1 Samuel 26:16
New International Version
What you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, you and your men must die, because you did not guard your master, the LORD’s anointed. Look around you. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were near his head?”

New Living Translation
This isn’t good at all! I swear by the LORD that you and your men deserve to die, because you failed to protect your master, the LORD’s anointed! Look around! Where are the king’s spear and the jug of water that were beside his head?”

English Standard Version
This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is and the jar of water that was at his head.”

Berean Standard Bible
This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”

King James Bible
This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

New King James Version
This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not guarded your master, the LORD’s anointed. And now see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”

New American Standard Bible
This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you undoubtedly must die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD’S anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head!”

NASB 1995
“This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you must surely die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD’S anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head.”

NASB 1977
“This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you must surely die, because you did not guard your lord, the LORD’s anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was at his head.”

Legacy Standard Bible
This thing that you have done is not good. As Yahweh lives, all of you must surely die because you did not keep watch over your lord, the anointed of Yahweh. So now, see where the king’s spear is and the jug of water that was at his head.”

Amplified Bible
This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you surely deserve to die, because you have not guarded your lord, the LORD’S anointed. And now, see where the king’s spear is, and the jug of water that was by his head.”

Christian Standard Bible
What you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die since you didn’t protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around; where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
What you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die since you didn’t protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around; where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?”

American Standard Version
This thing is not good that thou hast done. As Jehovah liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept watch over your lord, Jehovah's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.

Contemporary English Version
You're a complete failure! I swear by the living LORD that you and your men deserve to die for not protecting the LORD's chosen king. Look and see if you can find the king's spear and the water jar that were near his head."

English Revised Version
This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD'S anointed. And now, see, where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
What you've done isn't good. I solemnly swear, as the LORD lives, you are dead men. You didn't guard your master, the LORD's anointed king. Look at the king's spear and the jar of water that were near his head."

Good News Translation
You failed in your duty, Abner! I swear by the living LORD that all of you deserve to die, because you have not protected your master, whom the LORD made king. Look! Where is the king's spear? Where is the water jar that was right by his head?"

International Standard Version
This thing that you did is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, you who didn't guard your lord, the LORD's anointed. Where is the king's spear and where is the jug of water that was at his head?"

Majority Standard Bible
This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD?s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king?s spear and water jug that were by his head??

NET Bible
This failure on your part isn't good! As surely as the LORD lives, you people who have not protected your lord, the LORD's chosen one, are as good as dead! Now look where the king's spear and the jug of water that was by his head are!"

New Heart English Bible
This thing isn't good that you have done. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD's anointed. Now look, where is the king?s spear, and where is the jar of water that was by his head?"

Webster's Bible Translation
This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye are worthy to die, because ye have not kept your master the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

World English Bible
This thing isn’t good that you have done. As Yahweh lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, Yahweh’s anointed. Now see where the king’s spear is, and the jar of water that was at his head.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
This thing which you have done is not good; YHWH lives, but you [are] sons of death, in that you have not watched over your lord, over the anointed of YHWH; and now, see where the king’s spear [is], and the jug of water which [is] by his pillow.”

Young's Literal Translation
Not good is this thing which thou hast done; Jehovah liveth, but ye are sons of death, in that ye have not watched over your lord, over the anointed of Jehovah; and now, see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water which is at his bolster.'

Smith's Literal Translation
This word was not good which thou didst Jehovah lives for ye the sons of death, for ye watched not over your lord, over Jehovah's Messiah And now see where is the king's spear and the cruse of water which was at his head.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
This thing is not good, that thou hast done: as the Lord liveth, you are the sons of death, who have not kept your master, the Lord's anointed. And now where is the king's spear, and the cup of water, which was at his head?

Catholic Public Domain Version
This is not good, what you have done. As the Lord lives, you are sons of death, because you have not guarded your lord, the Christ of the Lord. Now therefore, where is the king’s spear, and where is the cup of water that was at his head?”

New American Bible
What you have done is not right. As the LORD lives, you people deserve death because you have not guarded your lord, the anointed of the LORD. Go, look: where are the king’s spear and the water jug that was at his head?”

