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<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "//www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="//www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1" /><title>1 Samuel 21:13 So he changed his behavior before them and feigned madness in their hands; he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard.</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/1_samuel/21-13.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/new9.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://biblehub.com/visuals/11/09_1Sa_21_13.jpg" /><meta property="og:title" content="1 Samuel 21:13 - David Flees to Gath" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="Bible Hub" /><meta property="og:description" content="So he changed his behavior before them and feigned madness in their hands; he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard." /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script> <script src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/biblehub.js' type='text/javascript'></script></head><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/vmenus/1_samuel/21-13.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="/bmc/1_samuel/21-13.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/1_samuel/">1 Samuel</a> > <a href="/1_samuel/21.htm">Chapter 21</a> > Verse 13</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div><div id="ad1"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/ad1.htm" width="100%" height="48" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/1_samuel/21-12.htm" title="1 Samuel 21:12">◄</a> 1 Samuel 21:13 <a href="/1_samuel/21-14.htm" title="1 Samuel 21:14">►</a></div></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse"> <a href="#study" class="clickchap2" title="Context and Study Bible"> Audio </a> <a href="#crossref" class="clickchap2" title="Cross References"> Crossref </a> <a href="#commentary" class="clickchap2" title="Commentary"> Comm </a> <a href="#lexicon" class="clickchap2" title="Lexicon"> Hebrew </a> </div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><div class="vheadingv"><b>Verse</b><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/21.htm" class="clickchap" style="color:#001320" title="Click any translation name for full chapter">  (Click for Chapter)</a></div><div id="par"><span class="versiontext"><a href="/niv/1_samuel/21.htm">New International Version</a></span><br />So he pretended to be insane in their presence; and while he was in their hands he acted like a madman, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/21.htm">New Living Translation</a></span><br />So he pretended to be insane, scratching on doors and drooling down his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/esv/1_samuel/21.htm">English Standard Version</a></span><br />So he changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands and made marks on the doors of the gate and let his spittle run down his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/21.htm">Berean Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he changed his behavior before them and feigned madness in their hands; he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/21.htm">King James Bible</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nkjv/1_samuel/21.htm">New King James Version</a></span><br />So he changed his behavior before them, pretended madness in their hands, scratched on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva fall down on his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb_/1_samuel/21.htm">New American Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he disguised his sanity <i>while</i> in their sight and acted insanely in their custody, and he scribbled on the doors of the gate, and drooled on his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/21.htm">NASB 1995</a></span><br />So he disguised his sanity before them, and acted insanely in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down into his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nasb77/1_samuel/21.htm">NASB 1977 </a></span><br />So he disguised his sanity before them, and acted insanely in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down into his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsb/1_samuel/21.htm">Legacy Standard Bible </a></span><br />So he disguised his sanity in their sight and acted insanely in their hands and scribbled on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down into his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/amp/1_samuel/21.htm">Amplified Bible</a></span><br />So [fearing for his life] he changed his behavior in their sight, and acted insanely in their hands, and he scribbled on the doors of the gate, and drooled on his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/csb/1_samuel/21.htm">Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />so he pretended to be insane in their presence. He acted like a madman around them, scribbling on the doors of the city gate and letting saliva run down his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hcsb/1_samuel/21.htm">Holman Christian Standard Bible</a></span><br />so he pretended to be insane in their presence. He acted like a madman around them, scribbling on the doors of the gate and letting saliva run down his beard. