1 Samuel 21:2

1 Samuel 21:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.
• New International Version (NIV)David answered Ahimelek the priest, “The king sent me on a mission and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about the mission I am sending you on.’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has charged me with a matter and said to me, 'Let no one know anything of the matter about which I send you, and with which I have charged you.' I have made an appointment with the young men for such and such a place.
• New King James Version (NKJV)So David said to Ahimelech the priest, “The king has ordered me on some business, and said to me, ‘Do not let anyone know anything about the business on which I send you, or what I have commanded you.’ And I have directed my young men to such and such a place.

Context of 1 Samuel 21:2

1David went to the priest Ahimelech at Nob. Ahimelech was trembling as he went to meet David. “Why are you alone?” he asked David. “Why is no one with you?” “The king ordered me to do something,” David answered the priest Ahimelech, “and he told me, ‘No one must know anything about this mission I’m sending you on and about the orders I’ve given you. I’ve stationed my young men at a certain place.’ ” 3⌞David added,⌟ “Now, what do you have ⌞to eat⌟? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever you can find.” 4“I don’t have any ordinary bread,” the chief priest answered David. “But there is holy bread for the young men if they haven’t had sexual intercourse ⌞today⌟.”

1 Samuel 21:2 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לַאֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ הַכֹּהֵ֗ן הַמֶּלֶךְ֮ צִוַּ֣נִי דָבָר֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י אִ֣ישׁ אַל־יֵ֧דַע מְא֛וּמָה אֶת־הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־אָנֹכִ֥י שֹׁלֵֽחֲךָ֖ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֑ךָ וְאֶת־הַנְּעָרִ֣ים יוֹדַ֔עְתִּי אֶל־מְק֥וֹם פְּלֹנִ֖י אַלְמוֹנִֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto Ahimelechאֲחִימֶ֫לֶךְ'ăchîymelek · AhimelechH288
• the priestכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• The kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• hath commandedצָוָהtsâvâh · to commandH6680
• me a businessדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• unto me, Let no manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• knowיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
• any thingמְא֫וּמָהme'ûmâh · anythingH3972
• whereabout I sendשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: departH7971
• servantsנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• to suchפְּלֹנִיpelônîy · someoneH6423
• and suchאַלְמֹנִי'almônîy · someoneH492
• a placeמָקוֹםmâqôm mâqôm meqômâh meqômâh · placeH4725

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 21:2

• 1 Samuel 19:17Saul asked Michal, “Why did you betray me by sending my enemy away so that he could escape?” Michal answered, “He told me, ‘Let me go! Why should I kill you?’ ”
• 1 Samuel 22:22David told Abiathar, “I knew that day when Doeg from Edom was there that he would be certain to tell Saul. I am the one responsible for all the lives of your family.
• Genesis 27:20Isaac asked his son, “How did you find it so quickly, Son?” “The Lord your God brought it to me,” he answered.
• 1 Kings 13:18The old prophet said, “I’m also a prophet, like you. An angel spoke the Lord’s word to me. He said, ‘Bring him home with you so that he may have something to eat and drink.’ ” (But the old prophet was lying.)
• Psalms 119:29Turn me away from a life of lies. Graciously provide me with your teachings.
• Galatians 2:12He ate with people who were not Jewish until some men James had sent ⌞from Jerusalem⌟ arrived. Then Cephas drew back and would not associate with people who were not Jewish. He was afraid of those who insisted that circumcision was necessary.
• Colossians 3:9Don’t lie to each other. You’ve gotten rid of the person you used to be and the life you used to live,

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 21:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2The king hath commanded me a business - All said here is an untruth, and could not be dictated by the Spirit of the Lord; but there is no reason to believe that David was under the influence of Divine inspiration at this time. It is well known that from all antiquity it was held no crime to tell a lie, in order to save life. Thus Diphilus: - ̔ ͅ , . "I hold it right to tell a lie, in order to procure my personal safety; nothing should be avoided in order…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2A fresh instance of David‘s unscrupulous readiness of invention (compare 1 Samuel 20:6).Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 2“The king has given me a mission,”: David lied to hide that he was an outlaw and to ease Ahimelech's concerns.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 22. The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know--This was a direct falsehood, extorted through fear. David probably supposed, like many other persons, that a lie is quite excusable which is told for the sole purpose of saving the speaker's life. But what is essentially sinful, can never, from circumstances, change its immoral character; and David had to repent of this vice of lying (Psa 119:29).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 21:2

• Betrayal
• Confidence
• David
• Tabernacle

In the dictionaries

• David
• Ahimelech
• Bread
• Judges, Book of
• Manner
• Quotations
• Require
• Shewbread
• Abiathar
• Business

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 21

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary