What Does 1 Samuel 30:15 Mean in the King James?

And David said to him, Canst thou bring me down to this company? And he said, Swear unto me by God, that thou wilt neither kill me, nor deliver me into the hands of my master, and I will bring thee down to this company.

1 Samuel 30:15 · KJV

The analysis reads the King James wording.

King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.

This verse in the Selah Decoded Version

THE KEY

The route opens only on terms that keep the abandoned man from being shut back into his master’s hands.

THE MEANING

A way forward here depends on the safety of the person who knows the way. The Egyptian asks for his life and freedom from being handed back; only then does he offer to lead David to the raiding band. His knowledge is bound up with his vulnerability.

WHAT THIS UNDOES

The lie that a person’s usefulness makes their safety optional breaks here: the guide makes protection the condition of his help.

THE ROOT

תַּסְגִּרֵנִי

tasgîrēnî

GROWS FROM

סגר

To shut, close, or enclose; in the phrase “deliver me into the hand,” to hand someone over.

“deliver me” in this verse is tasgîrēnî. The verb translated “deliver” comes from a root whose basic image is closing or shutting. The servant fears being enclosed again under his master’s power, so David’s oath would keep a way forward open for him.

ALSO GROWS

wayyisgōr: Shut in, enclosed.

וַיִּסְגֹּר

In Genesis 7:16, this root describes the LORD shutting Noah in. Here, its force is the servant’s fear of being enclosed under his master’s control.

yasgîrû: Hand over, deliver up.

יַסְגִּירוּ

In 1 Samuel 23:12, David fears being handed into Saul’s power. The servant’s plea asks David to protect someone else from the same danger.

THE PATTERN

When someone is exposed, how the powerful treat them determines whether their vulnerability becomes oppression or protection.

Also thou shalt not oppress a stranger: for ye know the heart of a stranger, seeing ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

Exodus 23:9 · KJVThe stranger’s vulnerability shapes how those with power are to treat them.

Thou shalt not oppress an hired servant that is poor and needy, whether he be of thy brethren, or of thy strangers that are in thy land within thy gates:

Deuteronomy 24:14 · KJVThe poor worker is protected from having their need used as an opening for oppression.

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.

Matthew 25:40 · KJVThe way the least are treated becomes an encounter with the King.

THE THREAD

Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver thee up.

1 Samuel 23:12 · KJV

The same root, ⁨סגר⁩ (sagar, to close or hand over), names the danger David fears: being delivered into Saul’s hands. The Egyptian’s plea asks David to protect another from the vulnerability he knows himself.

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