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/asv/1_samuel/21.htm">American Standard Version</a></span><br />And he changed his behavior 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cev/1_samuel/21.htm">Contemporary English Version</a></span><br />So right there in front of everyone, he pretended to be insane. He acted confused and started making scratches on the doors of the town gate, while drooling in his beard. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/erv/1_samuel/21.htm">English Revised Version</a></span><br />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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gwt/1_samuel/21.htm">GOD'S WORD® Translation</a></span><br />So he changed his behavior [when he was] in their presence and acted insane [as long as he was] under their authority. He scribbled on the doors of the city gate and let his spit run down his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/gnt/1_samuel/21.htm">Good News Translation</a></span><br />So whenever David was around them, he pretended to be insane and acted like a madman when they tried to restrain him; he would scribble on the city gates and let spit drool down his beard. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/isv/1_samuel/21.htm">International Standard Version</a></span><br />So David changed his behavior before them and acted like he was crazy in their presence. He scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his saliva run down his beard. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/msb/1_samuel/21.htm">Majority Standard Bible</a></span><br />So he changed his behavior before them and feigned madness in their hands; he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/net/1_samuel/21.htm">NET Bible</a></span><br />He altered his behavior in their presence. Since he was in their power, he pretended to be insane, making marks on the doors of the gate and letting his saliva run down his beard. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nheb/1_samuel/21.htm">New Heart English Bible</a></span><br />He changed his behavior before them, and pretended to be mad in their hands, and drummed on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/wbt/1_samuel/21.htm">Webster's Bible Translation</a></span><br />And he changed his behavior 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/web/1_samuel/21.htm">World English Bible</a></span><br />He changed his behavior before them and pretended to be insane in their hands, and scribbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard. <div class="vheading2"><b>Literal Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lsv/1_samuel/21.htm">Literal Standard Version</a></span><br />and changes his behavior before their eyes, and feigns himself mad in their hand, and scribbles on the doors of the gate, and lets down his spittle to his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/ylt/1_samuel/21.htm">Young's Literal Translation</a></span><br /> 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/slt/1_samuel/21.htm">Smith's Literal Translation</a></span><br /><RF q=*><font color=#808080><i>The original Julia E. Smith Bible records the following as a verse reference for </i></font><i><font color=#0000FF> <a href=#>1 Sam 21:14</a></i></font><Rf> And he will change his understanding in their eyes, and he will be foolish in their hand, and he will mark upon the doors of the gate, and his spittle will come down upon his beard.<div class="vheading2"><b>Catholic Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/drb/1_samuel/21.htm">Douay-Rheims Bible</a></span><br />And he changed his countenance before them, and slipt down between their hands: and he stumbled against the doors of the gate, and his spittle ran down upon his beard. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/cpdv/1_samuel/21.htm">Catholic Public Domain Version</a></span><br />And he altered his mouth before them, and he slipped down between their hands. And he stumbled against the doors of the gate. And his spit flowed down his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nabre/1_samuel/21.htm">New American Bible</a></span><br />So, he feigned insanity in front of them and acted like a madman in their custody, drumming on the doors of the gate and drooling onto his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/nrsvce/1_samuel/21.htm">New Revised Standard Version</a></span><br />So he changed his behavior before them; he pretended to be mad when in their presence. He scratched marks on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle run down his beard.