1 Samuel 24:12

12 May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.

1 Samuel 24:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 24:12

The Lord judge between me and thee
And make it appear who is in the right, and who in the wrong: and the Lord avenge me of thee;
if he continued thus to persecute him: but mine hand shall not be upon thee;
to kill thee, though it may be in my power again to do it, as it has been; but this I am determined upon, let me suffer what I will, I will not lay hands on thee to do thee any hurt, but leave thee with God to requite all the evil done to me by thee.

1 Samuel 24:12 In-Context

10 Look! you have seen today how the Lord gave you up into my hands even now in the hollow of the rocks: and some would have had me put you to death, but I had pity on you: for I said, Never will my hand be lifted up against my lord, who has been marked with the holy oil.

11 And see, my father, see the skirt of your robe in my hand: for the fact that I took off the skirt of your robe and did not put you to death is witness that I have no evil purpose, and I have done you no wrong, though you are waiting for my life to take it.

12 May the Lord be judge between me and you, and may the Lord give me my rights against you, but my hand will never be lifted up against you.

13 There is an old saying, From the evil-doer comes evil: but my hand will never be lifted up against you.

14 After whom has the king of Israel come out? for whom are you searching? for a dead dog, an insect.