And David saved neither man nor woman alive, to bring tidings to Gath, saying, Lest they should tell on us, saying, So did David, and so will be his manner all the while he dwelleth in the country of the Philistines.

1 SAMUEL 27:11KJV
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1 Samuel 27:11 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 27:11 mean?

1 Samuel 27:11 describes how David, while living among the Philistines, did not leave any survivors—man or woman—when he raided nearby peoples, so that no one could report to Gath about his actions. David did this to prevent word from reaching the Philistine leaders about what he was really doing.

In this verse, the focus is on David’s strategy to protect himself and his men while living in enemy territory. David was staying in the land of the Philistines, specifically under the protection of Achish, king of Gath. To keep his true activities hidden, he made sure that no one from the places he attacked could go back and reveal his raids, which would have exposed his real loyalties and put him at risk.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 27:11

  • The word "saved" (חָיָה, chayah) here means "to keep alive." In this context, it emphasizes that David deliberately left no survivors, highlighting the seriousness of his efforts to keep his actions secret.
  • "Tell" (נָגַד, nagad) means "to report" or "to make known." The verse centers on David’s concern that survivors might "tell on us," showing that his main fear was exposure, not just military victory.
  • "Manner" (מִשְׁפָּט, mishpat) is often translated as "custom" or "way of doing things." Here, it refers to David’s established pattern of behavior while living among the Philistines, suggesting this was not a one-time event but a repeated strategy.

Why 1 Samuel 27:11 matters

  • This verse clarifies why David took such extreme measures—his actions were driven by the need for secrecy, not simply by aggression or conquest.
  • It shows the tension and double life David led while among the Philistines, pretending loyalty to them while actually protecting his own people.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain the complex political and personal risks David faced before he became king, and how he navigated survival in a hostile environment.

Where else these words appear

“Gath” Hebrew H1661 · used in 31 verses

  • Joshua 11:22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
  • 1 Samuel 27:3 And David dwelt with Achish at Gath, he and his men, every man with his household, even David with his two wives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the Carmelitess, Nabal's wife.
  • 1 Chronicles 7:21 And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.