New Revised Standard Version
This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD’s anointed. See now, where is the king’s spear, or the water jar that was at his head?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not guarded your master, the LORD'S anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the jug of water that was at his bedside.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
What you have done is not good! LORD JEHOVAH is living so that you are the sons of death, because you have not guarded your Lord the Anointed of LORD JEHOVAH! Now see where the scepterspear of the King is, and the jug of water that was beside him!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
This thing is not good that thou hast done. As the LORD liveth, ye deserve to die, because ye have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD'S anointed. And now, see, where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his head.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And this thing is not good which thou hast done. As the Lord lives, ye are worthy of death, ye who guard your lord the king, the anointed of the Lord: and now behold, I pray you, the spear of the king, and the cruse of water: where are the articles that should be at his head?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Reproves Abner
15So David said to Abner, “You are a man, aren’t you? And who in Israel is your equal? Why then did you not protect your lord the king when one of the people came to destroy him? 16This thing you have done is not good. As surely as the LORD lives, all of you deserve to die, since you did not protect your lord, the LORD’s anointed. Now look around. Where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?” 17Then Saul recognized David’s voice and asked, “Is that your voice, David my son?” “It is my voice, my lord and king,” David said.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 19:5
He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”

1 Samuel 24:6
So he said to his men, “The LORD forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the LORD’s anointed. May I never lift my hand against him, since he is the LORD’s anointed.”

1 Samuel 24:10
Behold, this day you have seen with your own eyes that the LORD delivered you into my hand in the cave. I was told to kill you, but I spared you and said, ‘I will not lift my hand against my lord, since he is the LORD’s anointed.’

2 Samuel 12:9
Why then have you despised the command of the LORD by doing evil in His sight? You put Uriah the Hittite to the sword and took his wife as your own. You have slain him with the sword of the Ammonites.

2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.

2 Samuel 16:9-10
Then Abishai son of Zeruiah said to the king, “Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? Let me go over and cut off his head!” / But the king replied, “What have I to do with you, O sons of Zeruiah? If he curses me because the LORD told him, ‘Curse David,’ who can ask, ‘Why did you do this?’”

2 Samuel 19:21-22
But Abishai son of Zeruiah said, “Shouldn’t Shimei be put to death for this, because he cursed the LORD’s anointed?” / And David replied, “Sons of Zeruiah, what have I to do with you, that you should be my adversaries today? Should any man be put to death in Israel today? Am I not indeed aware that today I am king over Israel?”

1 Kings 2:32
The LORD will bring his bloodshed back upon his own head, for without the knowledge of my father David he struck down two men more righteous and better than he when he put to the sword Abner son of Ner, commander of Israel’s army, and Amasa son of Jether, commander of Judah’s army.

1 Kings 2:44
The king also said, “You know in your heart all the evil that you did to my father David. Therefore the LORD will bring your evil back upon your head.

1 Chronicles 16:22
‘Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!’

Psalm 105:15
“Do not touch My anointed ones! Do no harm to My prophets!”

Matthew 26:52-54
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him. “For all who draw the sword will die by the sword. / Are you not aware that I can call on My Father, and He will at once put at My disposal more than twelve legions of angels? / But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen this way?”

Matthew 26:70-74
But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.” / When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” / And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!” ...

Mark 14:47
And one of the bystanders drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

Luke 22:49-51
Those around Jesus saw what was about to happen and said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” / And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. / But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And He touched the man’s ear and healed him.


Treasury of Scripture

This thing is not good that you have done. As the LORD lives, you are worthy to die, because you have not kept your master, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is, and the cruse of water that was at his bolster.

worthy to die [heb] the sons of death

1 Samuel 20:31
For as long as the son of Jesse liveth upon the ground, thou shalt not be established, nor thy kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for he shall surely die.

2 Samuel 12:5
And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:

2 Samuel 19:28
For all of my father's house were but dead men before my lord the king: yet didst thou set thy servant among them that did eat at thine own table. What right therefore have I yet to cry any more unto the king?

