King James Version

1 Samuel 24:3

And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet: and David and his men remained in the sides of the cave.

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is 1 Samuel 24:4.

וַ֠יָּבֹאvayavoand to comeבּוֹאconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and to come”, the next action in the storyH935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat,…אֶלelamongאֵלpreposition — “among”H413near, with or among; often in general, toabout, according to, after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, [idiom] hath, in(-to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).גִּדְר֨וֹתgidrotcote hedgeגְּדֵרָהnoun, common, feminine, plural, construct — “cote hedge”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1448enclosure (especially for flocks)(sheep-) cote (fold) hedge, wall.הַצֹּ֤אןhatsonthe flockצֹאןdefinite article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “the flock”, the ordinary formH6629a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)(small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).עַלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…הַדֶּ֨רֶךְ֙haderekhthe alongדֶּרֶךְdefinite article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “the along”, the ordinary formH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).וְשָׁ֣םveshamand thereשָׁםconjunction, adverb — “and there”H8033there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thencein it, [phrase] thence, there (-in, [phrase] of, [phrase] out), [phrase] thither, [phrase] whither.מְעָרָ֔הmearahcaveמְעָרָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “cave”, the ordinary formH4631a cavern (as dark)cave, den, hole.וַיָּבֹ֥אvayavoand to comeבּוֹאconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and to come”, the next action in the storyH935to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)abide, apply, attain, [idiom] be, befall, [phrase] besiege, bring (forth, in, into, to pass), call, carry, [idiom] certainly, (cause, let, thing for) to come (against, in, out, upon, to pass), depart, [idiom] doubtless again, [phrase] eat,…שָׁא֖וּלshaulShaulשָׁאוּלnoun, proper name — “Shaul”H7586Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two IsraelitesSaul, Shaul.לְהָסֵ֣ךְlehasekheto coverסָכַךְpreposition, verb, hiphil, infinitive construct — “to cover”, the to-form of the verbH5526properly, to entwine as ascreen; by implication, to fence in, cover over, (figuratively) protectcover, defence, defend, hedge in, join together, set, shut up.אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).רַגְלָ֑יוraglayvfootרֶגֶלnoun, common, feminine, dual, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “foot”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH7272a foot (as used in walking); by implication, a step; by euphemistically the pudenda[idiom] be able to endure, [idiom] according as, [idiom] after, [idiom] coming, [idiom] follow, (broken-)foot(-ed, -stool), [idiom] great toe, [idiom] haunt, [idiom] journey, leg, [phrase] piss, [phrase] possession, time.וְדָוִד֙vedavidand Davidדָּוִדconjunction, noun, proper name — “and David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.וַאֲנָשָׁ֔יוvaanashayvand a certainאִישׁconjunction, noun, common, masculine, plural, construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and a certain”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH376a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phra…בְּיַרְכְּתֵ֥יbeyarketein borderיְרֵכָהpreposition, noun, common, feminine, dual, construct — “in border”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3411properly, the flank; but used only figuratively, the rear or recessborder, coast, part, quarter, side.הַמְּעָרָ֖הhamarahthe caveמְעָרָהdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “the cave”, the ordinary formH4631a cavern (as dark)cave, den, hole.יֹשְׁבִֽיםyoshevimdwellיָשַׁבverb, qal, participle, absolute — “dwell”, a verb used as a describing wordH3427properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry(make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, [idiom] fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, [idiom] marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, r…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(24-4) And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were abiding in the innermost parts of the cave.

Young’s Literal Translation

and he cometh in unto folds of the flock, on the way, and there [is] a cave, and Saul goeth in to cover his feet; and David and his men in the sides of the cave are abiding.

World English Bible

He came to the sheep pens by the way, where there was a cave; and Saul went in to relieve himself. Now David and his men were staying in the innermost parts of the cave.

Darby Translation

And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet; and David and his men were abiding in the recesses of the cave.

Douay-Rheims

Saul therefore took three thousand chosen men out of all Israel, and went out to seek after David, and his men, even upon the most craggy rocks, which are accessible only to wild goats.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

(24-4) And he came to the sheepcotes by the way, where was a cave; and Saul went in to cover his feet. Now David and his men were sitting in the innermost parts of the cave.

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And he came to the flocks of sheep that were by the way, and there was a cave there; and Saul went in to make preparation, and David and his men were sitting in the inner part of the cave.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ ἦλθεν εἰς τὰς ἀγέλας τῶν ποιμνίων τὰς ἐπὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ, καὶ ἦν ἐκεῖ σπήλαιον· καὶ Σαοὺλ εἰσῆλθε παρασκευάσασθαι, καὶ Δαυὶδ καὶ οἱ ἄνδρες αὐτοῦ ἐσώτερον τοῦ σπηλαίου ἐκάθηντο.