1 Samuel 26:21
New International Version
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. Because you considered my life precious today, I will not try to harm you again. Surely I have acted like a fool and have been terribly wrong.”

New Living Translation
Then Saul confessed, “I have sinned. Come back home, my son, and I will no longer try to harm you, for you valued my life today. I have been a fool and very, very wrong.”

English Standard Version
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”

King James Bible
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

New King James Version
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David. For I will harm you no more, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Indeed I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.”

New American Standard Bible
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again since my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have made a very great mistake.”

NASB 1995
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error.”

NASB 1977
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Behold, I have played the fool and have committed a serious error.”

Amplified Bible
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will not harm you again because my life was precious in your sight this day. Hear me, I have played the fool and have done a very great wrong [to you].”

Christian Standard Bible
Saul responded, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Saul responded, “I have sinned. Come back, my son David, I will never harm you again because today you considered my life precious. I have been a fool! I’ve committed a grave error.”

American Standard Version
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Shaul said to David: “I have sinned! Return, my son, David, because I shall do no harm to you again, because you reverenced my life in your eyes today, behold, I have acted perversely and I have sinned very greatly!”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul said, I have sinned: turn, son David, for I will not hurt thee, because my life was precious in thine eyes; and to-day I have been foolish and have erred exceedingly.

Contemporary English Version
"David, you had the chance to kill me today. But you didn't. I was very wrong about you. It was a terrible mistake for me to try to kill you. I've acted like a fool, but I'll never try to harm you again. You're like a son to me, so please come back."

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul said: I have sinned, return, my son David, for I will no more do thee harm, because my life hath been precious in thy eyes this day: for it appeareth that I have done foolishly, and have been ignorant in very many things.

English Revised Version
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"My servant David," Saul said, "I have sinned. Come back. I will not harm you again, because you valued my life today. I've acted like a fool and made a terrible mistake."

Good News Translation
Saul answered, "I have done wrong. Come back, David, my son! I will never harm you again, because you have spared my life tonight. I have been a fool! I have done a terrible thing!"

International Standard Version
Then Saul said, "I've wronged you. Return, my son David, for I won't harm you again because my life was precious to you today. Look, I've acted foolishly and have made a very great mistake."

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said Saul: 'I have sinned; return, my son David; for I will no more do thee harm, because my life was precious in thine eyes this day; behold, I have played the fool and erred exceedingly.'

Literal Standard Version
And Saul says, “I have sinned; return, my son David, for I do evil to you no more, because that my soul has been precious in your eyes this day; behold, I have acted foolishly, and err very greatly.”

Majority Standard Bible
Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!”

New American Bible
Then Saul said: “I have done wrong. Come back, David, my son! I will not harm you again, because you considered my life precious today even though I have been a fool and have made a serious mistake.”

NET Bible
Saul replied, "I have sinned. Come back, my son David. I won't harm you, for you treated my life with value this day. I have behaved foolishly and have made a very terrible mistake!"

New Revised Standard Version
Then Saul said, “I have done wrong; come back, my son David, for I will never harm you again, because my life was precious in your sight today; I have been a fool, and have made a great mistake.”

New Heart English Bible
Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Look, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do thee harm, because my soul was precious in thy eyes this day: behold I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

World English Bible
Then Saul said, “I have sinned. Return, my son David; for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes today. Behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul saith, 'I have sinned; turn back, my son David, for I do evil to thee no more, because that my soul hath been precious in thine eyes this day; lo, I have acted foolishly, and do err very greatly.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul Acknowledges His Sin
21Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!” 22“Here is the king’s spear,” David answered. “Let one of the young men come over and get it.…

Cross References
Exodus 9:27
Then Pharaoh summoned Moses and Aaron. "This time I have sinned," he said. "The LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

1 Samuel 15:24
Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD's commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

1 Samuel 15:30
"I have sinned," Saul replied. "Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God."

1 Samuel 24:17
and said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.

1 Samuel 26:22
"Here is the king's spear," David answered. "Let one of the young men come over and get it.

Psalm 72:14
He will redeem them from oppression and violence, for their blood is precious in his sight.


Treasury of Scripture

Then said Saul, I have sinned: return, my son David: for I will no more do you harm, because my soul was precious in your eyes this day: behold, I have played the fool, and have erred exceedingly.

I have sinned

1 Samuel 15:24,30
And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice…

1 Samuel 24:17
And he said to David, Thou art more righteous than I: for thou hast rewarded me good, whereas I have rewarded thee evil.

Exodus 9:27
And Pharaoh sent, and called for Moses and Aaron, and said unto them, I have sinned this time: the LORD is righteous, and I and my people are wicked.

