1 Samuel 21:13

and changeth his behaviour before their eyes, and feigneth himself mad in their hand, and scribbleth on the doors of the gate, and letteth down his spittle unto his beard.

Young's Literal Translation

In The King James Version

And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

In Context

12And David layeth these words in his heart, and is exceedingly afraid of the face of Achish king of Gath,

14And Achish saith unto his servants, 'Lo, ye see a man acting as a madman; why do ye bring him in unto me?

Read all of 1 Samuel 21

Cross References

1 Samuel 17:11And Saul heareth — and all Israel — these words of the Philistine, and they are broken down and greatly afraid.

Proverbs 29:25Fear of man causeth a snare, And the confident in Jehovah is set on high.

Isaiah 51:12I — I [am] He — your comforter, Who [art] thou — and thou art afraid of man? he dieth! And of the son of man — grass he is made!

Matthew Henry on 1 Samuel 21:11-15

David Driven from Achish. ( b. c. 1057.) 10 And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath. 11 And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands? 12 And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13 And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands,… Read the whole commentary →

This Verse In Other Editions

Study 1 Samuel 21:13