1 Samuel 21 4

1 Samuel 21:4 kjv

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.

1 Samuel 21:4 nkjv

And the priest answered David and said, "There is no common bread on hand; but there is holy bread, if the young men have at least kept themselves from women."

1 Samuel 21:4 niv

But the priest answered David, "I don't have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here?provided the men have kept themselves from women."

1 Samuel 21:4 esv

And the priest answered David, "I have no common bread on hand, but there is holy bread ? if the young men have kept themselves from women."

1 Samuel 21:4 nlt

"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."

1 Samuel 21 verses

1 Samuel 21 4 Meaning

This verse captures a pivotal moment where David, fleeing from Saul and desperately hungry, requests food from Ahimelech the priest at Nob. Ahimelech states that he has no ordinary bread available, only the holy bread—the showbread. He agrees to give it to David and his men, but only under the condition that David's "young men" (though David was alone at this point, he was referring to his assumed companions, implying they were on a king's mission) have remained ritually pure by abstaining from relations with women. This highlights the tension between pressing human need and strict adherence to sacred ritual law, laying groundwork for future biblical interpretations.

1 Samuel 21 4 Context

This event occurs during a critical period in David’s life when he is a desperate fugitive from King Saul, who seeks to kill him (1 Sam 19-20). Having recently parted with Jonathan, David arrives alone (though he fabricates the presence of "young men" for a royal mission) at Nob, the city where the Tabernacle and its priestly service were located at that time. Ahimelech, the high priest, recognizes David, but is apprehensive due to David’s lone and seemingly unusual arrival. David, famished and without provisions, urgently seeks bread. The scarcity of ordinary food leads to the proposition of using the holy showbread, highlighting a conflict between a strict interpretation of ritual law and the dire needs of an anointed leader in crisis.

1 Samuel 21 4 Word analysis

• And the priest: Refers to Ahimelech (`אֲחִימֶלֶךְ`, Ahimelech), son of Ahitub. He was the high priest at Nob, overseeing the Tabernacle, its services, and the sacred objects, including the showbread. His role was to mediate between God and man according to the Law, ensuring ritual purity.
• answered David: Indicates a direct dialogue. David had approached Ahimelech with a fabricated story about being on a secret mission for the king and needing provisions for himself and his "young men."
• and said: Introduces Ahimelech's specific reply, which outlines the limited availability of bread and the conditions for accessing the holy bread.
• There is no common bread: (`אֵין־לֶחֶם חֹל`, ein lechem chol). "Common bread" (`לחם חֹל`, lechem chol) refers to ordinary, unconsecrated bread, available for general consumption. Its absence underscores David’s desperate situation and the Tabernacle’s limited provisions for unannounced visitors or laymen.
• but there is holy bread: (`לֶחֶם קֹדֶשׁ יֵשׁ`, lechem qodesh yesh). "Holy bread" (`לחם קֹדֶשׁ`, lechem qodesh) refers specifically to the showbread, or Bread of the Presence (`לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים`, lechem hapanim), which was laid out perpetually before the Lord in the Tabernacle (Exod 25:30; Lev 24:5-9). This bread was exclusively for the priests to eat in a holy place once it was replaced with fresh loaves each Sabbath. This statement sets up the core dilemma.
• if only: (`וְאִם`, ve'im). This conjunction introduces a crucial condition, signifying Ahimelech's concern for upholding ritual purity even amidst David’s dire need. It represents a strict adherence to cultic regulations.
• the young men: (`הַנְּעָרִים`, han'arim). David had claimed he had young men with him on a secret mission (1 Sam 21:2), even though he was alone. Ahimelech's question is based on David's representation, and the 'young men' imply any individuals accompanying David, not necessarily those physically with him at that immediate moment but those he would join.
• have kept themselves from women: (`נִשְׁמְרוּ מֵאִשָּׁה`, nishmeru me'ishshah). This refers to ritual purity, specifically abstaining from sexual relations (conjugal union). Such purity was required for individuals approaching holy things, participating in sacred acts, or engaging in war, reflecting a Levitical standard of holiness before God (Exod 19:15; Lev 15:18). Ahimelech imposes this condition to justify a potential violation of the showbread law.

• "no common bread... holy bread": This phrase contrasts the secular and sacred, emphasizing that only the consecrated remained. It presents a theological and practical quandary for the priest.
• "holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women": This phrase group links the sanctity of the showbread with the required purity of those who would consume it, extending purity regulations beyond priests to special cases involving contact with holy things. Ahimelech is trying to find a basis, however tenuous, to legitimize providing the holy bread under exceptional circumstances. This condition highlights the Jewish ritualistic understanding that purity (even temporary ritual purity by refraining from intimacy) was necessary for accessing sacred elements.

1 Samuel 21 4 Bonus section

This incident involving David and the showbread is a foundational narrative in understanding biblical principles regarding the tension between the letter and spirit of the law, and particularly the prioritization of human life and pressing necessity over ritualistic adherence. The willingness of Ahimelech to provide the holy bread, albeit with a purity condition, shows a flexibility within the priestly understanding of the Law when faced with exceptional circumstances, especially concerning someone perceived as "on the king's business" or under divine favor. While David's deceit about his mission would later contribute to Ahimelech's tragic death at Saul's hands (1 Sam 22:9-19), the moral legitimacy of giving the showbread to hungry non-priests in dire need is affirmed by Jesus. This event can also be seen typologically, as Christ, the "Bread of Life" (Jn 6:35), freely offers himself, a holy and living bread, to all who hunger, emphasizing grace and the ultimate provision for humanity's deepest needs. It serves as a reminder that external regulations are ultimately superseded by principles of love and compassion, reflecting God's heart.

1 Samuel 21 4 Commentary

First Samuel 21:4 unveils a compelling theological and ethical dilemma at Nob. Ahimelech, the high priest, faces an urgent request from David, who is desperate and on the run. The absence of common bread, coupled with the exclusive nature of the holy showbread (meant only for priests, Lev 24:5-9), presents a direct challenge to the strict letter of the Mosaic Law. Ahimelech’s condition, requiring ritual purity through abstinence from women, reflects his commitment to maintaining the sanctity of the sacred and ensuring that even extraordinary allowances were made with due respect to divine standards. However, this moment prophetically anticipates a higher principle—that mercy and human need can, under certain circumstances, take precedence over rigid ritualistic observance. This divine preference is later championed by Jesus, who cites this very incident to affirm that the Sabbath, and by extension the Law, was made for man, not man for the Sabbath (Mt 12:3-4, Mk 2:25-26, Lk 6:3-4). The underlying theme is that God desires hesed (steadfast love/mercy) more than sacrifice (Hos 6:6), recognizing that the Law's ultimate purpose is to serve humanity's well-being and glorify God, even if it requires an unusual interpretation in a dire situation. This incident also showcases David's dire state as an anointed, yet fugitive, king, prefiguring the suffering of the Messiah.