I will no

1 Samuel 27:4
And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.

my soul

1 Samuel 26:24
And, behold, as thy life was much set by this day in mine eyes, so let my life be much set by in the eyes of the LORD, and let him deliver me out of all tribulation.

1 Samuel 18:30
Then the princes of the Philistines went forth: and it came to pass, after they went forth, that David behaved himself more wisely than all the servants of Saul; so that his name was much set by.

Psalm 49:8
(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

Jump to Previous
Acted Committed Considered David Dear Erred Error Exceedingly Eyes Harm Life Played Precious Saul Serious Sight Sinned Soul Surely Today Try Wrong
Jump to Next
Acted Committed Considered David Dear Erred Error Exceedingly Eyes Harm Life Played Precious Saul Serious Sight Sinned Soul Surely Today Try Wrong
1 Samuel 26
1. Saul, by the discovery of the Ziphites, comes to Hachilah against David
4. David coming into the trench keeps Abishai from killing Saul,
11. but takes his spear and jug
13. David reproves Abner
17. and exhorts Saul
21. Saul acknowledges his sin














(21) I have played the fool.--There seems something more in these words of Saul than sorrow for the past. He seems to blame himself here, as the Dean of Canterbury well suggests, for putting himself again in David's power through overweening confidence in his own strength. He reproaches himself with the unguarded state of his camp, but he pledges himself to do no harm to David for the future. He even begs that he will return to his court. But in these words, and also in his blessing of David (1Samuel 26:25), there is a ring of falseness; and this was evidently the impression made on the outlaw, for he not only silently declined the royal overtures, but almost immediately removed from the dominions of Saul altogether, feeling that for him and his there was no longer any hope of security in the land of Israel so long as his foe, King Saul, lived.

Here the two whom Samuel had anointed as kings--the king who has forfeited his crown, and the king of the golden future--parted for ever. They never looked on each other's faces again; not even when the great warrior Saul by dead was his former friend able to take a farewell look at the face he once loved so well. The kindest services his faithful subjects of Jabesh Gilead could show to their king's dishonoured remains, for which they had risked their lives, was at once, with all solemnity and mourning, to burn the disfigured body, and to draw a veil of flame over the mutilated corpse of Saul.

Verse 21. - I have sinned. Saul's answer here is very different from that in 1 Samuel 24:17-21, where the main idea was wonder that David should with such magnanimity spare the life of an enemy so manifestly delivered into his hand. Here a sense of vexation seems uppermost, and of annoyance, not merely because his purpose was frustrated, but because his own military arrangements had been so unsoldierlike. I have played the fool. His first enterprise had ended in placing his life in David's power, and it was folly indeed a second time to repeat the attempt. But though the words of Saul convey the idea rather of vexation with himself than of sorrow for his maliciousness, yet in one point there is a sign of better things. He bids David return, evidently with reference to the grief expressed with such genuine feeling by David at being driven away from Jehovah's land. It was of course impossible, as Saul had given David's wife to another, and David had himself married two other women, but at least it expressed a right and kindly feeling.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Saul
שָׁא֨וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

replied,
וַיֹּאמֶר֩ (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“I have sinned.
חָטָ֜אתִי (ḥā·ṭā·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

Come back,
שׁ֣וּב (šūḇ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

David,
דָוִ֗ד (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

my son.
בְּנִֽי־ (bə·nî-)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

I will never
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

harm
אָרַ֤ע (’ā·ra‘)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7489: To spoil, to make, good for, nothing, bad

you
לְךָ֙ (lə·ḵā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

again,
ע֔וֹד (‘ō·wḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 5750: Iteration, continuance, again, repeatedly, still, more

because
תַּ֠חַת (ta·ḥaṯ)
Preposition
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

today
הַיּ֣וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

you considered
בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ (bə·‘ê·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

my life
נַפְשִׁ֛י (nap̄·šî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

precious.
יָקְרָ֥ה (yā·qə·rāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 3365: To be heavy, valuable, to make rare

I have played the fool!
הִסְכַּ֛לְתִּי (his·kal·tî)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5528: To be foolish or a fool

I have committed a grave
הַרְבֵּ֥ה (har·bêh)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 7235: To be or become much, many or great

error.”
וָאֶשְׁגֶּ֖ה (wā·’eš·geh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7686: To stray, to mistake, to transgress, to reel, be enraptured


Links
1 Samuel 26:21 NIV
1 Samuel 26:21 NLT
1 Samuel 26:21 ESV
1 Samuel 26:21 NASB
1 Samuel 26:21 KJV

1 Samuel 26:21 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 26:21 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 26:21 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 26:21 French Bible
1 Samuel 26:21 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 26:21 Then said Saul I have sinned: return (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 26:20
Top of Page
Top of Page