1 Samuel

1 Samuel 21:1–7

1Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David, he trembled and asked him, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?”

2“The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission on which I am sending you. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place. 3Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”

4“There is no common bread on hand,” the priest replied, “but there is some consecrated bread — provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.”

5David answered, “Women have indeed been kept from us, as is usual when I set out. And the bodies of the young men are holy even on common missions. How much more so today!”

6So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.

7Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul.

Read all of 1 Samuel 21

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Samuel 21:1

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Davidדָוִד֙ḏā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
cameוַיָּבֹ֤אway·yā·ḇōConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
to Nobנֹ֔בֶהnō·ḇehNoun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singularH5011 Nob
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֖לֶךְ’ă·ḥî·me·leḵNoun - proper - masculine singularH288 Achimelek
the priestהַכֹּהֵ֑ןhak·kō·hênArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3548 priest
And when Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֜לֶךְ’ă·ḥî·me·leḵNoun - proper - masculine singularH288 Achimelek
metלִקְרַ֣אתliq·raṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7122 encounter, befall
Davidדָּוִ֗דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
he trembledוַיֶּחֱרַ֨דway·ye·ḥĕ·raḏConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH2729 tremble, be terrified
and askedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
himלוֹ֙lōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
Whyמַדּ֤וּעַmad·dū·a‘AdverbH4069 wherefore?
youאַתָּה֙’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
aloneלְבַדֶּ֔ךָlə·ḇad·de·ḵāPreposition-l; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH905 separation
Why isוְאִ֖ישׁwə·’îšConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH376 man
no oneאֵ֥ין’ênAdverbH369 nothing, nought
with youאִתָּֽךְ׃’it·tāḵPreposition; second person masculine singularH854 with

1 Samuel 21:2

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The kingהַמֶּלֶךְ֮ham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
has given meצִוַּ֣נִיṣiw·wa·nîVerb - Piel - Perfect - third person masculine singular; first person common singularH6680 lay charge (upon), give charge (to), charge, command, order
a missionדָבָר֒ḏā·ḇārNoun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
Davidדָּוִ֜דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
repliedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
He toldוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
meאֵלַ֗י’ê·layPreposition; first person common singularH413 motion to
no oneאַל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
is to knowיֵ֧דַעyê·ḏa‘Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH3045 know
aboutאֶת־’eṯ-Direct object markerH853 mark of the accusative
the missionהַדָּבָ֛רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
on whichאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer-Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
Iאָנֹכִ֥י’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
am sending youשֹׁלֵֽחֲךָ֖šō·lê·ḥă·ḵāVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH7971 send
Andוְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-Conjunctive waw; Direct object markerH853 mark of the accusative
I have directedיוֹדַ֔עְתִּיyō·w·ḏa‘·tîVerb - Piel - Perfect - first person common singularH3045 know
young menהַנְּעָרִ֣יםhan·nə·‘ā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5288 a shaking, scattering
to meet meאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
at a certain placeמְק֥וֹםmə·qō·wmNoun - masculine singular constructH4725 standing, spot, condition

1 Samuel 21:3

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Now thenוְעַתָּ֗הwə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
whatמַה־mah-InterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
do you haveיֵּ֧שׁyêšAdverbH3426 being, substance, existence
onתַּֽחַת־ta·ḥaṯ-PrepositionH8478 the under part
handיָדְךָ֛yā·ḏə·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH3027 hand
Giveתְּנָ֣הtə·nāhVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singularH5414 give, put, set
fiveחֲמִשָּׁה־ḥă·miš·šāh-Number - masculine singularH2568 five
breadלֶ֖חֶםle·ḥemNoun - masculine singularH3899 bread, food
orא֖וֹ’ōwConjunctionH176 or
whatever can be foundהַנִּמְצָֽא׃han·nim·ṣāArticle; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH4672 attain to, find

1 Samuel 21:4

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
noאֵֽין־’ên-AdverbH369 nothing, nought
commonחֹ֖לḥōlNoun - masculine singularH2455 profaneness, commonness
breadלֶ֥חֶםle·ḥemNoun - masculine singular constructH3899 bread, food
onתַּ֣חַתta·ḥaṯPrepositionH8478 the under part
handיָדִ֑יyā·ḏîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH3027 hand
the priestהַכֹּהֵ֤ןhak·kō·hênArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3548 priest
repliedוַיַּ֨עַןway·ya·‘anConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6030 answer, respond
butאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
there is someיֵ֔שׁyêšAdverbH3426 being, substance, existence
consecratedקֹ֙דֶשׁ֙qō·ḏešNoun - masculine singularH6944 sacred, sanctity
breadלֶ֤חֶםle·ḥemNoun - masculine singular constructH3899 bread, food
provided thatאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
the young menהַנְּעָרִ֖יםhan·nə·‘ā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5288 a shaking, scattering
have kept themselvesנִשְׁמְר֥וּniš·mə·rūVerb - Nifal - Perfect - third person common pluralH8104 keep, watch, preserve
from womenמֵאִשָּֽׁה׃פmê·’iš·šāhPreposition-m; Noun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female