Lord's

1 Samuel 26:9,11
And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless? …

1 Samuel 24:6
And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.

Jump to Previous
Anointed Bolster Cruse Deserve Die Head Jar Kept King's LORD's Master Spear Surely Watch Water Worthy
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Anointed Bolster Cruse Deserve Die Head Jar Kept King's LORD's Master Spear Surely Watch Water Worthy
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














This thing you have done is not good
This phrase is a direct rebuke from David to Abner, Saul's military commander. The Hebrew word for "good" here is "טוֹב" (tov), which often denotes moral goodness or righteousness. David is highlighting the moral failure of Abner and his men in their duty to protect King Saul. In the broader biblical context, this underscores the importance of faithfulness and responsibility, especially in roles of leadership and protection.

As surely as the LORD lives
This oath invokes the living God as a witness to the truth of David's words. The Hebrew phrase "חַי־יְהוָה" (chai-YHWH) is a solemn declaration, emphasizing the seriousness of the situation. It reflects the deep reverence for God's eternal nature and His active presence in the affairs of men. This phrase is often used in the Old Testament to affirm the certainty and gravity of a statement.

you and your men deserve to die
David points out the severe consequences of failing to protect the king. The Hebrew concept of "deserving to die" (בְּנֵי־מָוֶת, b'nei-mavet) reflects the justice system of ancient Israel, where negligence, especially in matters of life and death, warranted severe punishment. This highlights the sacred duty of those entrusted with the safety of God's anointed.

because you did not protect your master
The word "protect" here is derived from the Hebrew "שָׁמַר" (shamar), meaning to guard or keep watch. This emphasizes the role of Abner and his men as guardians of the king. The failure to "shamar" their master is not just a lapse in duty but a breach of covenant loyalty, which was a foundational principle in Israelite society.

the LORD’s anointed
The term "anointed" (מָשִׁיחַ, mashiach) refers to someone consecrated by God for a special purpose, in this case, King Saul. This highlights the sacredness of Saul's position, despite his personal failings. The anointing signifies God's choice and blessing, and thus, any harm or neglect towards the anointed is seen as an affront to God Himself.

Now look around
David's command to "look around" is a call to awareness and reflection. It suggests a moment of realization and acknowledgment of the gravity of the situation. This phrase invites Abner and his men to see the evidence of their failure and to understand the implications of their actions.

where are the king’s spear and water jug that were by his head?
The spear and water jug are symbols of the king's authority and sustenance. Their absence is a tangible proof of the vulnerability of Saul and the negligence of his protectors. In the ancient Near Eastern context, a king's spear was a symbol of his power and protection, while the water jug represented life and provision. David's taking of these items without harm to Saul is a testament to his respect for God's anointed and his own integrity.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
This
הַזֶּה֮ (haz·zeh)
Article | Pronoun - masculine singular
Strong's 2088: This, that

thing
הַדָּבָ֣ר (had·dā·ḇār)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

you have done
עָשִׂיתָ֒ (‘ā·śî·ṯā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

is not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

good.
ט֞וֹב (ṭō·wḇ)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

As surely as the LORD
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

lives,
חַי־ (ḥay-)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2416: Alive, raw, fresh, strong, life

all of you
בְנֵי־ (ḇə·nê-)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1121: A son

deserve to die,
מָ֙וֶת֙ (mā·weṯ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4194: Death, the dead, their place, state, pestilence, ruin

since you
אַתֶּ֔ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

did not
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

protect
שְׁמַרְתֶּ֛ם (šə·mar·tem)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8104: To hedge about, guard, to protect, attend to

your lord,
אֲדֹנֵיכֶ֖ם (’ă·ḏō·nê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

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

anointed.
מְשִׁ֣יחַ (mə·šî·aḥ)
Adjective - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4899: Anointed, a consecrated person, the Messiah

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

look around.
רְאֵ֗ה (rə·’êh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

Where
אֵֽי־ (’ê-)
Interrogative
Strong's 335: Where?, how?

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

spear
חֲנִ֥ית (ḥă·nîṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 2595: A lance

and water
הַמַּ֖יִם (ham·ma·yim)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4325: Water, juice, urine, semen

jug
צַפַּ֥חַת (ṣap·pa·ḥaṯ)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 6835: A jar, jug

that
אֲשֶׁ֧ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

were by his head??
מְרַאֲשֹׁתָֽיו׃ (mə·ra·’ă·šō·ṯāw)
Noun - feminine plural construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4763: A place at the head, head place


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OT History: 1 Samuel 26:16 This thing isn't good that you have (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 26:15
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