1 Samuel 15:29

15:29 The Preeminent One of Israel does not go back on his word or change his mind, for he is not a human being who changes his mind.”

1 Samuel 18:16

18:16 But all Israel and Judah loved David, for he was the one leading them out to battle and back.

1 Samuel 19:14

19:14 When Saul sent messengers to arrest David, she said, “He’s sick.”

1 Samuel 30:31

30:31 and Hebron; and for those in whatever other places David and his men had traveled.


tn Heb “splendor,” used here by metonymy as a title for the Lord.

tn Or perhaps “does not lie.”

sn This observation marks the preceding statement (v. 28) as an unconditional, unalterable decree. When God makes such a decree he will not alter it or change his mind. This does not mean that God never deviates from his stated intentions or changes his mind. On the contrary, several passages describe him as changing his mind. In fact, his willingness to do so is one of his fundamental divine attributes (see Joel 2:13; Jonah 4:2). For a fuller discussion see R. B. Chisholm, Jr., “Does God Change His Mind?” BSac 152 (1995): 387-99.