1 Samuel 21:5

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Davidדָּוִ֨דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
answeredוַיַּעַן֩way·ya·‘anConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6030 answer, respond
Womenאִשָּׁ֤ה’iš·šāhNoun - feminine singularH802 woman, wife, female
indeedאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
keptעֲצֻֽרָה־‘ă·ṣu·rāh-Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singularH6113 restrain, retain
from usלָ֙נוּ֙lā·nūPreposition; first person common plural
as is usualשִׁלְשֹׁ֔םšil·šōmAdverbH8032 three days ago
when I set outבְּצֵאתִ֕יbə·ṣê·ṯîPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; first person common singularH3318 go or come out
And the bodiesכְלֵֽי־ḵə·lê-Noun - masculine plural constructH3627 article, utensil, vessel
of the young menהַנְּעָרִ֖יםhan·nə·‘ā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH5288 a shaking, scattering
areוַיִּהְי֥וּway·yih·yūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
holyקֹ֑דֶשׁqō·ḏešNoun - masculine singularH6944 sacred, sanctity
evenוְהוּא֙wə·hūConjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
on commonחֹ֔לḥōlNoun - masculine singularH2455 profaneness, commonness
missionsדֶּ֣רֶךְde·reḵNoun - common singularH1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
How muchוְאַ֕ףwə·’ap̄ConjunctionH637 also, yea
more soכִּ֥יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
todayהַיּ֖וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day

1 Samuel 21:6

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So the priestהַכֹּהֵ֖ןhak·kō·hênArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3548 priest
gaveוַיִּתֶּן־way·yit·ten-Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
himל֥וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
the consecratedקֹ֑דֶשׁqō·ḏešNoun - masculine singularH6944 sacred, sanctity
sinceכִּי֩kîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
there wasהָ֨יָהhā·yāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
noלֹא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
breadלֶ֗חֶםle·ḥemNoun - masculine singularH3899 bread, food
thereשָׁ֜םšāmAdverbH8033 there, thither
butאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
the Breadלֶ֤חֶםle·ḥemNoun - masculine singular constructH3899 bread, food
of the Presenceהַפָּנִים֙hap·pā·nîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH6440 face, before
which had been removedהַמּֽוּסָרִים֙ham·mū·sā·rîmArticle; Verb - Hofal - Participle - masculine pluralH5493 turn aside
from beforeמִלִּפְנֵ֣יmil·lip̄·nêPreposition-m, Preposition-l; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
and replaced withלָשׂוּם֙lā·śūmPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7760 put, place, set
hotחֹ֔םḥōmNoun - masculine singularH2527 heat
breadלֶ֣חֶםle·ḥemNoun - masculine singular constructH3899 bread, food
on the dayבְּי֖וֹםbə·yō·wmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3117 day
it was taken awayהִלָּקְחֽוֹ׃hil·lā·qə·ḥōwVerb - Nifal - Infinitive construct; third person masculine singularH3947 take

1 Samuel 21:7

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Now oneאִישׁ֩’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
of Saul’sשָׁא֜וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
servantsמֵעַבְדֵ֨יmê·‘aḇ·ḏêPreposition-m; Noun - masculine plural constructH5650 slave, servant
was thereוְשָׁ֡םwə·šāmConjunctive waw; AdverbH8033 there, thither
thatהַה֗וּאha·hūArticle; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbay·yō·wmPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
detainedנֶעְצָר֙ne‘·ṣārVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH6113 restrain, retain
beforeלִפְנֵ֣יlip̄·nêPreposition-l; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
And his nameוּשְׁמ֖וֹū·šə·mōwConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH8034 name
Doegדֹּאֵ֣גdō·’êḡNoun - proper - masculine singularH1673 Doeg
the Edomiteהָאֲדֹמִ֑יhā·’ă·ḏō·mîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH130 Edomite
the chiefאַבִּ֥יר’ab·bîrAdjective - masculine singular constructH47 mighty, valiant
shepherdהָרֹעִ֖יםhā·rō·‘îmArticle; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine pluralH7462 pasture, tend, graze
forאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
Saulלְשָׁאֽוּל׃lə·šā·’ūlPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Samuel 21:1 Nehemiah 11:32 · Mark 2:26 · Isaiah 10:32 · 1 Samuel 16:4 · 1 Samuel 14:3

1 Samuel 21:2 Galatians 2:12 · Colossians 3:9

1 Samuel 21:4 Matthew 12:3–4 · Exodus 19:15 · Exodus 25:30 · 1 Corinthians 7:5 · Zechariah 7:3 · Leviticus 24:5–9 · 1 Samuel 21:6

1 Samuel 21:6 Luke 6:3–4 · Matthew 12:3–4 · Leviticus 24:5–9 · Mark 2:25–27

1 Samuel 21:7 1 Samuel 22:9 · Psalm 52:1–9 · 1 Chronicles 27:29

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.