1 Samuel 22 16

1 Samuel 22:16 kjv

And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.

1 Samuel 22:16 nkjv

And the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house!"

1 Samuel 22:16 niv

But the king said, "You will surely die, Ahimelek, you and your whole family."

1 Samuel 22:16 esv

And the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's house."

1 Samuel 22:16 nlt

"You will surely die, Ahimelech, along with your entire family!" the king shouted.

1 Samuel 22 verses

1 Samuel 22 16 Meaning

King Saul, driven by escalating paranoia and unholy zeal, pronounces an irrevocable death sentence upon Ahimelech, the high priest, and his entire family lineage. This declaration is a direct result of Ahimelech unknowingly providing aid to David, whom Saul perceives as his enemy. The verdict signifies a tyrannical abuse of royal power, a shocking disregard for priestly sanctity, and a profound deviation from divine law, condemning innocent individuals to sure death without due process.

1 Samuel 22 16 Context

1 Samuel 22:16 is a pivotal moment following David's escape from Saul and his flight to Nob, where the priest Ahimelech, unaware of the animosity between Saul and David, provided David with the consecrated bread (showbread) and Goliath's sword. Doeg the Edomite, an official of Saul, witnessed this and reported it to Saul, twisting the facts to accuse Ahimelech and the other priests of conspiracy. Consumed by irrational fear and deep-seated paranoia over losing his throne to David, and having already been rejected by God, Saul summons Ahimelech and his entire priestly family to Gibeah. In a swift, unjudicial, and terrifying display of absolute power, Saul condemns them to death without a trial, overriding their truthful defense and condemning an entire lineage associated with God’s service, simply because they unwittingly assisted his perceived rival. This act demonstrates Saul's spiritual degradation, highlighting his shift from a chosen king to a ruthless tyrant defying divine standards.

1 Samuel 22 16 Word analysis

• And the king said:

  • And (וַיֹּ֣אמֶר - vayyomer): A simple conjunctive, but in narrative flow, it marks a direct transition to Saul's decisive and fearful pronouncement, following his questioning of Ahimelech.
  • the king (הַמֶּ֗לֶךְ - hammelech): Refers specifically to King Saul. The title here emphasizes the power behind the decree—royal authority misused. Saul, as king, was supposed to be a guardian of justice (2 Sam 8:15, Ps 72), but instead, he became an instrument of unrighteousness.
  • said (אמר - amar): Indicates a verbal decree, making the death sentence an immediate and official pronouncement, not a mere thought or suggestion.

• You shall surely die, Ahimelech,

  • You shall surely die (מ֥וֹת תָּמ֖וּת - mot tamut): This is a Hebrew grammatical construction known as the absolute infinitive, formed by repeating the verb stem (verb followed by its infinitive absolute). It conveys extreme emphasis, certainty, and an irreversible decree. It is often used for a severe divine judgment (Gen 2:17 "you shall surely die" if you eat from the tree of knowledge; Ex 21:12 "whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be surely put to death"). Here, it's Saul speaking, presuming divine authority or exercising extreme judicial power beyond God's law. This phrase underscores the brutality and definitive nature of Saul's condemnation.
  • Ahimelech (אֲחִימֶלֶךְ - Achimelech): "My brother is king," or "Brother of the king," a fitting name for one serving God and Israel. He is the high priest, son of Ahitub, grandson of Phinehas, and great-grandson of Eli (1 Sam 14:3). As high priest, he represents the spiritual leadership and sacred institutions of Israel. His targeted death signifies Saul's defiance of God and His established order.

• you and all your father's house:

  • you (אַתָּ֕ה - attah): Explicitly confirms Ahimelech himself is condemned.
  • and all (וְכָל - vekhol): A comprehensive inclusion.
  • your father's house (בֵית־אָבִֽיךָ - beit-avikha): This phrase refers to the entire family line, including his descendants, relatives, and those associated with him, particularly other priests serving at Nob. It represents corporate punishment, a practice generally prohibited in Israelite law for individual transgressions (Deut 24:16; 2 Kgs 14:6), though present in divine judgment against notorious sins (Ex 20:5 for idolatry, Achan's case in Josh 7:24-25). Saul’s extending the sentence to the entire house demonstrates his ruthless paranoia and the desire to completely eliminate any potential source of disloyalty. This specific curse tragically mirrors the earlier prophecy against the house of Eli in 1 Sam 2:31-33.

1 Samuel 22 16 Bonus section

• The slaughter of the priests at Nob, commanded by Saul and executed by Doeg the Edomite (as Saul's own guard refused), resulted in the death of 85 priests who wore the linen ephod (1 Sam 22:18), further emphasizing the magnitude of this unholy act against the sacred personnel. This horrific event also involved the destruction of the city of Nob, killing men, women, children, infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep (1 Sam 22:19), showing the absolute depravity and barbarity Saul was capable of, going beyond his initial decree.
• The sole survivor of this massacre was Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, who fled to David (1 Sam 22:20-21). Abiathar’s escape and allegiance to David ensured that a high priestly lineage (albeit from Eli’s flawed house) would continue to serve God’s true anointed, underscoring the sovereignty of God’s plan even amidst great human evil. This eventually led to Abiathar being the priest who carried the ephod (instrument of divine guidance) for David (1 Sam 23:6, 9), symbolizing divine approval for David and confirming Saul's complete alienation from God.

1 Samuel 22 16 Commentary

1 Samuel 22:16 captures Saul's tyrannical descent and ultimate spiritual demise. The "you shall surely die" decree reflects a king completely severed from divine wisdom and operating solely on fear and personal vindication. Ahimelech, an innocent priest performing his sacred duties, became a casualty of Saul's irrational jealousy and rejection by God. This event at Nob signifies not merely a personal vendetta but an assault on the very institutions of God—the priesthood and, implicitly, God’s anointed (David). Saul’s command for the corporate punishment of "all your father’s house" demonstrates his extreme cruelty and utter disregard for Israelite justice, anticipating God's judgment upon Saul himself. It’s a tragic parallel to the very curses of extermination that were prophesied for Eli’s house, ironically fulfilled through the actions of the wicked king, serving as a dark testament to Saul's spiraling evil. This act highlights how those who depart from God's way become instruments of great destruction and reveals the dangers of a ruler consumed by a desire for self-preservation above righteousness.