<div class="vheading2"><b>Translations from Aramaic</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/lamsa/1_samuel/21.htm">Lamsa Bible</a></span><br />So he changed his behavior in his presence, and disguised himself in their sight, and he sat at the doorpost and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/hpbt/1_samuel/21.htm">Peshitta Holy Bible Translated</a></span><br />And David put these words in his heart and was very afraid before Akish King of Gath<div class="vheading2"><b>OT Translations</b></div><span class="versiontext"><a href="/jps/1_samuel/21.htm">JPS Tanakh 1917</a></span><br />And he changed his demeanour 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.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/sep/1_samuel/21.htm">Brenton Septuagint Translation</a></span><br />And he changed his appearance before him, and feigned himself a false character in that day; and drummed upon the doors of the city, and used extravagant gestures with his hands, and fell against the doors of the gate, and his spittle ran down upon his beard.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/parallel/1_samuel/21-13.htm">Additional Translations ...</a></span></div></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="study" id="study"></a><div class="vheadingv"><b>Audio Bible</b></div><iframe width="100%" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/H8oQfYUMRZg?start=6412" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><div class="vheadingv"><b>Context</b></div><span class="hdg"><a href="/bsb/1_samuel/21.htm">David Flees to Gath</a></span><br>…<span class="reftext">12</span>Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. <span class="reftext">13</span><span class="highl"><a href="/hebrew/8138.htm" title="8138: way·šan·nōw (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms:: 3ms) -- To repeat, do again. A primitive root; to fold, i.e. Duplicate; by implication, to transmute.">So he changed</a> <a href="/hebrew/853.htm" title="853: ’eṯ- (DirObjM) -- Apparent contracted from 'owth in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self."></a> <a href="/hebrew/2940.htm" title="2940: ṭa‘·mōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- Taste, judgment. From ta'am; properly, a taste, i.e. perception; by implication, intelligence; transitively, a mandate.">his behavior</a> <a href="/hebrew/5869.htm" title="5869: bə·‘ê·nê·hem (Prep-b:: N-cdc:: 3mp) -- An eye. Probably a primitive word; an eye; by analogy, a fountain.">before them</a> <a href="/hebrew/1984.htm" title="1984: way·yiṯ·hō·lêl (Conj-w:: V-Hitpael-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To shine.">and feigned madness</a> <a href="/hebrew/3027.htm" title="3027: bə·yā·ḏām (Prep-b:: N-fsc:: 3mp) -- Hand (indicating power, means, direction, etc.)">in their hands;</a> <a href="/hebrew/8427.htm" title="8427: way·ṯaw (Conj-w:: V-Piel-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To make or set a mark. A primitive root; to mark out, i.e. scratch or imprint.">he scratched</a> <a href="/hebrew/5921.htm" title="5921: ‘al- (Prep) -- Properly, the same as al used as a preposition; above, over, upon, or against in a great variety of applications.">on</a> <a href="/hebrew/1817.htm" title="1817: dal·ṯō·wṯ (N-fpc) -- A door. From dalah; something swinging, i.e. The valve of a door.">the doors</a> <a href="/hebrew/8179.htm" title="8179: haš·ša·‘ar (Art:: N-ms) -- A gate. From sha'ar in its original sense; an opening, i.e. Door or gate.">of the gate</a> <a href="/hebrew/7388.htm" title="7388: rî·rōw (N-msc:: 3ms) -- To flow (like slime). From ruwr; saliva; by resemblance, broth.">and let his saliva</a> <a href="/hebrew/3381.htm" title="3381: way·yō·w·reḏ (Conj-w:: V-Hifil-ConsecImperf-3ms) -- To come or go down, descend. ">run</a> <a href="/hebrew/413.htm" title="413: ’el- (Prep) -- To, into, towards. ">down</a> <a href="/hebrew/2206.htm" title="2206: zə·qā·nōw (N-csc:: 3ms) -- Beard, chin. From zaqen; the beard.">his beard.</a> </span><span class="reftext">14</span>Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you can see that the man is insane! Why have you brought him to me?…<div class="cred"><a href="//berean.bible">Berean Standard Bible</a> · <a href="//berean.bible/downloads.htm">Download</a></div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="crossref" id="crossref"></a><div class="vheading">Cross References</div><div id="crf"><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/34-1.htm">Psalm 34:1</a></span><br />Of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, so that the king drove him away. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/56-3.htm">Psalm 56:3-4</a></span><br />When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. / In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/56-8.htm">Psalm 56:8</a></span><br />You have taken account of my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle—are they not in Your book?