Lectionary Calendar
Saturday, June 7th, 2025
Eve of Pentacost
Attention!
Tired of seeing ads while studying? Now you can enjoy an "Ads Free" version of the site for as little as 10¢ a day and support a great cause!
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

The Holy Bible, Berean Study Bible

1 Samuel 21:8

Then David asked Ahimelech, "Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business was urgent."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Betrayal;   Confidence;   Thompson Chain Reference - Haste;   Haste-Delay;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Arms, Military;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - David;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Persecution;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Ahimelech;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Nob;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Abiathar;   Ahimelech;   Barzillai;   Nob;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Nob;   Priests and Levites;   Vale, Valley;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Ahimelech ;   Nob;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - David;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Abiathar;   Ahimelech;   Business;   Elhanan;   Ezekiel;   Haste;   Require;   Samuel, Books of;   Vessel;   Kitto Biblical Cyclopedia - Ahimelech;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Doeg;   Nob;   Sacrifice;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
David said to Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword on hand? I didn’t even bring my sword or my weapons since the king’s mission was urgent.”
Hebrew Names Version
David said to Achimelekh, Isn't there here under your hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
King James Version
And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
Lexham English Bible
David asked Ahimelech, "Is there not at your disposal a spear or a sword? For I took neither my sword nor my weapons with me because the king's matter was urgent."
English Standard Version
Then David said to Ahimelech, "Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste."
New Century Version
David asked Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or sword here? The king's business was very important, so I left without my sword or any other weapon."
New English Translation
David said to Ahimelech, "Is there no sword or spear here at your disposal? I don't have my own sword or equipment in hand due to the urgency of the king's instructions."
Amplified Bible
David said to Ahimelech, "Do you not have a sword or spear here on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my [other] weapons with me, because the king's business was urgent."
New American Standard Bible
David said to Ahimelech, "Now is there no spear or sword on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's matter was urgent."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Dauid said vnto Ahimelech, Is there not here vnder thine hand a speare or a sworde? for I haue neither brought my sworde nor mine harnesse with me, because the Kings businesse required haste.
Legacy Standard Bible
And David said to Ahimelech, "Now is there not a spear or a sword on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons in my hand because the king's matter was urgent."
Contemporary English Version
David asked Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or a sword? I had to leave so quickly on this mission for the king that I didn't bring along my sword or any other weapons."
Complete Jewish Bible
One of the servants of Sha'ul happened to be there that day, detained before Adonai . His name was Do'eg the Edomi, the head of Sha'ul's shepherds.
Darby Translation
And David said to Ahimelech, And is there not here under thy hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, for the king's business was urgent.
Easy-to-Read Version
David asked Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or sword here? The king's business is very important. I had to leave quickly, and I didn't bring my sword or any other weapon."
George Lamsa Translation
And David said to Ahimeleck, Is there not here in your possession a sword or a spear? For I have brought neither my sword nor my javelin with me, because the kings business required haste.
Good News Translation
David said to Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or a sword you can give me? The king's orders made me leave in such a hurry that I didn't have time to get my sword or any other weapon."
Literal Translation
And David said to Ahimelech, Is there not here under your hand a spear or sword? For I have taken neither my sword or my weapons, for the king's matter was urgent.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Dauid sayde vnto Ahimelech: Is there not a speare or a swerde here vnder thine hande? I haue not taken my swerde and weapens with me: for the kynges matter requyred haist.
American Standard Version
And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thy hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
Bible in Basic English
And David said to Ahimelech, Have you no sword or spear with you here? for I have come without my sword and other arms, because the king's business had to be done quickly.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Dauid sayd vnto Ahimelech: Is not here vnder thyne hand either speare or sworde? for I haue neither brought my sword nor my harnesse with me, because the kinges busines required haste.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.--
King James Version (1611)
And Dauid said vnto Ahimelech, And is there not here vnder thine hand speare or sword? for I haue neither brought my sword nor my weapons with mee, because the kings businesse required haste.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And David said to Abimelech, See if there is here under thy hand spear or sword, for I have not brought in my hand my sword or my weapons, for the word of the king was urgent.
English Revised Version
And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Dauid seide to Achymelech, If thou hast `here at hond spere, ether swerd, yyue to me; for Y took not with me my swerd and myn armeris; for the `word of the kyng constreynede me.
Young's Literal Translation
And David saith to Ahimelech, `And is there not here under thy hand spear or sword? for neither my sword nor my vessels have I taken in my hand, for the matter of the king was urgent.'
Update Bible Version
And David said to Ahimelech, And is there not here under your hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business was urgent.
Webster's Bible Translation
And David said to Ahimelech, And is there not here under thy hand a spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
World English Bible
David said to Ahimelech, Isn't there here under your hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.
New King James Version
And David said to Ahimelech, "Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste."
New Living Translation
David asked Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or sword? The king's business was so urgent that I didn't even have time to grab a weapon!"
New Life Bible
David said to Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or a sword? I did not bring my sword or any spears with me, because I had to hurry to do the king's work."
New Revised Standard
David said to Ahimelech, "Is there no spear or sword here with you? I did not bring my sword or my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Then said David to Ahimelech, See whether there is here, under thy hand, a spear or a sword? for, neither my sword, nor my other weapons, did I take in my hand, for, the king's business, was, urgent.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And David said to Achimelech: Hast thou here at hand a spear, or a sword? for I brought not my own sword, nor my own weapons with me, for the king’s business required haste.
Revised Standard Version
And David said to Ahim'elech, "And have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste."
THE MESSAGE
David asked Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or sword of any kind around here? I didn't have a chance to grab my weapons. The king's mission was urgent and I left in a hurry."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
David said to Ahimelech, "Now is there not a spear or a sword on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's matter was urgent."

