1 Samuel 21:4 web — The priest answered David, and said, "There is no common bread under my hand, but there is holy bread; if only the youn…

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.""

— 1 Samuel 21:4, World English Bible

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1 Samuel 21:4 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 21 — Context

1

Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech came to meet David trembling, and said to him, "Why are you alone, and no man with you?"

2

David said to Ahimelech the priest, "The king has commanded me a business, and has said to me, 'Let no man know anything of the business about which I send you, and what I have commanded you; and I have appointed the young men to such and such a place.'

3

Now therefore what is under your hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever there is present."

4

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."

5

David answered the priest, and said to him, "Truly, women have been kept from us about these three days. When I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey. How much more then today shall their vessels be holy?"

6

So the priest gave him holy [bread]; for there was no bread there but the show bread, that was taken from before Yahweh, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

7

Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Yahweh; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the best of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.

1 Samuel 21:4 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 21:4 say?
1 Samuel 21:4 in the World English Bible reads: “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."”
Where is 1 Samuel 21:4 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 21:4 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 21, verse 4.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 21:4.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 21:4 in?
1 Samuel 21:4 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 21:4?
1 Samuel 21:4 reads (WEB): “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."” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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