<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/psalms/56-13.htm">Psalm 56:13</a></span><br />For You have delivered my soul from death, and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/20-2.htm">Genesis 20:2</a></span><br />Abraham said of his wife Sarah, “She is my sister.” So Abimelech king of Gerar had Sarah brought to him.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/genesis/26-7.htm">Genesis 26:7</a></span><br />But when the men of that place asked about his wife, he said, “She is my sister.” For he was afraid to say, “She is my wife,” since he thought to himself, “The men of this place will kill me on account of Rebekah, because she is so beautiful.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/2-26.htm">1 Kings 2:26</a></span><br />Then the king said to Abiathar the priest, “Go back to your fields in Anathoth. Even though you deserve to die, I will not put you to death at this time, since you carried the ark of the Lord GOD before my father David, and you suffered through all that my father suffered.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/1_kings/19-3.htm">1 Kings 19:3</a></span><br />And Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there,<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/2_kings/8-12.htm">2 Kings 8:12</a></span><br />“Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.”<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/jeremiah/9-4.htm">Jeremiah 9:4</a></span><br />“Let everyone guard against his neighbor; do not trust any brother, for every brother deals craftily, and every friend spreads slander.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/10-16.htm">Matthew 10:16</a></span><br />Behold, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves; therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/matthew/26-70.htm">Matthew 26:70-74</a></span><br />But he denied it before them all: “I do not know what you are talking about.” / When Peter had gone out to the gateway, another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” / And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man!” ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/mark/14-66.htm">Mark 14:66-72</a></span><br />While Peter was in the courtyard below, one of the servant girls of the high priest came down / and saw him warming himself there. She looked at Peter and said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” / But he denied it. “I do not know or even understand what you are talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, and the rooster crowed. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/luke/22-55.htm">Luke 22:55-62</a></span><br />When those present had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. / A servant girl saw him seated in the firelight and looked intently at him. “This man also was with Him,” she said. / But Peter denied it. “Woman, I do not know Him,” he said. ...<span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="crossverse"><a href="/john/18-25.htm">John 18:25-27</a></span><br />Simon Peter was still standing and warming himself. So they asked him, “Aren’t you also one of His disciples?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” / One of the high priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Didn’t I see you with Him in the garden?” / Peter denied it once more, and immediately a rooster crowed.</div><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a name="tsk" id="tsk"><div class="vheading">Treasury of Scripture</div><p class="tsk2">And he changed his behavior before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down on his beard.</p><p class="hdg">changed</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/psalms/34-1.htm">Psalm 34:1</a></b></br> <i>A Psalm</i> of David, when he changed his behaviour before Abimelech; who drove him away, and he departed. I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise <i>shall</i> continually <i>be</i> in my mouth.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/proverbs/29-25.htm">Proverbs 29:25</a></b></br> The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.</p><p class="tskverse"><b><a href="/ecclesiastes/7-7.htm">Ecclesiastes 7:7</a></b></br> Surely oppression maketh a wise man mad; and a gift destroyeth the heart.</p><p class="hdg">scrabbled.</p><div class="vheading">Jump to Previous</div><a href="/1_samuel/14-48.htm">Acted</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-35.htm">Beard</a> <a href="/1_peter/3-2.htm">Behavior</a> <a href="/1_samuel/15-29.htm">Changed</a> <a href="/genesis/41-14.htm">Changeth</a> <a href="/ruth/4-7.htm">Changing</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-27.htm">Chin</a> <a href="/1_timothy/3-8.htm">Demeanour</a> <a href="/genesis/42-7.htm">Disguised</a> <a href="/1_samuel/3-15.htm">Doors</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-29.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/numbers/11-8.htm">Hammering</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-8.