1 Samuel 29:4

“But the commanders of the Philistines were angry with him, and the commanders of the Philistines said to him, “Send back the man, and let him return to his place where you assigned him; he shall not go down with us into battle, so that he may not become to us an opponent in the battle. For with what could this fellow make himself acceptable to his lord? Would it not be with the heads of these men?”
1 Samuel 29:4 · direct translation from the Hebrew

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With the Hebrew beneath

But the commandersוַ שָׂרֵיof the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּיםwere angryיִּקְצְפוּwith him,עָלָיוand the commandersשָׂרֵיof the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּיםsaidוַיֹּאמְרוּto him,לוֹ“Send backהָשֵׁבthe man,הָאִישׁand let him returnוְיָשֹׁבtoאֶלhis placeמְקוֹמוֹwhereאֲשֶׁר שָׁםyou assigned him;הִפְקַדְתּוֹhe shall notוְלֹאgo downיֵרֵדwith usעִמָּנוּinto battle,בַּמִּלְחָמָהso that he may notוְלֹאbecomeיִהְיֶהto usלָּנוּan opponentלְשָׂטָןin the battle.בַּמִּלְחָמָהFor with whatוּבַמֶּהcould this fellowזֶהmake himself acceptableיִתְרַצֶּהtoאֶלhis lord?אֲדֹנָיוWould it notהֲלוֹאbe with the headsבְּרָאשֵׁיof theseהָהֵםmen?הָאֲנָשִׁים

1 Samuel 29:4, word by word

But the commandersשָׂרֵיsare

chief

Someone set over others, in the army or in the state.

Where else “sare” appears

of the Philistinesפְלִשְׁתִּיםfelishtim

Philistines

Philistines: a people that settled on the south-west coast of Canaan and was Israel's enemy in the days of the judges and of David.

Where else “felishtim” appears

were angryיִּקְצְפוּyiktsfu

be angry

Be angry, burst out in rage; provoke to anger.

Where else “yiktsfu” appears

saidיֹּאמְרוּyomru

say

To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.

Where else “yomru” appears

“Send backהָשֵׁבhashev

return

To go back to a place.

Where else “hashev” appears

the manאִישׁish

man

An adult male person; also each man of a people, a trade or a place.

Where else “ish” appears

his placeמְקוֹמmekom

place

A place, a spot.

Where else “mekom” appears

you assigned himהִפְקַדְתּhifkadt

appoint

To put someone in charge.

Where else “hifkadt” appears

go downיֵרֵדyered

go down

To go from a higher place to a lower one, like from the mountain to the valley.

Where else “yered” appears

into battleמִּלְחָמָהmilchama

war, battle

War, battle.

Where else “milchama” appears

becomeיִהְיֶהyihye

become

To turn into something new, or fall upon someone.

Where else “yihye” appears

an opponentשָׂטָןsatan

opponent

Someone who opposes or obstructs.

Where else “satan” appears

make himself acceptableיִתְרַצֶּהyitratse

take pleasure

To look on someone with pleasure.

Where else “yitratse” appears

his lordאֲדֹנָיadonay

lord

The one with authority over another; or a respectful title.

Where else “adonay” appears

be with the headsרָאשֵׁיrashe

head

The upper part of the body, where the face and hair are.

Where else “rashe” appears

Translation note

“Opponent” translates the Hebrew word satan used as a common noun: someone who stands in opposition (the same in Numbers 22:22).

The context

3The commanders of the Philistines said, “What are these Hebrews?” Achish said to the commanders of the Philistines, “Is this not David, the servant of Saul king of Israel, who has been with me these days, or these years? I have found nothing in him from the day he deserted to me until this day.”

4 · This verse (above)

5Is this not David, of whom they answered one another in the dances, saying, ‘Saul has struck his thousands, and David his myriads’?”

Read all of 1 Samuel 29

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