1 Samuel 26:23

“YHWH will repay each man his righteousness and his faithfulness; for YHWH gave you into my hand today, but I was not willing to stretch out my hand against the anointed of YHWH.”

1 Samuel 26:23 · direct translation from the Hebrew
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23

1 Samuel 26:23, word by word

YHWHיהוָהyhva

YHWH

The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.

Where else “yhva” appears
will repayיָשִׁיבyashiv

bring back

To return something, restore.

Where else “yashiv” appears
each manאִישׁish

each

Literally "a man": any person; with "not", not a single person.

Where else “ish” appears
his righteousnessצִדְקָתtsidkat

righteous deeds

Doing what is just, upright deeds.

Where else “tsidkat” appears
and his faithfulnessאֱמֻנָתemunat

faithfulness

Being dependable, always keeping one's word, like YHWH.

Where else “emunat” appears
gave youנְתָנְnetan

hand over

To hand someone over to another's power, giving that one victory.

Where else “netan” appears
into my handיָדyad

power

Literally "the hand": the strength and control someone has.

Where else “yad” appears
todayיּוֹםyom

today

This very day in which one speaks, the present moment.

Where else “yom” appears
willingאָבִיתִיaviti

be willing, consent

Be willing, consent, agree to something; with "not", refuse.

Where else “aviti” appears
to stretch outשְׁלֹחַsheloach

stretch out

Literally "send the hand": move the arm toward something to take or strike it.

Where else “sheloach” appears
against the anointedמְשִׁיחַmeshiach

anointed

Anointed: someone on whom oil has been poured to set him apart for a task from God (priest, king). In Hebrew it is "mashiach", from which "Messiah" comes; in Greek, "Christ".

Where else “meshiach” appears

The context

22David answered and said, “Look, the king’s spear! Let one of the young men come over and get it.

23 · This verse (above)

24And look, as your life was great this day in my eyes, so may my life be great in the eyes of YHWH, and may he rescue me from all distress.”

Read all of 1 Samuel 26

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