1 Samuel 24:12
New International Version
May the LORD judge between you and me. And may the LORD avenge the wrongs you have done to me, but my hand will not touch you.

New Living Translation
“May the LORD judge between us. Perhaps the LORD will punish you for what you are trying to do to me, but I will never harm you.

English Standard Version
May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.

Berean Standard Bible
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.

King James Bible
The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

New King James Version
Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.

New American Standard Bible
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you for me; but my hand shall not be against you.

NASB 1995
“May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.

NASB 1977
“May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.

Legacy Standard Bible
May Yahweh judge between you and me, and may Yahweh avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.

Amplified Bible
May the LORD judge between me and you; and may the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.

Christian Standard Bible
“May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you for me, but my hand will never be against you.

American Standard Version
Jehovah judge between me and thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.

Contemporary English Version
I'll let the LORD decide which one of us has done right. I pray that the LORD will punish you for what you're doing to me, but I won't do anything to you.

English Revised Version
The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but mine hand shall not be upon thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
May the LORD decide between you and me. May the LORD take revenge on you for what you did to me. However, I will not lay a hand on you.

Good News Translation
May the LORD judge which one of us is wrong! May he punish you for your action against me, for I will not harm you in the least.

International Standard Version
May the LORD judge between me and you, and may he take vengeance on you for me, but I won't be attacking you.

Majority Standard Bible
May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you.

NET Bible
May the LORD judge between the two of us, and may the LORD vindicate me over you, but my hand will not be against you.

New Heart English Bible
May the LORD judge between me and you, and may the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be on you.

Webster's Bible Translation
The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee.

World English Bible
May Yahweh judge between me and you, and may Yahweh avenge me of you; but my hand will not be on you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
YHWH judges between me and you, and YHWH has avenged me of you, and my hand is not on you;

Young's Literal Translation
'Jehovah doth judge between me and thee, and Jehovah hath avenged me of thee, and my hand is not on thee;

Smith's Literal Translation
And Jehovah will judge between me and between thee, and Jehovah avenge me of thee: and my hand shall not be upon thee.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord revenge me of thee: but my hand shall not be upon thee.

Catholic Public Domain Version
May the Lord judge between me and you. And may the Lord vindicate me from you. But my hand will not be against you.

New American Bible
May the LORD judge between me and you. May the LORD exact justice from you in my case. I shall not lay a hand on you.

New Revised Standard Version
May the LORD judge between me and you! May the LORD avenge me on you; but my hand shall not be against you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
May the LORD judge between me and you, and the LORD avenge me of you; but my hand shall not be against you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
LORD JEHOVAH shall judge between me and you, and LORD JEHOVAH shall avenge me by your hands, and my hand will not be against you
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
The LORD judge between me and thee, and the LORD avenge me of thee; but my hand shall not be upon thee.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
The Lord judge between me and thee, and the Lord requite thee on thyself: but my hand shall not be upon thee.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Spares Saul
11See, my father, look at the corner of your robe in my hand. For I cut it off, but I did not kill you. See and know that there is no evil or rebellion in my hands. I have not sinned against you, even though you are hunting me down to take my life. 12May the LORD judge between you and me, and may the LORD take vengeance on you, but my hand will never be against you. 13As the old proverb says, ‘Wickedness proceeds from the wicked.’ But my hand will never be against you.…

Cross References
Romans 12:19
Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

Matthew 5:39
But I tell you not to resist an evil person. If someone slaps you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also;

Proverbs 20:22
Do not say, “I will avenge this evil!” Wait on the LORD, and He will save you.

Deuteronomy 32:35
Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.”

1 Peter 3:9
Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

Matthew 7:1-2
“Do not judge, or you will be judged. / For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

James 4:12
There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Genesis 50:19
But Joseph replied, “Do not be afraid. Am I in the place of God?

Luke 6:27-29
But to those of you who will listen, I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, / bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. / If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. And if someone takes your cloak, do not withhold your tunic as well.

Proverbs 24:29
Do not say, “I will do to him as he has done to me; I will repay the man according to his work.”

Hebrews 10:30
For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

Leviticus 19:18
Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against any of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the LORD.

1 Thessalonians 5:15
Make sure that no one repays evil for evil. Always pursue what is good for one another and for all people.

Proverbs 25:21-22
If your enemy is hungry, give him food to eat, and if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. / For in so doing, you will heap burning coals on his head, and the LORD will reward you.