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-16.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-7.htm">Head</a> <a href="/1_corinthians/14-23.htm">Insane</a> <a href="/deuteronomy/28-34.htm">Mad</a> <a href="/jeremiah/29-26.htm">Madman</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-26.htm">Making</a> <a href="/leviticus/19-28.htm">Marks</a> <a href="/1_samuel/17-35.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-6.htm">Presence</a> <a href="/joshua/8-15.htm">Pretended</a> <a href="/1_samuel/20-36.htm">Run</a> <a href="/john/9-6.htm">Saliva</a> <a href="/daniel/4-36.htm">Sanity</a> <a href="/1_samuel/18-23.htm">Seem</a> <a href="/john/9-6.htm">Spittle</a> <a href="/1_samuel/9-11.htm">Water</a><div class="vheading2">Jump to Next</div><a href="/1_samuel/26-21.htm">Acted</a> <a href="/2_samuel/10-4.htm">Beard</a> <a href="/esther/1-18.htm">Behavior</a> <a href="/2_samuel/12-20.htm">Changed</a> <a href="/psalms/15-4.htm">Changeth</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-34.htm">Changing</a> <a href="/2_samuel/20-9.htm">Chin</a> <a href="/1_timothy/3-8.htm">Demeanour</a> <a href="/1_samuel/28-8.htm">Disguised</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-7.htm">Doors</a> <a href="/1_samuel/24-10.htm">Eyes</a> <a href="/nahum/2-7.htm">Hammering</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-6.htm">Hand</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-17.htm">Hands</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-2.htm">Head</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-14.htm">Insane</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-14.htm">Mad</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-14.htm">Madman</a> <a href="/1_samuel/23-26.htm">Making</a> <a href="/2_kings/23-17.htm">Marks</a> <a href="/1_samuel/22-19.htm">Mouth</a> <a href="/1_samuel/21-15.htm">Presence</a> <a href="/2_samuel/13-6.htm">Pretended</a> <a href="/2_samuel/15-1.htm">Run</a> <a href="/mark/7-33.htm">Saliva</a> <a href="/daniel/4-36.htm">Sanity</a> <a href="/1_samuel/24-4.htm">Seem</a> <a href="/job/7-19.htm">Spittle</a> <a href="/1_samuel/25-11.htm">Water</a><div class="vheading2">1 Samuel 21</div><span class="reftext">1. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/21-1.htm">David at Nob obtains Ahimelech's hallowed bread</a></span><br><span class="reftext">7. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/21-7.htm">Doeg is present</a></span><br><span class="reftext">8. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/21-8.htm">David takes Goliath's sword</a></span><br><span class="reftext">10. </span><span class="outlinetext"><a href="/1_samuel/21-10.htm">David at Gath feigns himself insane</a></span><br></div></div><div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"> <script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> <script type="text/javascript" src="//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script><br /><br /> </div> </td></tr></table></div></div></div><div id="combox"><div class="padcom"><a name="commentary" id="commentary"></a><div class="vheading"><a href="/study/1_samuel/21.htm">Berean Study Bible</a></div><b>So he changed his behavior before them</b><br />The phrase "changed his behavior" is significant in understanding David's strategic response to a life-threatening situation. The Hebrew root for "changed" is "shana," which implies a deliberate alteration or transformation. In the context of David's life, this moment reflects his adaptability and wisdom in the face of danger. Historically, David was fleeing from King Saul and found himself in the territory of the Philistines, his enemies. This change in behavior was a tactical move to protect himself, demonstrating his reliance on God-given wisdom to navigate perilous circumstances.<p><b>and pretended to be insane in their hands</b><br />The act of pretending to be insane is a fascinating aspect of David's survival strategy. The Hebrew word for "pretended" is "halal," which can mean to feign or simulate. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, madness was often viewed with a mix of fear and reverence, sometimes associated with divine influence. By feigning insanity, David placed himself outside the realm of rational threat, leveraging cultural perceptions to ensure his safety. This act of pretense underscores the theme of divine providence, where God uses even the most unlikely means to protect His anointed.<p><b>scribbling on the doors of the gate</b><br />"Scribbling" here is translated from the Hebrew "taqaq," which suggests making marks or scratches. This behavior would have been seen as erratic and nonsensical, reinforcing the perception of madness. The "doors of the gate" were significant as they were central to city life, often a place of judgment and public discourse. By acting out in such a public and prominent place, David ensured that his feigned madness was visible to all, further convincing the Philistines of his harmlessness. This act can be seen as a metaphor for how God sometimes uses the unexpected to fulfill His purposes.