1 Samuel 26:25
New International Version
Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, David my son; you will do great things and surely triumph.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

New Living Translation
And Saul said to David, “Blessings on you, my son David. You will do many heroic deeds, and you will surely succeed.” Then David went away, and Saul returned home.

English Standard Version
Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Berean Standard Bible
Saul said to him, “May you be blessed, David my son. You will accomplish great things and will surely prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

King James Bible
Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

New King James Version
Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David! You shall both do great things and also still prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

New American Standard Bible
Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and assuredly prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

NASB 1995
Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

NASB 1977
Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul said to David, “Blessed are you, my son David; you will both accomplish much and surely prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Amplified Bible
Then Saul said to David, “May you be blessed, my son David; you will both accomplish much and certainly prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Christian Standard Bible
Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.” Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Saul said to him, “You are blessed, my son David. You will certainly do great things and will also prevail.” Then David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

American Standard Version
Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do mightily, and shalt surely prevail. So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Contemporary English Version
"David, my son, I pray that the Lord will bless you and make you successful!" Saul went back home. David also left,

English Revised Version
Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do mightily, and shalt surely prevail. So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Saul said, "Blessed are you, my servant David. You will accomplish many things and certainly will succeed." So David went his way, while Saul returned home.

Good News Translation
Saul said to David, "God bless you, my son! You will succeed in everything you do!" So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

International Standard Version
Saul told David, "Blessed are you, my son David. In whatever you do you will surely succeed." So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Majority Standard Bible
Saul said to him, ?May you be blessed, David my son. You will accomplish great things and will surely prevail.? So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

NET Bible
Saul replied to David, "May you be rewarded, my son David! You will without question be successful!" So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

New Heart English Bible
Then Saul said to David, "You are blessed, my son. You will accomplish much, and will surely be successful." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son David: thou shalt both do great things, and also shalt still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

World English Bible
Then Saul said to David, “You are blessed, my son David. You will both do mightily, and will surely prevail.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul says to David, “Blessed [are] you, my son David, also working you work, and also prevailing you prevail.” And David goes on his way, and Saul has turned back to his place.

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul saith unto David, 'Blessed art thou, my son David, also working thou dost work, and also prevailing thou dost prevail.' And David goeth on his way, and Saul hath turned back to his place.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will say, to David, Blessed thou, my son David: also doing, thou shalt do, and also being able, thou shalt be able. And David will go to his way, and Saul turned back to his place.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Then Saul said to David: Blessed art thou, my son David: and truly doing thou shalt do, and prevailing thou shalt prevail. And David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Saul said to David: “You are blessed, my son David. And whatever you may do, it shall certainly succeed.” And David departed on his way. And Saul returned to his place.

New American Bible
Then Saul said to David: “Blessed are you, my son David! You shall certainly succeed in whatever you undertake.” David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Saul said to David, “Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them.” So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son; you have surely done great things, and also you have surely prevailed. So David went on his way, and Saul also returned to his house.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul said to David: “Blessed are you my son! Surely you have accomplished, also you have surely won!” And David went on his way, also Shaul returned to his house
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Saul said to David: 'Blessed be thou, my son David; thou shalt both do mightily, and shalt surely prevail.' So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul said to David, Blessed be thou, my son; and thou shalt surely do valiantly, and surely prevail. And David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul Acknowledges His Sin
24As surely as I valued your life today, so may the LORD value my life and rescue me from all trouble.” 25Saul said to him, “May you be blessed, David my son. You will accomplish great things and will surely prevail.” So David went on his way, and Saul returned home.

Cross References
1 Samuel 24:19-20
When a man finds his enemy, does he let him go away unharmed? May the LORD reward you with good for what you have done for me this day. / Now I know for sure that you will be king and that the kingdom of Israel will be established in your hands.

1 Samuel 24:17
and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil.

1 Samuel 13:14
But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”

1 Samuel 15:28
So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

1 Samuel 18:12
So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 23:17
saying, “Do not be afraid, for my father Saul will never lay a hand on you. And you will be king over Israel, and I will be your second-in-command. Even my father Saul knows this is true.”

