1 Samuel 18:11 Meaning: Why Saul Threw His Spear at David
and Saul threw the spear, for he said, “I will pin David to the wall!” David escaped from his presence twice.
And Saul cast the javelin; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall with it. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
and Saul cast the spear; for he said, I will smite David even to the wall. And David avoided out of his presence twice.
and Saul casteth the javelin, and saith, `I smite through David, even through the wall;' and David turneth round out of his presence twice.
And Saul cast the spear, and thought, I will smite David and the wall. But David turned away from him twice.
Meaning in one sentence
Understand I Samuel 18:11, Saul's jealousy led him to try to kill David, but David's escape reveals God's faithful protection.
Context
This chapter follows David’s victory over Goliath. As Saul returns from battle, women sing that David has killed ten thousands while Saul killed only thousands. Jealousy takes root in Saul’s heart. The next day, an evil spirit from God comes upon him, and he begins to prophesy in his house. David plays the harp as he usually does, but Saul holds a spear. In this verse, Saul hurls the spear, intending to pin David to the wall. David evades him, and this happens twice. The scene shows how quickly envy turns to violence, even against the man who served him faithfully.
Saul had once loved David, but comparison poisoned that affection. The spear was a king’s symbol of authority, but here it becomes a weapon of murder. God does not intervene visibly, yet David survives. This sets the pattern for the rest of Saul’s long pursuit of David.
Key Words
The Hebrew verb for cast (va.yatal, from H2904) means to hurl with force. Saul did not lose his temper in a flash; he deliberately threw a spear meant to kill. The word for said (va.yomer, from H0559) often carries the sense of saying in one’s heart, thinking or intending. Saul had been nursing the plan since he heard the women’s song. His action was not impulsive but plotted.
David’s escape uses the verb went around (va.yisov, from H5437), meaning to turn aside or avoid. He slipped away from Saul’s presence. The phrase from his presence (literally from before his face) emphasizes the closeness of the danger. Twice David escaped. The repetition shows this was no lucky dodge. God’s protection was steady, not accidental.
How Christians Read This Verse
Christians across traditions have read this verse as a sobering picture of envy’s power. Methodists like Adam Clarke highlight the spear as a king’s symbol of authority, noting that Saul used his royal position for murder. The Anglican Cambridge Bible suggests the narrative may be compressed but the jealousy grew gradually. Baptist commentator John Gill reports that the Jewish scholar Abarbinel thought David turned aside unconsciously, guided by God’s providence even without knowing the danger. Matthew Henry sees David’s troubles beginning from his triumphs. Together, these readings remind us that Scripture does not flatten the story into a simple moral; it lets the tension stand, human choice, divine sovereignty, and quiet rescue all at work.
A common misunderstanding
A common misreading is to think Saul threw the spear in a sudden, unplanned fit of madness. In fact, as the lexicon shows, the Hebrew verb for he said often means thinking or intending in the heart. Saul had been nursing jealousy since the women’s song. His action was premeditated, not impulsive. This makes the sin more serious, and God’s protection of David more striking.
Living This Out
This verse asks you to watch your own heart when comparison creeps in. Saul’s jealousy began with a song that hurt his pride. It ended with a spear aimed at a friend. This week, when you feel threatened by someone else’s success, pause. Ask God to search your motives. And if you are the one under attack, at work, in your family, in your church, remember that God sees. David escaped twice. God can make a way for you too, even when the weapon is already in the air.
Main takeaway: Jealousy can turn love into hatred, but God protects the innocent even when danger is close.
For Families
For ages 5, 8
King Saul was angry because people said David was a great fighter. He threw a spear at David, but David moved out of the way. God took care of David.
For ages 9, 12
Saul let jealousy grow in his heart after hearing a song that praised David more than him. The next day, he tried to kill David by throwing a spear at him. But David escaped, not once, but twice. This shows that God was watching over David even when danger came suddenly. It also warns us how dangerous jealousy can be if we let it take root.
Questions People Ask
Why did Saul try to kill David in I Samuel 18:11?
Saul’s jealousy was triggered when women sang that David had killed ten thousands while Saul only thousands (1 Samuel 18:7). The comparison wounded Saul’s pride, and he began to see David as a threat to his kingdom. The next day, an evil spirit came on Saul, and in his rage he hurled a spear at David.
What does ‘twice’ mean in I Samuel 18:11?
David escaped Saul’s spear throw twice. Some commentators think this refers to one attempt here and another later (1 Samuel 19:10). Others see two throws in the same episode. Either way, the repetition emphasizes God’s ongoing protection. David did not just get lucky once; God preserved him repeatedly.
Was David aware of Saul’s attack or was it divine intervention?
The text says David ‘went around’ out of Saul’s presence. It does not say he saw the spear coming. One ancient Jewish commentator, Abarbinel, suggested David was so focused on playing the harp that he turned aside without knowing the danger. Many Christians see this as God’s providential protection, whether through David’s instincts or direct intervention.
What is the ‘evil spirit from God’ in this chapter?
In 1 Samuel 18:10, an evil spirit from God came mightily on Saul. Historic Christian teaching understands this as a judgment from God, allowing a harmful spirit to torment Saul because of his disobedience (see 1 Samuel 16:14). This does not mean God is the author of evil, but that He sometimes permits spiritual forces to carry out His purposes.
How does this verse connect to later attempts on David’s life?
This is the first of several times Saul tries to kill David. In 1 Samuel 19:10, Saul again throws a spear and David escapes. Later Saul pursues David into the wilderness. Each time, God protects David. As Psalm 37:32, 33 says, “The wicked watch the righteous, and seek to kill him. Yahweh will not leave him in his hand.”
For pastors & researchers
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