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The NET Bible®
1 Samuel 21:4
The priest replied to David, "I don't have any ordinary bread at my disposal. Only holy bread is available, and then only if your soldiers have abstained from sexual relations with women."
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- CondensedParallel Translations
Christian Standard Bible®
The priest told him, “There is no ordinary bread on hand. However, there is consecrated bread, but the young men may eat it only if they have kept themselves from women.”
The priest told him, “There is no ordinary bread on hand. However, there is consecrated bread, but the young men may eat it only if they have kept themselves from women.”
Hebrew Names Version
The Kohen answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
The Kohen answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
King James Version
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.
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.
Lexham English Bible
The priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread here at hand; there is only holy bread, but only if the young men have kept themselves from women."
The priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread here at hand; there is only holy bread, but only if the young men have kept themselves from women."
English Standard Version
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."
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."
New Century Version
The priest said to David, "I don't have any plain bread here, but I do have some holy bread. You may eat it if your men have kept themselves from women."
The priest said to David, "I don't have any plain bread here, but I do have some holy bread. You may eat it if your men have kept themselves from women."
Amplified Bible
The priest answered David, "There is no ordinary (unconsecrated) bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; [you may have it] if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
The priest answered David, "There is no ordinary (unconsecrated) bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; [you may have it] if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
New American Standard Bible
The priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread, if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
The priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread, if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And the Priest answered Dauid, and saide, There is no common bread vnder mine hande, but here is halowed bread, if the yong men haue kept themselues, at least from women.
And the Priest answered Dauid, and saide, There is no common bread vnder mine hande, but here is halowed bread, if the yong men haue kept themselues, at least from women.
Legacy Standard Bible
And the priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
And the priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
Contemporary English Version
"The only bread I have is the sacred bread," the priest told David. "You can have it if your soldiers didn't sleep with women last night."
"The only bread I have is the sacred bread," the priest told David. "You can have it if your soldiers didn't sleep with women last night."
Complete Jewish Bible
Now, what do you have on hand? If you can spare five loaves of bread, give them to me, or whatever there is."
Now, what do you have on hand? If you can spare five loaves of bread, give them to me, or whatever there is."
Darby Translation
And the priest answered David and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
And the priest answered David and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
Easy-to-Read Version
The priest said to David, "I don't have any ordinary bread here, but I do have some of the holy bread. Your officers can eat it if they have not had sexual relations with any women."
The priest said to David, "I don't have any ordinary bread here, but I do have some of the holy bread. Your officers can eat it if they have not had sexual relations with any women."
George Lamsa Translation
And the priest answered David and said to him, There is no common bread in my possession, but there is hallowed bread; you may have it if the young men have kept themselves from touching unclean things.
And the priest answered David and said to him, There is no common bread in my possession, but there is hallowed bread; you may have it if the young men have kept themselves from touching unclean things.
Good News Translation
The priest said, "I don't have any ordinary bread, only sacred bread; you can have it if your men haven't had sexual relations recently."
The priest said, "I don't have any ordinary bread, only sacred bread; you can have it if your men haven't had sexual relations recently."
Literal Translation
And the priest answered David and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but only holy bread, if the young men have only been kept from a woman.
And the priest answered David and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but only holy bread, if the young men have only been kept from a woman.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
The prest answered Dauid, and sayde: I haue no comen bred vnder my hande, but the holy bred, yf the yonge men haue onely refrained them selues from wemen.
The prest answered Dauid, and sayde: I haue no comen bred vnder my hande, but the holy bred, yf the yonge men haue onely refrained them selues from wemen.
American Standard Version
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
Bible in Basic English
And the priest, answering David, said, I have no common bread here but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
And the priest, answering David, said, I have no common bread here but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And the priest aunswered Dauid, and sayd: There is no common bread vnder myne hand, but here is halowed bread: if the young me haue kept them selues, specially from women.
