1 Samuel 22:16 akjv — And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father’s house. ¶

American King James Version

"And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father’s house. ¶ "

— 1 Samuel 22:16, American King James Version

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1 Samuel 22:16 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 22 — Context

13

And Saul said to him, Why have you conspired against me, you and the son of Jesse, in that you have given him bread, and a sword, and have inquired of God for him, that he should rise against me, to lie in wait, as at this day?

14

Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all your servants as David, which is the king’s son in law, and goes at your bidding, and is honorable in your house?

15

Did I then begin to inquire of God for him? be it far from me: let not the king impute any thing to his servant, nor to all the house of my father: for your servant knew nothing of all this, less or more.

16

And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father’s house. ¶

17

And the king said to 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 show it to me. But the servants of the king would not put forth their hand to fall on the priests of the LORD.

18

And the king said to Doeg, Turn you, and fall on the priests. And Doeg the Edomite turned, and he fell on 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. ¶

1 Samuel 22:16 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 22:16 say?
1 Samuel 22:16 in the American King James Version reads: “And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father’s house. ¶ ”
Where is 1 Samuel 22:16 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 22:16 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 22, verse 16.
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 22:16.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 22:16 in?
1 Samuel 22:16 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 22:16?
1 Samuel 22:16 reads (AKJV): “And the king said, You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you, and all your father’s house. ¶ ” 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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