1 Samuel

1 Samuel 21:8–15

8Then David asked Ahimelech, “Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s mission was urgent.”

9The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For there is no other but this one here.”

And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”

10That day David fled from Saul and went to Achish king of Gath. 11But the servants of Achish said to him, “Is this not David, the king of the land? Did they not sing about him in their dances, saying:

‘Saul has slain his thousands,

and David his tens of thousands’?”

12Now David took these words to heart and was very much afraid of Achish the king of Gath. 13So he changed his behavior before them and feigned madness in their hands; he scratched on the doors of the gate and let his saliva run down his beard.

14Then Achish said to his servants, “Look, you can see that the man is insane! Why have you brought him to me? 15Am I in need of madmen, that you have brought this man to rave in my presence? Must this man come into my house?”

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 21:8

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Davidדָּוִד֙dā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
askedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Ahimelechלַאֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְla·’ă·ḥî·me·leḵPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH288 Achimelek
Is thereיֶשׁ־yeš-AdverbH3426 being, substance, existence
notוְאִ֛יןwə·’înConjunctive waw; AdverbH371 is it not?
a spearחֲנִ֣יתḥă·nîṯNoun - feminine singularH2595 spear
orאוֹ־’ōw-ConjunctionH176 or
swordחָ֑רֶבḥā·reḇNoun - feminine singularH2719 sword
onתַֽחַת־ṯa·ḥaṯ-PrepositionH8478 the under part
handיָדְךָ֖yā·ḏə·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH3027 hand
hereפֹּ֥הpōhAdverbH6311 here, hither
Forכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
I have broughtלָקַ֣חְתִּיlā·qaḥ·tîVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singularH3947 take
neitherלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
my swordחַרְבִּ֤יḥar·bîNoun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH2719 sword
norוְגַם־wə·ḡam-PunctuationH1571 also, moreover, yea
my weaponsכֵּלַי֙kê·layNoun - masculine plural construct; first person common singularH3627 article, utensil, vessel
with meבְיָדִ֔יḇə·yā·ḏîPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; first person common singularH3027 hand
becauseכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
the king’sהַמֶּ֖לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
missionדְבַר־ḏə·ḇar-Noun - masculine singular constructH1697 speech, word
wasהָיָ֥הhā·yāhVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
urgentנָחֽוּץ׃סnā·ḥūṣVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singularH5169 urge (?)

1 Samuel 21:9

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
The priestהַכֹּהֵ֗ןhak·kō·hênArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3548 priest
repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
The swordחֶרֶב֩ḥe·reḇNoun - feminine singular constructH2719 sword
of Goliathגָּלְיָ֨תgā·lə·yāṯNoun - proper - masculine singularH1555 Goljath
the Philistineהַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֜יhap·pə·liš·tîArticle; Noun - proper - masculine singularH6430 Philistine
whomאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer-Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
you killedהִכִּ֣יתָ׀hik·kî·ṯāVerb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine singularH5221 smite
in the Valleyבְּעֵ֣מֶקbə·‘ê·meqPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH6010 vale
of Elahהָאֵלָ֗הhā·’ê·lāhNounH425 Elah
is hereהִנֵּה־hin·nêh-InterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
itהִ֞יאhîPronoun - third person feminine singularH1931 he, she
wrappedלוּטָ֣הlū·ṭāhVerb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singularH3874 wrap closely, tightly, enwrap, envelope
in a clothבַשִּׂמְלָה֮ḇaś·śim·lāhPreposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singularH8071 wrapper, mantle
behindאַחֲרֵ֣י’a·ḥă·rêPrepositionH310 behind
the ephodהָאֵפוֹד֒hā·’ê·p̄ō·wḏArticle; Noun - masculine singularH646 ephod
Ifאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
you wantאֹתָ֤הּ’ō·ṯāhDirect object marker; third person feminine singularH853 mark of the accusative
you may take itתִּֽקַּח־tiq·qaḥ-Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singularH3947 take
Forכִּ֣יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
noאֵ֥ין’ênAdverbH369 nothing, nought
otherאַחֶ֛רֶת’a·ḥe·reṯAdjective - feminine singularH312 another
but this oneזוּלָתָ֖הּzū·lā·ṯāhPreposition; third person feminine singularH2108 removal
hereבָּזֶ֑הbā·zehPreposition-b; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
And Davidדָּוִ֛דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
saidוַיֹּ֧אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
noneאֵ֥ין’ênAdverbH369 nothing, nought
like itכָּמ֖וֹהָkā·mō·w·hāPreposition; third person feminine singularH3644 like, as, when
give itתְּנֶ֥נָּהtə·nen·nāhVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singularH5414 give, put, set
to meלִּֽי׃lîPreposition; first person common singular

