1 Samuel 24:8

8 Then David went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, "King Saul! My master!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down. He lay down flat with his face toward the ground.

1 Samuel 24:8 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 24:8

David also arose afterward
After Saul was gone: and went out of the cave;
where he had been all the time that Saul had been in it: and cried after Saul:
with a loud voice: my lord the king; by which titles Saul would know that he was called unto: and when Saul looked behind him;
to see who it was that called unto him: David stooped with his face to the earth, and bowed himself:
giving reverence and honour to him as a king; (See Gill on 1 Samuel 20:41).

1 Samuel 24:8 In-Context

6 He said to his men, "May the LORD keep me from doing a thing like that to my master again. He is the LORD's anointed king. So I promise that I will never lift my hand to strike him down. The LORD has anointed him."

7 David said that to warn his men. He didn't allow them to attack Saul. So Saul left the cave and went on his way.

8 Then David went out of the cave. He called out to Saul, "King Saul! My master!" When Saul looked behind him, David bowed down. He lay down flat with his face toward the ground.

9 He said to Saul, "Why do you listen when men say, 'David is trying to harm you'?

10 This very day you have seen with your own eyes how the LORD handed you over to me in the cave. Some of my men begged me to kill you. But I spared you. I said, 'I will never lift my hand to strike my master down. He is the LORD's anointed king.'