1 Samuel 23:20
New International Version
Now, Your Majesty, come down whenever it pleases you to do so, and we will be responsible for giving him into your hands.”

New Living Translation
Come down whenever you’re ready, O king, and we will catch him and hand him over to you!”

English Standard Version
Now come down, O king, according to all your heart’s desire to come down, and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.”

Berean Standard Bible
Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.”

King James Bible
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.

New King James Version
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king’s hand.”

New American Standard Bible
Now then, O king, come down, since you fully desire to do so; and our part shall be to hand him over to the king.”

NASB 1995
“Now then, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to do so; and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.”

NASB 1977
“Now then, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to do so; and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, O king, according to all the desire of your soul to come down, come down here; and our part shall be to surrender him into the king’s hand.”

Amplified Bible
Now then, O king, come down [to Ziph] in accordance with all your heart’s desire to do so [and capture him]; and our part shall be to hand him over to the king.”

Christian Standard Bible
So now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. As for us, we will be glad to hand him over to the king.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now, whenever the king wants to come down, let him come down. Our part will be to hand him over to the king.”

American Standard Version
Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him up into the king's hand.

Contemporary English Version
If you come, we will help you catch him."

English Revised Version
Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deriver him up into the king's hand.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Come, Your Majesty, whenever you want. We will hand him over to you."

Good News Translation
We know, Your Majesty, how much you want to capture him; so come to our territory, and we will make sure that you catch him."

International Standard Version
Now, your majesty, whenever you want to come down, come down, and our part will be to hand him over to the king."

Majority Standard Bible
Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.?

NET Bible
Now at your own discretion, O king, come down. Delivering him into the king's hand will be our responsibility."

New Heart English Bible
Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of your soul to come down. It will be our responsibility to deliver him up into the king's hand."

Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.

World English Bible
Now therefore, O king, come down. According to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part will be to deliver him up into the king’s hand.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, by all the desire of your soul, O king, to come down, come down, and ours [is] to shut him up into the hand of the king.”

Young's Literal Translation
And, now, by all the desire of thy soul, O king, to come down, come down, and ours is to shut him up into the hand of the king.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And now, according to all the desire of thy soul, O king, to come down, come down; and for us to shut him up into the hand of the king.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now therefore come down, as thy soul hath desired to come down: and it shall be our business to deliver him into the king's hands.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now therefore, if your soul has desired to descend, then descend. Then it will be for us to deliver him into the hands of the king.”

New American Bible
Therefore, whenever the king wishes to come down, let him do so. It will be our task to deliver him into the king’s hand.”

New Revised Standard Version
Now, O king, whenever you wish to come down, do so; and our part will be to surrender him into the king’s hand.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now therefore, come down against us according to all the desire of your soul, and we shall deliver him into the king's hand.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And now, according to all the desire of your soul, come down unto us and we shall deliver him into the hand of the King!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore, O king, come down, according to all the desire of thy soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him up into the king's hand.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now according to all the king's desire to come down, let him come down to us; they have shut him up into the hands of the king.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul Pursues David
19Then the Ziphites came up to Saul at Gibeah and said, “Is not David hiding among us in the strongholds at Horesh, on the hill of Hachilah south of Jeshimon? 20Now, O king, come down whenever your soul desires, and we will be responsible for delivering him into your hand.” 21“May you be blessed by the LORD,” replied Saul, “for you have had compassion on me.…

Cross References
Psalm 54:1-7
For the choirmaster. With stringed instruments. A Maskil of David. When the Ziphites went to Saul and said, “Is David not hiding among us?” Save me, O God, by Your name, and vindicate me by Your might! / Hear my prayer, O God; listen to the words of my mouth. / For strangers rise up against me, and ruthless men seek my life—men with no regard for God. Selah ...

Psalm 31:4
You free me from the net laid out for me, for You are my refuge.

Psalm 142:3
Although my spirit grows faint within me, You know my way. Along the path I travel they have hidden a snare for me.

Psalm 140:5
The proud hide a snare for me; the cords of their net are spread along the path, and lures are set out for me. Selah

Psalm 141:9
Keep me from the snares they have laid for me, and from the lures of evildoers.

Psalm 57:6
They spread a net for my feet; my soul was despondent. They dug a pit before me, but they themselves have fallen into it! Selah

Psalm 59:3
See how they lie in wait for me. Fierce men conspire against me for no transgression or sin of my own, O LORD.

Psalm 64:5
They hold fast to their evil purpose; they speak of hiding their snares. “Who will see them?” they say.

Psalm 35:7
For without cause they laid their net for me; without reason they dug a pit for my soul.

Psalm 38:12
Those who seek my life lay snares; those who wish me harm speak destruction, plotting deceit all day long.

