 →
יֵ֣צֵאit comes forth
yetze'H3318 →1067 times
רֶ֑שַׁעwickedness
resha'H7562 →
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
7 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
Matthew 15:19For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, and slander.
it leads to
- Mark 7:21–23
For from within the hearts of men come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
- Galatians 5:19–21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery;
- Jeremiah 17:9
The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
- James 1:13–15
When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.
- Titus 3:2–6
to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.
- Mark 7:21–23
Through
Matthew 7:20So then, by their fruit you will recognize them.
it leads to
- Matthew 7:16
By their fruit you will recognize them. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
- Acts 5:38
So in the present case I advise you: Leave these men alone. Let them go! For if their purpose or endeavor is of human origin, it will fail.
- Matthew 7:16
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; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.