And the priest aunswered Dauid, and sayd: There is no common bread vnder myne hand, but here is halowed bread: if the young me haue kept them selues, specially from women.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now therefore what is under thy hand? five loaves of bread? give them in my hand, or whatsoever there is present.'
Now therefore what is under thy hand? five loaves of bread? give them in my hand, or whatsoever there is present.'
King James Version (1611)
And the Priest answered Dauid, and said, There is no common bread vnder mine hand, but there is hallowed bread: if the young men haue kept themselues at least from women.
And the Priest answered Dauid, and said, There is no common bread vnder mine hand, but there is hallowed bread: if the young men haue kept themselues at least from women.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And the priest answered David, and said, There are no common loaves under my hand, for I have none but holy loaves: if the young men have been kept at least from women, then they shall eat them.
And the priest answered David, and said, There are no common loaves under my hand, for I have none but holy loaves: if the young men have been kept at least from women, then they shall eat them.
English Revised Version
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
Berean Standard Bible
"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."
"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."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And the preest answeride to Dauid, and seide to hym, Y haue `not lewid, `that is, comyn, looues at hoond, but oneli hooli breed; whether the children ben clene, and moost of wymmen?
And the preest answeride to Dauid, and seide to hym, Y haue `not lewid, `that is, comyn, looues at hoond, but oneli hooli breed; whether the children ben clene, and moost of wymmen?
Young's Literal Translation
And the priest answereth David, and saith, `There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if the youths have been kept only from women.'
And the priest answereth David, and saith, `There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if the youths have been kept only from women.'
Update Bible Version
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
Webster's Bible Translation
And the priest answered David, and said, [There is] no common bread under my hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
And the priest answered David, and said, [There is] no common bread under my hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
World English Bible
The priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
The priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.
New King James Version
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."
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."
New Living Translation
"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."
"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."
New Life Bible
The religious leader answered David, "I only have bread which has been set apart as holy, if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
The religious leader answered David, "I only have bread which has been set apart as holy, if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
New Revised Standard
The priest answered David, "I have no ordinary bread at hand, only holy bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women."
The priest answered David, "I have no ordinary bread at hand, only holy bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, - but, hallowed bread, there is, if the young men have kept themselves, at least from women.
And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under my hand, - but, hallowed bread, there is, if the young men have kept themselves, at least from women.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the priest answered David, saying: I have no common bread at hand, but only holy bread, if the young men be clean, especially from women?
And the priest answered David, saying: I have no common bread at hand, but only holy bread, if the young men be clean, especially from women?
Revised Standard Version
And the priest answered David, "I have no common bread at hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
And the priest answered David, "I have no common bread at hand, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
THE MESSAGE
"I don't have any regular bread on hand," said the priest. "I only have holy bread. If your men have not slept with women recently, it's yours."
"I don't have any regular bread on hand," said the priest. "I only have holy bread. If your men have not slept with women recently, it's yours."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
The priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
The priest answered David and said, "There is no ordinary bread on hand, but there is consecrated bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women."
Contextual Overview
1 David went to Ahimelech the priest in Nob. Ahimelech was shaking with fear when he met David, and said to him, "Why are you by yourself with no one accompanying you?" 2 David replied to Ahimelech the priest, "The king instructed me to do something, but he said to me, ‘Don't let anyone know the reason I am sending you or the instructions I have given you.' I have told my soldiers to wait at a certain place. 3 Now what do you have at your disposal? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found." 4 The priest replied to David, "I don't have any ordinary bread at my disposal. Only holy bread is available, and then only if your soldiers have abstained from sexual relations with women." 5 David said to the priest, "Certainly women have been kept away from us, just as on previous occasions when I have set out. The soldiers' equipment is holy, even on an ordinary journey. How much more so will they be holy today, along with their equipment!" 6 So the priest gave him holy bread, for there was no bread there other than the bread of the Presence. It had been removed from before the Lord in order to replace it with hot bread on the day it had been taken away. 7 (One of Saul's servants was there that day, detained before the Lord . His name was Doeg the Edomite, who was in charge of Saul's shepherds.) 8 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." 9 The priest replied, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the valley of Elah, is wrapped in a garment behind the ephod. If you wish, take it for yourself. Other than that, there's nothing here." David said, "There's nothing like it! Give it to me!"