2 Samuel 7:16
Your house and kingdom will endure forever before Me, and your throne will be established forever.”

2 Samuel 5:2
Even in times past, while Saul was king over us, you were the one who led Israel out and brought them back. And to you the LORD said, ‘You will shepherd My people Israel, and you will be ruler over them.’”

2 Samuel 3:9-10
May God punish Abner, and ever so severely, if I do not do for David what the LORD has sworn to him: / to transfer the kingdom from the house of Saul and to establish the throne of David over Israel and Judah, from Dan to Beersheba.”

2 Samuel 12:7-8
Then Nathan said to David, “You are that man! This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I anointed you king over Israel, and I delivered you from the hand of Saul. / I gave your master’s house to you and your master’s wives into your arms. I gave you the house of Israel and Judah, and if that was not enough, I would have given you even more.

1 Kings 2:4
and so that the LORD may fulfill His promise to me: ‘If your descendants take heed to walk faithfully before Me with all their heart and soul, you will never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.’

1 Kings 1:30
I will carry out this very day exactly what I swore to you by the LORD, the God of Israel: Surely your son Solomon will reign after me, and he will sit on my throne in my place.”

1 Chronicles 17:11-14
And when your days are fulfilled and you go to be with your fathers, I will raise up your descendant after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. / He will build a house for Me, and I will establish his throne forever. / I will be his Father, and he will be My son. And I will never remove My loving devotion from him as I removed it from your predecessor. ...

Psalm 18:50
Great salvation He brings to His king. He shows loving devotion to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.

Psalm 89:20-21
I have found My servant David; with My sacred oil I have anointed him. / My hand will sustain him; surely My arm will strengthen him.


Treasury of Scripture

Then Saul said to David, Blessed be you, my son David: you shall both do great things, and also shall still prevail. So David went on his way, and Saul returned to his place.

Blessed

1 Samuel 24:19
For if a man find his enemy, will he let him go well away? wherefore the LORD reward thee good for that thou hast done unto me this day.

Numbers 24:9,10
He couched, he lay down as a lion, and as a great lion: who shall stir him up? Blessed is he that blesseth thee, and cursed is he that curseth thee…

prevail

Genesis 32:28
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Isaiah 54:17
No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.

Hosea 12:4
Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him: he found him in Bethel, and there he spake with us;

So David

1 Samuel 24:22
And David sware unto Saul. And Saul went home; but David and his men gat them up unto the hold.

Proverbs 26:25
When he speaketh fair, believe him not: for there are seven abominations in his heart.

Jump to Previous
Accomplish Blessed Blessing David Doubt Home Mightily Overcome Prevail Prevailing Saul Succeed Surely Triumph Way Work Working
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Accomplish Blessed Blessing David Doubt Home Mightily Overcome Prevail Prevailing Saul Succeed Surely Triumph Way Work Working
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














Saul said to him, “May you be blessed, David my son.
This phrase reflects a moment of reconciliation and acknowledgment from Saul towards David. Saul, the first king of Israel, had been pursuing David out of jealousy and fear of losing his throne. The use of "my son" indicates a personal and affectionate relationship, despite the conflict. This blessing is significant as it shows Saul's recognition of David's future role and God's favor upon him. The blessing also echoes the patriarchal blessings found in Genesis, where fathers would bless their sons, often with prophetic insight.

You will accomplish great things and will surely prevail.”
Saul's words here are prophetic, acknowledging David's future success and kingship. This aligns with God's earlier anointing of David through the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 16:13). The phrase "accomplish great things" can be seen as a foreshadowing of David's military victories, his establishment of Jerusalem as the capital, and his role in uniting the tribes of Israel. The assurance that David "will surely prevail" underscores the divine favor and protection over David's life, reminiscent of God's promises to the patriarchs and to Joshua (Joshua 1:5).

So David went on his way,
David's departure signifies his continued reliance on God's timing and protection rather than taking matters into his own hands. This moment is a testament to David's faith and patience, as he refrains from harming Saul, despite having the opportunity. It reflects the biblical principle of waiting on the Lord and trusting in His plans, as seen in Psalms and Proverbs (Psalm 27:14, Proverbs 3:5-6).

and Saul returned home.
Saul's return home marks a temporary cessation of his pursuit of David. This moment of peace is short-lived, as Saul's internal struggles and disobedience to God eventually lead to his downfall. The phrase highlights the transient nature of Saul's repentance and the ongoing tension between his actions and God's will. Saul's return also sets the stage for the eventual transition of power to David, fulfilling God's plan for Israel's leadership.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Saul
The first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel. Saul's reign was marked by disobedience to God, leading to his eventual rejection as king.

2. David
The future king of Israel, anointed by Samuel while Saul was still reigning. Known for his faithfulness to God, David is a central figure in the Old Testament.

3. The Wilderness of Ziph
The location where David and his men were hiding from Saul. It is a desert area in the southern part of Judah.

4. The Encounter
This event is the second time David spares Saul's life, demonstrating his respect for God's anointed king despite Saul's pursuit to kill him.

5. The Blessing
Saul acknowledges David's future success and greatness, a moment of clarity and prophecy despite his previous hostility.
Teaching Points
Respect for Authority
David's respect for Saul, despite Saul's unjust actions, teaches us to honor those in authority as appointed by God.

Trust in God's Timing
David's patience in waiting for God's promise to be fulfilled encourages us to trust in God's timing rather than taking matters into our own hands.

Forgiveness and Mercy
David's mercy towards Saul exemplifies the Christian call to forgive and show mercy, even to those who wrong us.

Prophetic Acknowledgment
Saul's blessing over David serves as a reminder that God can use even our adversaries to confirm His plans for us.

Peaceful Resolution
The peaceful parting of David and Saul highlights the importance of seeking peace and reconciliation where possible.(25) Thou shalt both do great things.--"Saul is here again 'among the prophets,' and foretells David's exaltation and victory. 'Vicisti Nazarene!' was the exclamation of Julian."--Bishop Wordsworth.

Verse 25. - Thou shalt both do, etc. Better, "Thou shalt both do mightily, and thou shalt surely prevail." The words are very general as compared with those in 1 Samuel 24:20, 21, where Saul expressed his conviction that David Would be king, and intrusted his family to his care. The poverty of sentiment here, and the mere vexation expressed in ver. 21, justify Keil's remark that Saul's character had deteriorated in the interval, and that he was more hardened now than on the previous occasion. And so they parted - David still leading the life of a fugitive, for Saul's return in ver. 21 was the most evanescent of good purposes, while the king went back to his place, his home at Gibeah.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Saul
שָׁא֜וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

him,
דָּוִ֗ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

“[May] you
אַתָּה֙ (’at·tāh)
Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

[be] blessed,
בָּר֤וּךְ (bā·rūḵ)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular
Strong's 1288: To kneel, to bless God, man, to curse

my son
בְּנִ֣י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

David.
דָוִ֔ד (ḏā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

You will
גַּ֚ם (gam)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

accomplish
תַעֲשֶׂ֔ה (ṯa·‘ă·śeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

great things
עָשֹׂ֣ה (‘ā·śōh)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 6213: To do, make

and
וְגַ֖ם (wə·ḡam)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

will surely prevail.”
יָכֹ֣ל (yā·ḵōl)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 3201: To be able, have power

So David
דָּוִד֙ (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

went
וַיֵּ֤לֶךְ (way·yê·leḵ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

on his way,
לְדַרְכּ֔וֹ (lə·ḏar·kōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - common singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

and Saul
וְשָׁא֖וּל (wə·šā·’ūl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

returned
שָׁ֥ב (šāḇ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

home.
לִמְקוֹמֽוֹ׃ (lim·qō·w·mōw)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 4725: A standing, a spot, a condition


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OT History: 1 Samuel 26:25 Then Saul said to David Blessed be (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 26:24
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