1 Samuel 21:4
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.
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּ֨עַן
answered
H6030
וַיַּ֨עַן
answered
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
1 of 21
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
הַכֹּהֵ֤ן
And the priest
H3548
הַכֹּהֵ֤ן
And the priest
Strong's:
H3548
Word #:
2 of 21
literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
3 of 21
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
לֶ֤חֶם
bread
H3899
לֶ֤חֶם
bread
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
7 of 21
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
תַּ֣חַת
H8478
תַּ֣חַת
Strong's:
H8478
Word #:
10 of 21
the bottom (as depressed); only adverbially, below (often with prepositional prefix underneath), in lieu of, etc
יָדִ֑י
under mine hand
H3027
יָדִ֑י
under mine hand
Strong's:
H3027
Word #:
11 of 21
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
כִּֽי
H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's:
H3588
Word #:
12 of 21
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
13 of 21
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
לֶ֤חֶם
bread
H3899
לֶ֤חֶם
bread
Strong's:
H3899
Word #:
14 of 21
food (for man or beast), especially bread, or grain (for making it)
קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙
hallowed
H6944
קֹ֙דֶשׁ֙
hallowed
Strong's:
H6944
Word #:
15 of 21
a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity
יֵ֔שׁ
but there is
H3426
יֵ֔שׁ
but there is
Strong's:
H3426
Word #:
16 of 21
there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)
אִם
H518
אִם
Strong's:
H518
Word #:
17 of 21
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
נִשְׁמְר֥וּ
have kept
H8104
נִשְׁמְר֥וּ
have kept
Strong's:
H8104
Word #:
18 of 21
properly, to hedge about (as with thorns), i.e., guard; generally, to protect, attend to, etc
הַנְּעָרִ֖ים
if the young men
H5288
הַנְּעָרִ֖ים
if the young men
Strong's:
H5288
Word #:
19 of 21
(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latit
Cross References
Exodus 19:15And he said unto the people, Be ready against the third day: come not at your wives.Exodus 25:30And thou shalt set upon the table shewbread before me alway.1 Corinthians 7:5Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.Zechariah 7:3And to speak unto the priests which were in the house of the LORD of hosts, and to the prophets, saying, Should I weep in the fifth month, separating myself, as I have done these so many years?1 Samuel 21:6So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.
Historical Context
The showbread (lechem panim, 'bread of the face/presence') consisted of twelve loaves placed weekly on the golden table in the Holy Place. Only priests could normally eat this bread, and only after it was replaced with fresh loaves on the Sabbath.
Questions for Reflection
- How do you distinguish between God's unchanging moral law and ceremonial regulations?
- When have you seen rigid religious observance conflict with genuine human need?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
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.
Ahimelech's response introduces a profound tension between ritual law and human necessity. The Hebrew 'lechem chol' (common bread) versus 'lechem qodesh' (holy bread) distinguishes ordinary food from the showbread reserved for priests (Leviticus 24:5-9). The condition regarding ceremonial purity reflects Leviticus 15's regulations about sexual activity and cleanness. This incident became the basis for Jesus's teaching about the Sabbath in Mark 2:25-26, demonstrating that ceremonial law serves human welfare rather than being an end in itself. Ahimelech's pastoral flexibility reveals a priest who understood the spirit behind the letter of the law.