And David said unto him, To whom belongest thou? and whence art thou? And he said, I am a young man of Egypt, servant to an Amalekite; and my master left me, because three days agone I fell sick.

1 SAMUEL 30:13KJV
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1 Samuel 30:13 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 30:13 mean?

1 Samuel 30:13 introduces a young Egyptian whose illness has left him stranded during David’s pursuit of an Amalekite raiding party. David’s questions bring out both the young man’s origin and his connection to an Amalekite master, making him a possible source of information about the raiders.

David asks, “To whom belongest thou?” and “whence art thou?” The first question concerns the young man’s master; the second asks where he comes from. His answer shows that his place of origin and his master’s identity are different.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 30:13

  • “man” — נַעַר (naʿar): This word can refer to a boy or a young man. Here, the KJV’s “young man” conveys that the Egyptian was young, though the word does not give an exact age.
  • “left” — עָזַב (ʿazav): This word can mean to leave or abandon. In this verse, the young man uses it to describe what his master did after he became sick.

Why 1 Samuel 30:13 matters

  • The young man speaks for himself after David’s men have found him and given him food and water. His answers in verse 13 identify him before he offers further information.
  • His illness explains why he was separated from his master. “Three days agone I fell sick” places his sickness three days before his conversation with David.
  • His connection to an Amalekite helps explain why David continues questioning him. In verses 14–15, the young man describes the raiders’ actions and agrees to lead David to them under certain conditions.

Where else these words appear

“Amalekite” Hebrew H6003 · used in 12 verses

  • Genesis 14:7 And they returned, and came to Enmishpat, which is Kadesh, and smote all the country of the Amalekites, and also the Amorites, that dwelt in Hazezontamar.
  • Numbers 14:45 Then the Amalekites came down, and the Canaanites which dwelt in that hill, and smote them, and discomfited them, even unto Hormah.
  • 1 Samuel 27:8 And David and his men went up, and invaded the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites: for those nations were of old the inhabitants of the land, as thou goest to Shur, even unto the land of Egypt.

“Egypt” Hebrew H4713 · used in 25 verses

  • Genesis 12:12 Therefore it shall come to pass, when the Egyptians shall see thee, that they shall say, This is his wife: and they will kill me, but they will save thee alive.
  • Genesis 39:5 And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house, and over all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was upon all that he had in the house, and in the field.
  • Deuteronomy 23:7 Thou shalt not abhor an Edomite; for he is thy brother: thou shalt not abhor an Egyptian; because thou wast a stranger in his land.

“sick” Hebrew H2470 · used in 73 verses

  • Genesis 48:1 And it came to pass after these things, that one told Joseph, Behold, thy father is sick: and he took with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.
  • 2 Kings 20:12 At that time Berodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present unto Hezekiah: for he had heard that Hezekiah had been sick.
  • Isaiah 39:1 At that time Merodachbaladan, the son of Baladan, king of Babylon, sent letters and a present to Hezekiah: for he had heard that he had been sick, and was recovered.