1 Samuel 24:17

17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.

1 Samuel 24:17 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 24:17

And he said to David, thou [art] more righteous than I
By which it appears he thought himself righteous, though David was more so; the righteousness of David was so glaring, that his enemy himself being judge acknowledges it, but will not confess his own wickedness, having no true sense of sin, nor real sorrow for it: for thou hast rewarded me good;
in times past, and now; heretofore in killing Goliath, fighting his battles for him against the Philistines, driving the evil spirit from him, by playing on the harp before him, and now by sparing his life, only cutting off the skirt of his garment, when he could with equal ease have cut off his head: whereas I have rewarded thee evil:
in seeking to take away his life at various times, by casting a javelin at him more than once, sending messengers to kill him, and hunting after him from place to place, to take him and slay him.

1 Samuel 24:17 In-Context

15 May the LORD therefore judge which of us is right and punish the guilty one. He is my advocate, and he will rescue me from your power!”

16 When David had finished speaking, Saul called back, “Is that really you, my son David?” Then he began to cry.

17 And he said to David, “You are a better man than I am, for you have repaid me good for evil.

18 Yes, you have been amazingly kind to me today, for when the LORD put me in a place where you could have killed me, you didn’t do it.

19 Who else would let his enemy get away when he had him in his power? May the LORD reward you well for the kindness you have shown me today.