1 Samuel 21:10

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Thatהַה֖וּאha·hūArticle; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
dayבַּיּוֹם־bay·yō·wm-Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
Davidדָּוִ֔דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
fledוַיִּבְרַ֥חway·yiḇ·raḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1272 go through, flee
fromמִפְּנֵ֣יmip·pə·nêPreposition-m; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
Saulשָׁא֑וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
and wentוַיָּבֹ֕אway·yā·ḇōConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Achishאָכִ֖ישׁ’ā·ḵîšNoun - proper - masculine singularH397 Akish
king ofמֶ֥לֶךְme·leḵNoun - masculine singular constructH4428 king
Gathגַּֽת׃gaṯNoun - proper - feminine singularH1661 wine-press

1 Samuel 21:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But the servantsעַבְדֵ֤י‘aḇ·ḏêNoun - masculine plural constructH5650 slave, servant
of Achishאָכִישׁ֙’ā·ḵîšNoun - proper - masculine singularH397 Akish
saidוַיֹּ֨אמְר֜וּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
to himאֵלָ֔יו’ê·lāwPreposition; third person masculine singularH413 motion to
thisזֶ֥הzehPronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
notהֲלוֹא־hă·lō·w-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
Davidדָוִ֖דḏā·wiḏArticle; Noun - feminine singularH1732 David
the kingמֶ֣לֶךְme·leḵH4428 king
of the landהָאָ֑רֶץhā·’ā·reṣH776 earth, land
Did they notהֲל֣וֹאhă·lō·wH3808 not
singיַעֲנ֤וּya·‘ă·nūPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH6030 answer, respond
about himלָזֶ֗הlā·zehPreposition-l; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
in their dancesבַמְּחֹלוֹת֙ḇam·mə·ḥō·lō·wṯH4246 id.
sayingלֵאמֹ֔רlê·mōrH559 utter, say
Saulשָׁאוּל֙šā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
has slainהִכָּ֤הhik·kāhH5221 smite
thousandsבְּאַלְפּוֹbə·ʾal·pōPreposition-b; Number - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH505 thousand
and Davidוְדָוִ֖דwə·ḏā·wiḏConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
tens of thousandsבְּרִבְבֹתוֹ׃bə·ri·ḇə·ḇō·ṯōPreposition-b; Number - feminine plural construct; third person masculine singularH7233 multitude, myriad, ten thousand

1 Samuel 21:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Now Davidדָּוִ֛דdā·wiḏNoun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
tookוַיָּ֧שֶׂםway·yā·śemConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7760 put, place, set
theseהָאֵ֖לֶּהhā·’êl·lehArticle; Pronoun - common pluralH428 these
wordsהַדְּבָרִ֥יםhad·də·ḇā·rîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH1697 speech, word
to heartבִּלְבָב֑וֹbil·ḇā·ḇōwPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH3824 inner man, mind, will, heart
and was very muchמְאֹ֔דmə·’ōḏAdverbH3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
afraidוַיִּרָ֣אway·yi·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3372 fear
ofמִפְּנֵ֖יmip·pə·nêPreposition-m; Noun - common plural constructH6440 face, before
Achishאָכִ֥ישׁ’ā·ḵîšNoun - proper - masculine singularH397 Akish
the kingמֶֽלֶךְ־me·leḵ-Noun - masculine singular constructH4428 king
of Gathגַּֽת׃gaṯNoun - proper - feminine singularH1661 wine-press

