Then Achish gave him Ziklag that day: wherefore Ziklag pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day.

1 SAMUEL 27:6KJV
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1 Samuel 27:6 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 27:6 mean?

1 Samuel 27:6 explains that Achish, a Philistine king, gave the town of Ziklag to David, and from that time on, Ziklag belonged to the kings of Judah. The verse notes that this arrangement continued up to the time when the book was written.

In this verse, Achish is giving David a place to live while David is fleeing from King Saul. Ziklag becomes a base for David and his men, marking a turning point where David is no longer wandering but has a settled place under Philistine protection. The verse also points out that Ziklag’s connection to the kings of Judah lasted for generations, showing the long-term impact of this event.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 27:6

  • אָכִישׁ (Achish): This is the name of the Philistine king who gives Ziklag to David. His role is significant because he is a foreign ruler granting land to Israel’s future king.
  • נָתַן (natan, "gave"): This word means to give, grant, or bestow. The act of giving Ziklag is a formal transfer of ownership, not just a temporary loan.
  • צִקְלַג (Tsiqlag, "Ziklag"): The name of the town given to David. Its mention twice in the verse underlines its importance as a new home and strategic base for David.
  • מְלָכִים (melakhim, "kings"): The plural form refers to the line of Judah’s rulers, showing that Ziklag’s association with Judah’s royalty continued beyond David himself.
  • יְהוּדָה (Yehudah, "Judah"): This word ties Ziklag to the tribe and later the kingdom of Judah, highlighting its significance in Israel’s history.

Why 1 Samuel 27:6 matters

  • This verse clarifies how David, while still on the run from Saul, came to control a town that later became part of Judah’s royal territory, showing God’s providence in his journey.
  • The detail that Ziklag "pertaineth unto the kings of Judah unto this day" helps readers understand the long-term historical and political importance of this transfer.
  • The verse connects David’s personal story to the broader history of Judah, showing how individual events in his life shaped the future of the nation.

Where else these words appear

“Ziklag” Hebrew H6860 · used in 12 verses

  • Joshua 15:31 And Ziklag, and Madmannah, and Sansannah,
  • 1 Samuel 30:14 We made an invasion upon the south of the Cherethites, and upon the coast which belongeth to Judah, and upon the south of Caleb; and we burned Ziklag with fire.
  • 1 Chronicles 4:30 And at Bethuel, and at Hormah, and at Ziklag,

“Achish” Hebrew H397 · used in 20 verses

  • 1 Samuel 21:10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.
  • 1 Samuel 27:5 And David said unto Achish, If I have now found grace in thine eyes, let them give me a place in some town in the country, that I may dwell there: for why should thy servant dwell in the royal city with thee?
  • 1 Samuel 29:2 And the lords of the Philistines passed on by hundreds, and by thousands: but David and his men passed on in the rereward with Achish.