1 Samuel 21:5

1 Samuel 21:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.
• New International Version (NIV)David replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men’s bodies are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!”
• English Standard Version (ESV)And David answered the priest, "Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.”

Context of 1 Samuel 21:5

3Now, what is there to eat? Give me five loaves of bread or anything else you have.” 4“We don’t have any regular bread,” the priest replied. “But there is the holy bread, which you can have if your young men have not slept with any women recently.” “Don’t worry,” David replied. “I never allow my men to be with women when we are on a campaign. And since they stay clean even on ordinary trips, how much more on this one!” 6Since there was no other food available, the priest gave him the holy bread—the Bread of the Presence that was placed before the Lord in the Tabernacle. It had just been replaced that day with fresh bread. 7Now Doeg the Edomite, Saul’s chief herdsman, was there that day, having been detained before the Lord.

1 Samuel 21:5 word by word

וַיַּעַן֩ דָּוִ֨ד אֶת־הַכֹּהֵ֜ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֗וֹ כִּ֣י אִם־אִשָּׁ֤ה עֲצֻֽרָה־לָ֙נוּ֙ כִּתְמ֣וֹל שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם בְּצֵאתִ֕י וַיִּהְי֥וּ כְלֵֽי־הַנְּעָרִ֖ים קֹ֑דֶשׁ וְהוּא֙ דֶּ֣רֶךְ חֹ֔ל וְאַ֕ף כִּ֥י הַיּ֖וֹם יִקְדַּ֥שׁ בַּכֶּֽלִי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Davidדָּוִדdâvid dâvîyd · DavidH1732
• answeredעוּן‛ânâh · to dwellH6030
• the priestכֹּהֵןkôhên · priestH3548
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto him, Of a truthאִם'im · ifH518
• womenאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• keptעָצַר‛âtsar · to restrainH6113
• from us about these threeשִׁלְשֹׁםshilshôm shilshôm · three days agoH8032
• daysתְּמוֹלtemôl temôl · yesterdayH8543
• since I came outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• and the vesselsכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• of the young menנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• are holyקֹ֫דֶשׁqôdesh · holinessH6944
• in a mannerדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: journeyH1870
• commonחֹלchôl · commonH2455
• yea, though it were sanctifiedקָדַשׁqâdash · to consecrate: consecateH6942
• this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 21:5

• Acts 9:15But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.
• 1 Thessalonians 4:3God’s will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.
• 2 Timothy 2:20In a wealthy home some utensils are made of gold and silver, and some are made of wood and clay. The expensive utensils are used for special occasions, and the cheap ones are for everyday use.
• 1 Peter 3:17Remember, it is better to suffer for doing good, if that is what God wants, than to suffer for doing wrong!
• Leviticus 24:9The loaves of bread will belong to Aaron and his descendants, who must eat them in a sacred place, for they are most holy. It is the permanent right of the priests to claim this portion of the special gifts presented to the Lord.”
• Leviticus 8:26On top of these he placed a thin cake of bread made without yeast, a cake of bread mixed with olive oil, and a wafer spread with olive oil. All these were taken from the basket of bread made without yeast that was placed in the Lord’s presence.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 21:5

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 5The vessels of the young men … - i. e., their clothes Deuteronomy 22:5 or wallets (marginal reference), or other articles which might be Levitically unclean and need cleansing (Leviticus 13:58; Exodus 19:10, etc.; Mark 7:4), as well as the person. And the bread … - The meaning is; “Though it is treating it like common bread to give it to me and my young men, there is fresh showbread baked and put on the table in place of what you give us;” the day being…Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 55. these three days--as required by law (Ex 19:15). David and his attendants seem to have been lurking in some of the adjoining caves, to elude pursuit, and to have been, consequently, reduced to great extremities of hunger. the bread is in a manner common--that is, now that it is no longer standing on the Lord's table. It is eaten by the priests, and may also, in our circumstances, be eaten by us. yea, though it were sanctified this day in the…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 21:5

• Betrayal
• Confidence
• David
• Tabernacle

In the dictionaries

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

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