1 Samuel 21:14 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 21:14 mean?

1 Samuel 21:14 shows King Achish telling his servants that David appears to be insane and questioning why they brought such a person to him. Achish is surprised and possibly annoyed, seeing no reason to deal with someone he thinks is acting mad.

In this scene, Achish, the king of Gath, is speaking to his own servants after they bring David before him. David has been pretending to be insane to avoid danger, and Achish reacts by pointing out David’s strange behavior. This verse highlights Achish’s disbelief and sets up the next part of David’s escape.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 21:14

• מְשֻׁגָּע (meshugga‘, “mad”): This word means someone who is acting insane or out of their senses. Achish uses it to describe David’s behavior, which is key to David’s plan to avoid harm.
• רָאִיתֶם (re’item, “see”): Achish calls attention to what is obvious—David’s madness—emphasizing that his servants should have noticed it themselves.
• הָאִישׁ (ha’ish, “the man”): Achish refers to David simply as “the man,” distancing himself from David’s identity and focusing on his apparent madness.

Why 1 Samuel 21:14 matters

• This verse clears up that David’s act of madness was convincing enough to fool a foreign king, which is crucial for understanding how David escapes danger in enemy territory.
• Achish’s reaction shows that David’s reputation as a threat is temporarily overshadowed by his feigned insanity, shifting the focus from David’s past victories to his current vulnerable state.
• The verse connects to the wider passage by showing the lengths David is willing to go to protect himself, and it sets up the king’s decision not to harm or detain him.