Matthew 26:4
and they conspired to arrest Jesus covertly and kill Him.

John 11:53
So from that day on they plotted to kill Him.

Acts 23:12-15
When daylight came, the Jews formed a conspiracy and bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they had killed Paul. / More than forty of them were involved in this plot. / They went to the chief priests and elders and said, “We have bound ourselves with a solemn oath not to eat anything until we have killed Paul. ...

Acts 9:23-24
After many days had passed, the Jews conspired to kill him, / but Saul learned of their plot. Day and night they watched the city gates in order to kill him.

Acts 23:21
Do not let them persuade you, because more than forty men are waiting to ambush him. They have bound themselves with an oath not to eat or drink until they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”


Treasury of Scripture

Now therefore, O king, come down according to all the desire of your soul to come down; and our part shall be to deliver him into the king's hand.

all the desire

Deuteronomy 18:6
And if a Levite come from any of thy gates out of all Israel, where he sojourned, and come with all the desire of his mind unto the place which the LORD shall choose;

2 Samuel 3:21
And Abner said unto David, I will arise and go, and will gather all Israel unto my lord the king, that they may make a league with thee, and that thou mayest reign over all that thine heart desireth. And David sent Abner away; and he went in peace.

Psalm 112:10
The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

our part

1 Kings 21:11-14
And the men of his city, even the elders and the nobles who were the inhabitants in his city, did as Jezebel had sent unto them, and as it was written in the letters which she had sent unto them…

2 Kings 10:5-7
And he that was over the house, and he that was over the city, the elders also, and the bringers up of the children, sent to Jehu, saying, We are thy servants, and will do all that thou shalt bid us; we will not make any king: do thou that which is good in thine eyes…

Psalm 54:3
For strangers are risen up against me, and oppressors seek after my soul: they have not set God before them. Selah.

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1 Samuel 23
1. David, enquiring of the Lord by Abiathar, rescues Keilah
7. God showing him the coming of Saul, and the treachery of the Keilites,
13. he escapes from Keilah
14. In Ziph Jonathan comes and comforts him
19. The Ziphites discover him to Saul
25. At Maon he is rescued from Saul by the invasion of the Philistines
29. He dwells at En Gedi














Now, O king
This phrase acknowledges the authority and sovereignty of King Saul. In the Hebrew context, the word for "king" is "melek," which signifies not just a political leader but one who is divinely appointed. Saul, despite his failings, is still recognized as the anointed king of Israel. This reflects the biblical principle of respecting authority, as seen in Romans 13:1, where believers are called to submit to governing authorities.

come down
The phrase "come down" is a call to action, urging Saul to descend from his current location to where David is hiding. In the Hebrew, "yarad" is often used to describe a physical descent but can also imply a strategic move. This highlights the urgency and the tactical nature of the situation, as Saul is being invited to take decisive action against David.

whenever your soul desires
The Hebrew word for "soul" is "nephesh," which encompasses the whole being, including desires, emotions, and will. This phrase indicates that Saul's pursuit of David is driven by his innermost desires and personal vendetta. It underscores the depth of Saul's obsession with capturing David, which is a recurring theme in 1 Samuel.

and we will be responsible
This phrase shows the willingness of the Ziphites to take accountability for their actions. In the Hebrew context, responsibility is a significant concept, often tied to covenantal faithfulness. The Ziphites are essentially making a covenant with Saul, promising to deliver David into his hands. This reflects the broader biblical theme of loyalty and betrayal, as seen in the actions of Judas Iscariot in the New Testament.

for delivering him into your hands
The act of "delivering" in Hebrew is "nathan," which means to give or to place. This phrase indicates a transfer of control, as the Ziphites are offering to hand David over to Saul. The imagery of "into your hands" suggests complete power and authority over David's fate. This is reminiscent of the biblical theme of divine providence, where God ultimately controls the outcomes of human actions, as seen in Genesis 50:20, where Joseph acknowledges God's sovereignty in his circumstances.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now,
וְ֠עַתָּה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

O king,
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

come down
רֵ֑ד (rêḏ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

whenever
לְכָל־ (lə·ḵāl)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your soul
נַפְשְׁךָ֥ (nap̄·šə·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

desires,
אַוַּ֨ת (’aw·waṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 185: Longing

and we will be responsible
וְלָ֥נוּ (wə·lā·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's Hebrew

for delivering him
הַסְגִּיר֖וֹ (has·gî·rōw)
Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 5462: To shut up, to surrender

into your hands.”
בְּיַ֥ד (bə·yaḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand


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OT History: 1 Samuel 23:20 Now therefore O king come down according (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 23:19
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