1 Samuel 21:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So he changedוַיְשַׁנּ֤וֹway·šan·nōwConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular; third person masculine singularH8138 change
his behaviorטַעְמוֹ֙ṭa‘·mōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH2940 taste, judgement
before themבְּעֵ֣ינֵיהֶ֔םbə·‘ê·nê·hemPreposition-b; Noun - cdc; third person masculine pluralH5869 eye
and feigned madnessוַיִּתְהֹלֵ֖לway·yiṯ·hō·lêlConjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH1984 shine
in their handsבְּיָדָ֑םbə·yā·ḏāmPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH3027 hand
he scratchedוַיְתַוway·ṯawConjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH8427 make or set a mark
onעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
the doorsדַּלְת֣וֹתdal·ṯō·wṯNoun - feminine plural constructH1817 door
of the gateהַשַּׁ֔עַרhaš·ša·‘arArticle; Noun - masculine singularH8179 gate
and let his salivaרִיר֖וֹrî·rōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH7388 slimy juice, spittle
runוַיּ֥וֹרֶדway·yō·w·reḏConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3381 come or go down, descend
downאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
his beardזְקָנֽוֹ׃zə·qā·nōwNoun - common singular construct; third person masculine singularH2206 chin, beard

1 Samuel 21:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then Achishאָכִ֖ישׁ’ā·ḵîšNoun - proper - masculine singularH397 Akish
saidוַיֹּ֥אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
toאֶל־’el-H413 motion to
his servantsעֲבָדָ֑יו‘ă·ḇā·ḏāwNoun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
Lookהִנֵּ֤הhin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
you can seeתִרְאוּ֙ṯir·’ūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH7200 see
the manאִ֣ישׁ’îšNoun - masculine singularH376 man
is insaneמִשְׁתַּגֵּ֔עַmiš·tag·gê·a‘Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singularH7696 be mad
Whyלָ֛מָּהlām·māhInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
have you broughtתָּבִ֥יאוּtā·ḇî·’ūVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
himאֹת֖וֹ’ō·ṯōwDirect object marker; third person masculine singularH853 mark of the accusative
to meאֵלָֽי׃’ê·lāyPreposition; first person common singularH413 motion to

1 Samuel 21:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Am Iאָ֔נִי’ā·nîPronoun - first person common singularH589 I
in need ofחֲסַ֤רḥă·sarAdjective - masculine singular constructH2638 needy, lacking, in want of
madmenמְשֻׁגָּעִים֙mə·šug·gā·‘îmVerb - Pual - Participle - masculine pluralH7696 be mad
thatכִּי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
you have broughtהֲבֵאתֶ֣םhă·ḇê·ṯemVerb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
this manזֶ֔הzehPronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
to raveלְהִשְׁתַּגֵּ֖עַlə·hiš·tag·gê·a‘Preposition-l; Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive constructH7696 be mad
in my presenceעָלָ֑י‘ā·lāyPreposition; first person common singularH5921 height
Must thisהֲזֶ֖הhă·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
comeיָב֥וֹאyā·ḇō·wVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
intoאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
my houseבֵּיתִֽי׃סbê·ṯîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1004 house

Cross-references

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

1 Samuel 21:9 1 Samuel 17:2

1 Samuel 21:11 1 Samuel 29:5 · Psalm 56:1–13 · 1 Samuel 16:1

1 Samuel 21:12 Luke 2:19 · Psalm 56:3 · Psalm 34:4

1 Samuel 21:13 Proverbs 29:25 · Ecclesiastes 7:7 · Psalm 34:1–22

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.