Bible Verse Review
from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge
hallowed bread: 1 Samuel 21:6, Exodus 25:30, Leviticus 24:5-9, Matthew 12:3, Matthew 12:4
if the young: Exodus 19:15, Zechariah 7:3, 1 Corinthians 7:5
Reciprocal: Leviticus 15:18 - unclean 1 Samuel 21:3 - under thine Ecclesiastes 3:5 - a time to embrace
Cross-References
Genesis 21:10
So she said to Abraham, "Banish that slave woman and her son, for the son of that slave woman will not be an heir along with my son Isaac!"
So she said to Abraham, "Banish that slave woman and her son, for the son of that slave woman will not be an heir along with my son Isaac!"
Genesis 21:12
But God said to Abraham, "Do not be upset about the boy or your slave wife. Do all that Sarah is telling you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted.
But God said to Abraham, "Do not be upset about the boy or your slave wife. Do all that Sarah is telling you because through Isaac your descendants will be counted.
Genesis 21:22
At that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, "God is with you in all that you do.
At that time Abimelech and Phicol, the commander of his army, said to Abraham, "God is with you in all that you do.
Genesis 21:23
Now swear to me right here in God's name that you will not deceive me, my children, or my descendants. Show me, and the land where you are staying, the same loyalty that I have shown you."
Now swear to me right here in God's name that you will not deceive me, my children, or my descendants. Show me, and the land where you are staying, the same loyalty that I have shown you."
Exodus 12:48
"When a foreigner lives with you and wants to observe the Passover to the Lord , all his males must be circumcised, and then he may approach and observe it, and he will be like one who is born in the land—but no uncircumcised person may eat of it.
"When a foreigner lives with you and wants to observe the Passover to the Lord , all his males must be circumcised, and then he may approach and observe it, and he will be like one who is born in the land—but no uncircumcised person may eat of it.
Leviticus 12:3
On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin must be circumcised.
On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin must be circumcised.
Deuteronomy 12:32
You must be careful to do everything I am commanding you. Do not add to it or subtract from it!
You must be careful to do everything I am commanding you. Do not add to it or subtract from it!
Luke 1:6
They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
They were both righteous in the sight of God, following all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blamelessly.
Luke 1:59
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.
On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father.
Luke 2:21
At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
At the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was named Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
Gill's Notes on the Bible
And the priest answered David, and said, [there is] no common bread under mine hand,.... In the tabernacle, though he might have such in his own house; which was common for any man to eat of, even such as were not priests; but he had none there, and David was in haste to be gone because of Doeg, and could not stay till such was fetched:
but there is hallowed bread; such as was devoted to sacred use. Kimchi's father thinks this was the bread of the thank offering, to which Ben Gersom inclines; otherwise the Jewish writers in general understand it of the shewbread; and it is clear it was that from
1 Samuel 21:6 and from what our Lord says, Matthew 12:4. Now this the priest had under his hand, being just taken off of the shewbread table, and was the perquisite of the priests; and which, though it was not lawful for any but priests to eat of, yet in this case of necessity he seemed willing to give it to David and his men, on this condition: if the young men have kept themselves at least from women; from their wives or others, and from any pollution by them, in any way or manner; but as this was also only of a ceremonial kind, it might as well have been dispensed with, had this been the case, as the other.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible
Common - As opposed to holy. (See the marginal references, and compare the use of the word in Acts 10:14-15, Acts 10:28.) It gives an idea of the depressed and poor condition of the priesthood at that time, that Ahimelech should have had no bread at hand except the showbread.
