1 Samuel 21:14
◄  1 Samuel 21:14  ►
New International Version (©2011)
Achish said to his servants, "Look at the man! He is insane! Why bring him to me?

New Living Translation (©2007)
Finally, King Achish said to his men, "Must you bring me a madman?

English Standard Version (©2001)
Then Achish said to his servants, “Behold, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me?

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Then Achish said to his servants, "Behold, you see the man behaving as a madman. Why do you bring him to me?

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
"Look! You can see the man is crazy," Achish said to his servants. "Why did you bring him to me?

International Standard Version (©2012)
Achish told his officials, "Look, you see a person acting like a madman. Why'd you bring him to me?

NET Bible (©2006)
Achish said to his servants, "Look at this madman! Why did you bring him to me?

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Achish said to his officers, "Look at him! Don't you see [that he's] insane? Why bring him to me?

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, you see the man is mad: why then have you brought him to me?

American King James Version
Then said Achish to his servants, See, you see the man is mad: why then have you brought him to me?

American Standard Version
Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad; wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Achis said to his servants: You saw the man was mad: why have you brought him to me?

Darby Bible Translation
And Achish said to his servants, Behold, ye see the man is mad: why did ye bring him to me?

English Revised Version
Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Achish to his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: why then have ye brought him to me?

World English Bible
Then Achish said to his servants, "Look, you see the man is mad. Why then have you brought him to me?

Young's Literal Translation
And Achish saith unto his servants, 'Lo, ye see a man acting as a madman; why do ye bring him in unto me?

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

21:10-15 God's persecuted people have often found better usage from Philistines than from Israelites. David had reason to put confidence in Achish, yet he began to be afraid. His conduct was degrading, and discovered wavering in his faith and courage. The more simply we depend on God, and obey him, the more comfortably and surely we shall walk through this troublesome world.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 14, 15. - The man is mad. Achish supposes that David's madness was real, and "drove him away" (Psalm 34, title). Here we have only his contemptuous words, declaring that he had madmen enough of his own, and needed no more. As madmen were looked upon in old time as possessed by the Deity, and therefore as persons who must not be interfered with, they probably presumed upon the liberty granted them, and gave much annoyance. In my presence. Rather, "against me." Achish feared personal injury. Shall this fellow come into my house? A strong negative taking the form of a question. It means, David shall not enter into my service (comp. Psalm 34, title). The whole psalm bears witness to the deep perturbation of David's spirit, and helps to explain his strange conduct.

Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

Then said Achish to his servants, lo, you see the man is mad,.... Which he said, as willing his servants should think so, and therefore rather the object of their pity than of their rage and malice; or as really believing he was so, which he and they might conclude not merely from these his actions, before described, which they might judge real and not feigned; but they might suppose this was truly his case, brought upon him by the ill usage of Saul, who pursuing him from place to place, and sending after him to take away his life, had really brought him to distraction; and this they might rather conclude from his coming to Gath, an enemy's country, and whose champion he had slain, and many others of them; which it might be thought no man in his senses would have done:

wherefore then have ye brought him to me? for if he was brought to be employed in his service, he seemed very unfit for it, whether in the camp, or in the court; and if to be tried and condemned as an enemy, since he was a madman, he was rather to be pitied.

1 Samuel 21:14 Parallel Commentaries

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David Flees to Gath
…13And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard. 14Then said Achish to his servants, See, you see the man is mad: why then have you brought him to me? 15Have I need of mad men, that you have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?

1 Samuel 21:13 So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.
1 Samuel 21:15 Am I so short of madmen that you have to bring this fellow here to carry on like this in front of me? Must this man come into my house?"