1 Samuel 22:16 nasb — But the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's household!"

NASB

"But the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's household!""

— 1 Samuel 22:16, NASB

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1 Samuel 22:16 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 22 — Context

13

Saul then said to him, "Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me, in that you have given him bread and a sword and have inquired of God for him, so that he would rise up against me by lying in ambush as it is this day?"

14

Then Ahimelech answered the king and said, "And who among all your servants is as faithful as David, even the king's son-in-law, who is captain over your guard, and is honored in your house?

15

"Did I just begin to inquire of God for him today? Far be it from me! Do not let the king impute anything to his servant or to any of the household of my father, for your servant knows nothing at all of this whole affair."

16

But the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's household!"

17

And the king said to the guards who were attending him, "Turn around and put the priests of the LORD to death, because their hand also is with David and because they knew that he was fleeing and did not reveal it to me." But the servants of the king were not willing to put forth their hands to attack the priests of the LORD.

18

Then the king said to Doeg, "You turn around and attack the priests." And Doeg the Edomite turned around and attacked the priests, and he killed that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.

19

And he struck Nob the city of the priests with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and infants; also oxen, donkeys, and sheep he struck 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 NASB reads: “But the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's household!"”
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 (NASB): “But the king said, "You shall surely die, Ahimelech, you and all your father's household!"” 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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