<p><b>and letting saliva run down his beard</b><br />In ancient Israelite culture, the beard was a symbol of dignity and respect. Allowing saliva to run down his beard would have been seen as a profound act of humiliation and disgrace. The Hebrew word for "saliva" is "rok," and its presence on the beard would have been a clear sign of madness. This vivid image highlights the lengths to which David was willing to go to preserve his life. It serves as a reminder of the humility required in following God's path, sometimes necessitating actions that defy personal pride for the sake of divine protection and purpose.<div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/ellicott/1_samuel/21.htm">Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers</a></div>(13) <span class= "bld">He changed his behaviour.</span>--These very words (with the substitution of Abimelech for Achish, a name which, as has been above suggested, seems to have been the "nomen dignitatis" for generations of Philistine kings) are found in the title of Psalms 34. The poem in question is, however, of a general, not of an historical character, and especially celebrates Jehovah's guardian care of the righteous. Its "acrostic" arrangement, however, suggests a later date than the time of David. If, as is quite possible, the royal psalmist was the original author, and that the deliverance on the present occasion suggested the theme, then it must have been brought into its present form by some later temple musician.<p><span class= "bld">Feigned himself mad.</span>--Literally, <span class= "ital">he roamed hither and thither</span>, <span class= "ital">restless and in terror.</span>--Dean Payne Smith. "In their hands," that is, "in their presence." Some have supposed that the madness was not "simulated," but <span class= "ital">real. </span>Wrought upon by excitement of fear and terrible anxiety, it has been suggested that the mind for a time lost its balance, and that David became temporarily really insane; but the sense of the narrative plainly indicates that the madness was feigned.<p><span class= "bld">Scrabbled on the doors of the gate.</span>--Scratched on them; "scrabble" being probably a diminutive of "scrape" (Richardson, <span class= "ital">Dictionary</span>)<span class= "ital">. </span>By others it is connected with "scribble." the root in either case being ultimately the same. The LXX. and Vulg. apparently translate from a slightly different word, and instead of "scrabbled," render "drummed" (<span class= "ital">impingebat</span>) on the wings of the doors.<p><span class= "bld">Let his spittle fall.</span>--That is, allowed the foam which comes from the mouth of a madman to hang about his beard. It has been cleverly suggested that David was only too well acquainted with all the signs of madness, from his long and intimate association with King Saul in his darker hours of insanity. There are other well-authenticated examples in history of great heroes, in seasons of sore danger, feigning madness like David, with a view of escaping from their enemies. For instance, according to the Shahnameh, Kai Khosrev feigned idiocy in face of mortal peril.<p><div class="vheading2"><a href="/commentaries/pulpit/1_samuel/21.htm">Pulpit Commentary</a></div><span class="cmt_sub_title">Verse 13.</span> - <span class="cmt_word">He changed his behaviour.</span> The same word is used in the title of <a href="/psalms/34.htm">Psalm 34</a>. Literally it means "his taste," and, like the Latin word <span class="accented">sapientia</span>, is derived from the action of the palate, and so from the faculty of discriminating flavours it came to signify the power of discrimination generally. Thus "to change his taste" means to act as if he had lost the power of distinguishing between objects. <span class="cmt_word">Feigned himself mad.</span> Literally, "he roamed hither and thither" restlessly and in terror. <span class="cmt_word">In their hands.</span> <span class="accented">I.e.</span> before them, in their presence. <span class="cmt_word">Scrabbled on the doors of the gate.</span> The Vulgate and Septuagint read <span class="accented">drummed</span> upon them. Literally the verb means "to make the mark of a Tau," the last letter of the Hebrew alphabet, and which anciently was in the form of a cross. The gate, on the leaves of which David scrawled, was probably that of the court or waiting room, in which the servants of Achish passed their time when in attendance upon him. Possibly David had witnessed these symptoms of madness in Saul's case during his fits of insanity. The idea of some of the older commentators, that David really for a time went out of his mind, is opposed to the general sense of the narrative. <span class="p"><br /><br /></span><span class="versiontext"><a href="/commentaries/1_samuel/21-13.htm">Parallel Commentaries ...