1 Samuel

1 Samuel 22:11–16

11Then the king sent messengers to summon Ahimelech the priest, the son of Ahitub, and his father’s whole family, who were priests at Nob. And all of them came to the king. 12“Listen now, son of Ahitub,” said Saul.

“Here I am, my lord,” he replied.

13And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”

14Ahimelech answered the king, “Who among all your servants is as faithful as David, the king’s son-in-law, the captain of your bodyguard and honored in your house? 15Was that day the first time I inquired of God for him? Far be it from me! Let not the king accuse your servant or any of my father’s household, for your servant knew nothing of this whole affair — not in part or in whole.”

16But the king replied, “You will surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father’s house!”

Read all of 1 Samuel 22

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 22:11

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Then the kingהַמֶּ֡לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
sentוַיִּשְׁלַ֣חway·yiš·laḥConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7971 send
messengers to summonלִקְרֹא֩liq·rōPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7121 call, proclaim, read
Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֨לֶךְ’ă·ḥî·me·leḵNoun - proper - masculine singularH288 Achimelek
the priestהַכֹּהֵ֗ןhak·kō·hênArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3548 priest
the sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Ahitubאֲחִיט֜וּב’ă·ḥî·ṭūḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH285 Achitub
and his father’sאָבִ֛יו’ā·ḇîwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH1 father
wholeכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
familyבֵּ֥יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
were priestsהַכֹּהֲנִ֖יםhak·kō·hă·nîmArticle; Noun - masculine pluralH3548 priest
at Nobבְּנֹ֑בbə·nōḇPreposition-b; Noun - proper - feminine singularH5011 Nob
And allכֻלָּ֖םḵul·lāmNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine pluralH3605 the whole, all
of them cameוַיָּבֹ֥אוּway·yā·ḇō·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH935 come in, come, go in, go
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the kingהַמֶּֽלֶךְ׃סham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king

1 Samuel 22:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Listenשְֽׁמַֽע־šə·ma‘-Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singularH8085 hear
nowנָ֖אnāInterjectionH4994 I (we) pray, now
sonבֶּן־ben-Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Ahitubאֲחִיט֑וּב’ă·ḥî·ṭūḇNoun - proper - masculine singularH285 Achitub
saidוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Saulשָׁא֔וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
Here I amהִנְנִ֥יhin·nîInterjection; first person common singularH2005 lo! behold
my lordאֲדֹנִֽי׃’ă·ḏō·nîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH113 lord
he repliedוַיֹּ֖אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say

1 Samuel 22:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
And Saulשָׁא֔וּלšā·’ūlNoun - proper - masculine singularH7586 Shaul
askedוַיֹּ֤אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
himאֵלוֹʾē·lōPreposition; third person masculine singularH413 motion to
Whyלָ֚מָּהlām·māhInterrogativeH4100 what? how? aught
have youאַתָּ֖ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
and the sonוּבֶן־ū·ḇen-Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH1121 son
of Jesseיִשָׁ֑יyi·šāyNoun - proper - masculine singularH3448 Jishai
conspiredקְשַׁרְתֶּ֣םqə·šar·temVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralH7194 bind, league together, conspire
against meעָלַ֔י‘ā·layPreposition; first person common singularH5921 height
You gaveבְּתִתְּךָ֨bə·ṯit·tə·ḵāPreposition-b; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; second person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
himל֜וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
breadלֶ֣חֶםle·ḥemNoun - masculine singularH3899 bread, food
and a swordוְחֶ֗רֶבwə·ḥe·reḇConjunctive waw; Noun - feminine singularH2719 sword
and inquiredוְשָׁא֥וֹלwə·šā·’ō·wlConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteH7592 ask, inquire
of Godבֵּֽאלֹהִ֔יםbê·lō·hîmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
for himלוֹ֙lōwPreposition; third person masculine singular
so that he could rise upלָק֥וּםlā·qūmPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH6965 arise, stand up, stand
against meאֵלַ֛י’ê·layPreposition; first person common singularH413 motion to
to lie in waitלְאֹרֵ֖בlə·’ō·rêḇPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH693 lie in wait
as he is doing todayכַּיּ֥וֹםkay·yō·wmPreposition-k, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day