1 Peter 2:23
When they heaped abuse on Him, He did not retaliate; when He suffered, He made no threats, but entrusted Himself to Him who judges justly.


Treasury of Scripture

The LORD judge between me and you, and the LORD avenge me of you: but my hand shall not be on you.

Lord judge

1 Samuel 26:10,23
David said furthermore, As the LORD liveth, the LORD shall smite him; or his day shall come to die; or he shall descend into battle, and perish…

Genesis 16:5
And Sarai said unto Abram, My wrong be upon thee: I have given my maid into thy bosom; and when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her eyes: the LORD judge between me and thee.

Judges 11:27
Wherefore I have not sinned against thee, but thou doest me wrong to war against me: the LORD the Judge be judge this day between the children of Israel and the children of Ammon.

but mine hand

1 Samuel 26:11
The LORD forbid that I should stretch forth mine hand against the LORD'S anointed: but, I pray thee, take thou now the spear that is at his bolster, and the cruse of water, and let us go.

Jump to Previous
Avenge Avenged Hand Judge Lifted Rights Touch Wrongs
Jump to Next
Avenge Avenged Hand Judge Lifted Rights Touch Wrongs
1 Samuel 24
1. David, in a cave at En Gedi, spares his life
8. He shows thereby his innocence,
16. Saul, acknowledging his fault, takes an oath of David, and departs.














May the LORD judge
The Hebrew word for "judge" is "שָׁפַט" (shaphat), which means to govern, vindicate, or punish. In the context of ancient Israel, the role of a judge was not only to make legal decisions but also to act as a leader and deliverer. David is appealing to God as the ultimate authority and arbiter, recognizing that true justice comes from the Lord. This reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty and righteousness, acknowledging that human judgment is fallible, but God's judgment is perfect.

between you and me
This phrase indicates a personal and relational conflict. David and Saul's relationship was complex, marked by Saul's jealousy and David's loyalty. By invoking God as the judge between them, David is seeking divine intervention in a deeply personal matter. This highlights the biblical principle that God is intimately involved in human relationships and cares about justice and reconciliation between individuals.

and may the LORD avenge me
The Hebrew root for "avenge" is "נָקַם" (naqam), which means to take vengeance or to punish. David is expressing his desire for God to be the one who enacts justice on his behalf. This is significant because it shows David's restraint and his refusal to take matters into his own hands, despite having the opportunity to harm Saul. It underscores the biblical teaching that vengeance belongs to the Lord (Deuteronomy 32:35), and believers are called to trust God to right the wrongs done to them.

against you
This phrase acknowledges the adversarial nature of Saul's actions towards David. Saul's pursuit of David was unjust and driven by jealousy. By stating "against you," David is clearly identifying Saul as the aggressor. However, David's appeal to God for justice rather than seeking personal revenge demonstrates his commitment to righteousness and his respect for Saul's position as the Lord's anointed king.

but my hand will never be against you
David's declaration here is a powerful testament to his integrity and his commitment to non-violence against Saul. Despite being wronged, David chooses to honor God by not retaliating. This reflects the biblical principle of loving one's enemies and doing good to those who persecute you (Matthew 5:44). David's restraint is an example of godly character and trust in God's timing and justice. It serves as an inspiration for believers to respond to personal injustice with faith and integrity, leaving room for God's intervention.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
May the LORD
יְהוָה֙ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

judge
יִשְׁפֹּ֤ט (yiš·pōṭ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 8199: To judge, pronounce sentence, to vindicate, punish, to govern, to litigate

between you and me,
בֵּינִ֣י (bê·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

and may the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

take vengeance
וּנְקָמַ֥נִי (ū·nə·qā·ma·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 5358: To grudge, avenge, punish

on you,
מִמֶּ֑ךָּ (mim·me·kā)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

but my hand
וְיָדִ֖י (wə·yā·ḏî)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

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

be
תִֽהְיֶה־ (ṯih·yeh-)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

against you.
בָּֽךְ׃ (bāḵ)
Preposition | second person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew


Links
1 Samuel 24:12 NIV
1 Samuel 24:12 NLT
1 Samuel 24:12 ESV
1 Samuel 24:12 NASB
1 Samuel 24:12 KJV

1 Samuel 24:12 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 24:12 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 24:12 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 24:12 French Bible
1 Samuel 24:12 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 24:12 Yahweh judge between me and you (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 24:11
Top of Page
Top of Page