Keraia
1 Samuel 21

1 Samuel 21:4

David Takes the Consecrated Bread · 1 Samuel 21:1–7
Read 1 Samuel 21

Translations

Modern
“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.”
Traditional
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
Literal
And the priest answered David, and said, “There is no common bread to under my hand, but there is holy bread, if indeed the young men have kept themselves from women.”
Latin
Et respondens sacerdos ad David, ait illi: Non habeo laicos panes ad manum, sed tantum panem sanctum: si mundi sunt pueri, maxime a mulieribus?

Interlinear

Hebrew
English
“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.”

Notes

1 Samuel 21:4

  • Only priests could eat the holy bread (see Exodus 25:22–30; Leviticus 24:5–9), and only within sacred areas.

  • kept themselves from women: The holy bread was for those who were ceremonially pure. The priest checked that David’s men were not ceremonially impure from sexual activity (see Leviticus 15:16–18). Normally, people who were not priests could not eat this bread. The priest made an exception because he saw the men's needs and believed they were on a royal mission.

Theme notes and profiles

David Saul Violation of the Sacred

Events

Parallels

Matthew 12:1–8 Mark 2:23–28 Luke 6:1–5

People

David: Anointed king of Israel, ancestor of Jesus Christ

Glossary

Abiathar Ahijah Ahimelech Bread of the Presence David Doeg Nob Samuel, Books of First and Second

Topics

Betrayal of David, by Doeg Bread: Ordinary, Called Common Bread Bread: Sacred, Called Hallowed Bread Confidence: Betrayed: Ahimelech, by David David: King of Israel: Escapes by Way of Nob, where he Obtains Shewbread and Goliath's Sword from Abimelech Nob: Probable Seat of the Tabernacle in Saul's Time Priests: Revenues of Show-Bread After Its Removal Shewbread: Called Hallowed Bread Shewbread: Not Lawful for Any but the Priests to Eat, Except in Extreme Tabernacle was Set up in Nob Tabernacle: Pitched: At Nob