King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 22:18 Mean?

1 Samuel 22:18 in the King James Version says “And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the pries...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 22 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.”

1 Samuel 22:18 · King James Version

Context

16

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

17

And the king said unto the footmen that stood about him, Turn, and slay the priests of the LORD; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew when he fled, and did not shew it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall upon the priests of the LORD. footmen: or, guard: Heb. runners

18

And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

19

And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

20

And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

Read 1 Samuel 22 full chapter

Commentaries2 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
And the king said to Doeg, Turn thou, and fall upon the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell upon the priests, and slew on that day fourscore and five persons that did wear a linen ephod.

Doeg's willingness to slaughter where Israelites refused completes his villainous portrait. The Hebrew emphasizes his ethnic identity again—'Doeg the Edomite'—this foreigner did what God's covenant people would not. The 'linen ephod' identifies the victims as legitimate priests, ministers of the sanctuary. Eighty-five priests died—a catastrophic loss for Israel's religious establishment. Doeg's obedience to murderous command contrasts with the soldiers' righteous refusal. Psalm 52 pronounces God's judgment on Doeg: 'God shall likewise destroy thee for ever.' This massacre demonstrates how outsiders without covenantal loyalty become instruments of evil that insiders refuse to execute.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The linen ephod was the distinctive priestly garment (Exodus 28:4). Eighty-five priests represented a substantial portion of the Elide line. This massacre effectively destroyed Nob as a religious center and decimated the priesthood that had served since Eli's time.

Reflection Questions

  1. What made Doeg willing to do what Israelite soldiers refused?
  2. How does this passage warn about using outsiders to do what conscience-bound insiders will not?

Compare 2 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר1 of 22

“said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙2 of 22

“And the king”

H4428

a king

דּוֹיֵ֣ג3 of 22

“And Doeg”

H1673

doeg, an edomite

וַיִּסֹּ֞ב4 of 22

“Turn”

H5437

to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively

אַתָּ֔ה5 of 22
H859

thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you

וַיִּפְגַּע6 of 22

“and he fell”

H6293

to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity

בַּכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים7 of 22

“upon the priests”

H3548

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

וַיִּסֹּ֞ב8 of 22

“Turn”

H5437

to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively

דּוֹיֵ֣ג9 of 22

“And Doeg”

H1673

doeg, an edomite

הָֽאֲדֹמִ֗י10 of 22

“the Edomite”

H130

an edomite, or descendants from (or inhabitants of) edom

וַיִּפְגַּע11 of 22

“and he fell”

H6293

to impinge, by accident or violence, or (figuratively) by importunity

הוּא֙12 of 22
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

בַּכֹּ֣הֲנִ֔ים13 of 22

“upon the priests”

H3548

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

וַיָּ֣מֶת׀14 of 22

“and slew”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

בַּיּ֣וֹם15 of 22

“on that day”

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַה֗וּא16 of 22
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

שְׁמֹנִ֤ים17 of 22

“fourscore”

H8084

eighty, also eightieth

וַֽחֲמִשָּׁה֙18 of 22

“and five”

H2568

five

אִ֔ישׁ19 of 22

“persons”

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)

נֹשֵׂ֖א20 of 22

“that did wear”

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

אֵפ֥וֹד21 of 22

“ephod”

H646

a girdle; specifically the ephod or highpriest's shoulder-piece; also generally, an image

בָּֽד׃22 of 22

“a linen”

H906

flaxen thread or yarn; hence, a linen garment

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 22:18 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 22:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Acts 26:10-11Micah 6:16Zephaniah 3:31 Samuel 2:181 Samuel 3:12-14Hosea 5:11

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1 Samuel 22 QuizTest your knowledge of this chapter1 Samuel Book QuizComprehensive quiz for the entire book

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