1 Samuel 22:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ’ă·ḥî·me·leḵNoun - proper - masculine singularH288 Achimelek
answeredוַיַּ֧עַןway·ya·‘anConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH6030 answer, respond
the kingהַמֶּ֖לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
Whoוּמִ֤יū·mîConjunctive waw; InterrogativeH4310 who?
among allבְכָל־ḇə·ḵāl-Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
your servantsעֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
is as faithfulנֶאֱמָ֔ןne·’ĕ·mānVerb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH539 confirm, support
as Davidכְּדָוִ֣דkə·ḏā·wiḏPreposition-k; Noun - proper - masculine singularH1732 David
the king’sהַמֶּ֛לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
son-in-lawוַחֲתַ֥ןwa·ḥă·ṯanConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH2860 daughter's husband, bride-groom
the captainוְסָ֥רwə·sārConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH5493 turn aside
ofאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
your bodyguardמִשְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ךָmiš·ma‘·te·ḵāNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine singularH4928 obedient band, body of subjects
and honoredוְנִכְבָּ֥דwə·niḵ·bāḏConjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Participle - masculine singularH3513 be heavy, weighty, burdensome, honoured
in your houseבְּבֵיתֶֽךָ׃bə·ḇê·ṯe·ḵāPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH1004 house

1 Samuel 22:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Was that dayהַיּ֧וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
the first timeהַחִלֹּ֛תִיha·ḥil·lō·ṯîVerb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singularH2490 bore, pierce
I inquiredלְשָׁאוֹלlə·šå̄·ʾōlPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7592 ask, inquire
of Godבֵאלֹהִ֖יםḇê·lō·hîmPreposition-b; Noun - masculine pluralH430 God
for himל֥וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singularH7592 ask, inquire
Far be itחָלִ֣ילָהḥā·lî·lāhInterjection; third person feminine singularH2486 far be it
from meלִּ֑יlîPreposition; first person common singular
Let notאַל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
the kingהַמֶּ֨לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
accuseיָשֵׂם֩yā·śêmVerb - Qal - Imperfect Jussive - third person masculine singularH7760 put, place, set
your servantבְּעַבְדּ֤וֹbə·‘aḇ·dōwPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
or anyבְּכָל־bə·ḵālPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
of my father’sאָבִ֔י’ā·ḇîNoun - masculine singular construct; first person common singularH1 father
householdבֵּ֣יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house
forכִּ֠יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
your servantעַבְדְּךָ֙‘aḇ·də·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
knewיָדַ֤עyā·ḏa‘Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH3045 know
nothingלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
of thisזֹ֔אתzōṯPronoun - feminine singularH2063 this
wholeבְּכָל־bə·ḵālPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
affairדָּבָ֥רdā·ḇārNoun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
not in partקָטֹ֖ןqā·ṭōnAdjective - masculine singularH6996 small, young, unimportant
orא֥וֹ’ōwConjunctionH176 or
in wholeגָדֽוֹל׃ḡā·ḏō·wlAdjective - masculine singularH1419 great

1 Samuel 22:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But the kingהַמֶּ֔לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
repliedוַיֹּ֣אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
You will surely dieמ֥וֹתmō·wṯVerb - Qal - Infinitive absoluteH4191 die
Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֑לֶךְ’ă·ḥî·me·leḵNoun - proper - masculine singularH288 Achimelek
youאַתָּ֖ה’at·tāhPronoun - second person masculine singularH859 thou
and allוְכָל־wə·ḵālConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
your father’sאָבִֽיךָ׃’ā·ḇî·ḵāNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singularH1 father
houseבֵּ֥יתbêṯNoun - masculine singular constructH1004 house

Cross-references

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

1 Samuel 22:13 1 Samuel 22:8

1 Samuel 22:14 1 Samuel 19:4–5 · 1 Samuel 20:32

1 Samuel 22:15 1 Samuel 25:36 · 1 Peter 3:16–17

1 Samuel 22:16 Proverbs 28:15

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.