Contextual Overview

1Then David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. And when Ahimelech met David, he trembled and asked him, "Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?" 2"The king has given me a mission," David replied. "He told me no one is to know about the mission or charge. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place. 3Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found." 4"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." 5David answered, "Women have indeed been kept from us, as usual when I set out. And the equipment of the young men is holy, as it is even on common missions, and all the more at this time." 6So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away. 7Now one of Saul's servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul. 8Then David asked Ahimelech, "Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business was urgent."9The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For there is no other but this one." And David said, "There is none like it; give it to me."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Reciprocal: Esther 8:14 - being hastened Luke 10:4 - and

Cross-References

Genesis 19:3
But Lot insisted so strongly that they followed him into his house. He prepared a feast for them and baked unleavened bread, and they ate.
Genesis 26:30
So Isaac prepared a feast for them, and they ate and drank.
Genesis 29:22
So Laban invited all the men of that place and prepared a feast.
Genesis 40:20
On the third day, which was Pharaoh's birthday, he held a feast for all his officials, and in their presence he lifted up the heads of the chief cupbearer and the chief baker.
Judges 14:10
Then his father went to visit the woman, and Samson prepared a feast there, as was customary for the bridegroom.
Judges 14:12
"Let me tell you a riddle," Samson said to them. "If you can solve it for me within the seven days of the feast, I will give you thirty linen garments and thirty sets of clothes.
1 Samuel 1:22
but Hannah did not go. "After the boy is weaned," she said to her husband, "I will take him to appear before the LORD and to stay there always."
1 Samuel 25:36
When Abigail returned to Nabal, there he was in the house, holding a feast fit for a king, in high spirits and very drunk. So she told him nothing until morning light.
2 Samuel 3:20
When Abner and twenty of his men came to David at Hebron, David held a feast for them.
1 Kings 3:15
Then Solomon awoke, and indeed it had been a dream. So he returned to Jerusalem, stood before the ark of the covenant of the Lord, and offered burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he held a feast for all his servants.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And David said unto Ahimelech,.... After he had given him some of the loaves of the shewbread:

and is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? any weapon, meaning in the tabernacle, and in his keeping, and at his disposal; he knew the sword of Goliath was there, and perhaps had a principal view to it, and put this question in order to get that in his possession:

for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me; neither his sword, nor any part of his armour, but was come quite naked and unarmed and, as he pretended,

because the king's business required haste; still continuing his lie; whereas the true reason was, he was let down in haste by his wife through a window of his house, and could not stay to take his armour with him; and had lain hid for some time, and passed incognito from place to place, and without armour, that he might be the less known and observed, and least suspected; though it may seem strange that Jonathan had not provided him with a sword.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile