1 Samuel 23:9 akjv — And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring here the ep…

American King James Version

"And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring here the ephod. "

— 1 Samuel 23:9, American King James Version

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1 Samuel 23:9 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 23 — Context

6

And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand. ¶

7

And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God has delivered him into my hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that has gates and bars.

8

And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men. ¶

9

And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring here the ephod.

10

Then said David, O LORD God of Israel, your servant has certainly heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

11

Will the men of Keilah deliver me up into his hand? will Saul come down, as your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, I beseech you, tell your servant. And the LORD said, He will come down.

12

Then said David, Will the men of Keilah deliver me and my men into the hand of Saul? And the LORD said, They will deliver you up. ¶

1 Samuel 23:9 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 23:9 say?
1 Samuel 23:9 in the American King James Version reads: “And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring here the ephod. ”
Where is 1 Samuel 23:9 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 23:9 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 23, verse 9.
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 23:9.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 23:9 in?
1 Samuel 23:9 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 23:9?
1 Samuel 23:9 reads (AKJV): “And David knew that Saul secretly practiced mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring here the ephod. ” 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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