</a></span><span class="p"><br /><br /><br /></span><a name="lexicon" id="lexicon"></a><div class="vheading">Hebrew</div><span class="word">So he changed</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְשַׁנּ֤וֹ</span> <span class="translit">(way·šan·nōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8138.htm">Strong's 8138: </a> </span><span class="str2">To fold, duplicate, to transmute</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his behavior</span><br /><span class="heb">טַעְמוֹ֙</span> <span class="translit">(ṭa‘·mōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2940.htm">Strong's 2940: </a> </span><span class="str2">A taste, perception, intelligence, a mandate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">before them</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔ם</span> <span class="translit">(bə·‘ê·nê·hem)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5869.htm">Strong's 5869: </a> </span><span class="str2">An eye, a fountain</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and feigned madness</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיִּתְהֹלֵ֖ל</span> <span class="translit">(way·yiṯ·hō·lêl)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1984.htm">Strong's 1984: </a> </span><span class="str2">To shine</span><br /><br /><span class="word">in their hands;</span><br /><span class="heb">בְּיָדָ֑ם</span> <span class="translit">(bə·yā·ḏām)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3027.htm">Strong's 3027: </a> </span><span class="str2">A hand</span><br /><br /><span class="word">he scratched</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיְתָיו֙</span> <span class="translit">(way·ṯāw)</span><br /><span class="parse">0<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8427.htm">Strong's 8427: </a> </span><span class="str2">Put -- to make or set a mark</span><br /><br /><span class="word">on</span><br /><span class="heb">עַל־</span> <span class="translit">(‘al-)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_5921.htm">Strong's 5921: </a> </span><span class="str2">Above, over, upon, against</span><br /><br /><span class="word">the doors</span><br /><span class="heb">דַּלְת֣וֹת</span> <span class="translit">(dal·ṯō·wṯ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Direct object marker<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_1817.htm">Strong's 1817: </a> </span><span class="str2">Something swinging, the valve of a, door</span><br /><br /><span class="word">of the gate</span><br /><span class="heb">הַשַּׁ֔עַר</span> <span class="translit">(haš·ša·‘ar)</span><br /><span class="parse">Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_8179.htm">Strong's 8179: </a> </span><span class="str2">An opening, door, gate</span><br /><br /><span class="word">and let his saliva run down</span><br /><span class="heb">וַיּ֥וֹרֶד</span> <span class="translit">(way·yō·w·reḏ)</span><br /><span class="parse">Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | third person masculine plural<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_3381.htm">Strong's 3381: </a> </span><span class="str2">To come or go down, descend</span><br /><br /><span class="word">his beard.</span><br /><span class="heb">זְקָנֽוֹ׃</span> <span class="translit">(zə·qā·nōw)</span><br /><span class="parse">Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular<br /></span><span class="str"><a href="/hebrew/strongs_2206.htm">Strong's 2206: </a> </span><span class="str2">Beard, chin</span><br /><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><div class="vheading">Links</div><a href="/niv/1_samuel/21-13.htm">1 Samuel 21:13 NIV</a><br /><a href="/nlt/1_samuel/21-13.htm">1 Samuel 21:13 NLT</a><br /><a href="/esv/1_samuel/21-13.htm">1 Samuel 21:13 ESV</a><br /><a href="/nasb/1_samuel/21-13.htm">1 Samuel 21:13 NASB</a><br /><a href="/kjv/1_samuel/21-13.htm">1 Samuel 21:13 KJV</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="//bibleapps.com/1_samuel/21-13.htm">1 Samuel 21:13 BibleApps.com</a><br /><a href="//bibliaparalela.com/1_samuel/21-13.htm">1 Samuel 21:13 Biblia Paralela</a><br /><a href="//holybible.com.cn/1_samuel/21-13.htm">1 Samuel 21:13 Chinese Bible</a><br /><a href="//saintebible.com/1_samuel/21-13.htm">1 Samuel 21:13 French Bible</a><br /><a href="/catholic/1_samuel/21-13.htm">1 Samuel 21:13 Catholic Bible</a><span class="p"><br /><br /></span><a href="/1_samuel/21-13.htm">OT History: 1 Samuel 21:13 He changed his behavior before them (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) </a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/1_samuel/21-12.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="1 Samuel 21:12"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 21:12" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/1_samuel/21-14.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="1 Samuel 21:14"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="1 Samuel 21:14" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>