King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 21:2 Mean?

1 Samuel 21:2 in the King James Version says “And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know ... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 21 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

1 Samuel 21:2 · KJV


Context

1

Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

2

And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

3

Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present. present: Heb. found

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.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

David's deception raises difficult ethical questions that Scripture does not sanitize. The Hebrew phrase 'davar satar' (secret matter) creates a plausible cover story. While David's lie protected himself, it ultimately contributed to the massacre of the priests. Jesus later referenced this incident in Mark 2:25-26, notably without condemning David for eating the showbread, yet neither endorsing the deception. The text presents David's humanity—a man after God's own heart who nonetheless sinned under pressure. This serves as a sobering reminder that desperation can lead even the godly to compromise, and that such compromises often have unforeseen consequences.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Deception in ancient Near Eastern warfare and survival contexts was common, though the Hebrew moral tradition generally condemned lying (Proverbs 6:16-19). David's fabrication about a royal mission exploited the cultural expectation of secrecy surrounding royal affairs.

Reflection Questions

  1. When have you been tempted to deceive others to protect yourself, and what were the consequences?
  2. How do you balance self-preservation with truthfulness in threatening situations?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 27 words
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר1 of 27

and hath said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

דָּוִ֜ד2 of 27

And David

H1732

david, the youngest son of jesse

לַֽאֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ3 of 27

unto Ahimelech

H288

achimelek, the name of an israelite and of a hittite

הַכֹּהֵ֗ן4 of 27

the priest

H3548

literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)

הַמֶּלֶךְ֮5 of 27

The king

H4428

a king

צִוִּיתִ֑ךָ6 of 27

hath commanded

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

הַדָּבָ֛ר7 of 27

me a business

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר8 of 27

and hath said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֵלַ֗י9 of 27
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אִ֣ישׁ10 of 27

unto me Let no man

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

אַל11 of 27
H408

not (the qualified negation, used as a deprecative); once (job 24:25) as a noun, nothing

יוֹדַ֔עְתִּי12 of 27

know

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

מְא֛וּמָה13 of 27

any thing

H3972

properly, a speck or point, i.e., (by implication) something; with negative, nothing

אֶת14 of 27
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַדָּבָ֛ר15 of 27

me a business

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

אֲשֶׁר16 of 27
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

אָֽנֹכִ֥י17 of 27
H595

i

שֹׁלֵֽחֲךָ֖18 of 27

whereabout I send

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

וַֽאֲשֶׁ֣ר19 of 27
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

צִוִּיתִ֑ךָ20 of 27

hath commanded

H6680

(intensively) to constitute, enjoin

וְאֶת21 of 27
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

הַנְּעָרִ֣ים22 of 27

my servants

H5288

(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

יוֹדַ֔עְתִּי23 of 27

know

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

אֶל24 of 27
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מְק֥וֹם25 of 27

a place

H4725

properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

פְּלֹנִ֖י26 of 27

to such

H6423

such a one, i.e., a specified person

אַלְמוֹנִֽי׃27 of 27

and such

H492

some one (i.e., so and so, without giving the name of the person or place)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 21:2 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 21:2 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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