1 Samuel 23:9 net — When David realized that Saul was planning to harm him, he told Abiathar the priest,“Bring the ephod!”

NET Bible

"When David realized that Saul was planning to harm him, he told Abiathar the priest,“Bring the ephod!”"

— 1 Samuel 23:9, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 23:9 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 23 — Context

6

David Eludes Saul Again Now when Abiathar son of Ahimelech had fled to David at Keilah, he had brought with him an ephod.

7

When Saul was told that David had come to Keilah, Saul said,“God has delivered him into my hand, for he has boxed himself into a corner by entering a city with two barred gates.”

8

So Saul mustered all his army to go down to Keilah and besiege David and his men.

9

When David realized that Saul was planning to harm him, he told Abiathar the priest,“Bring the ephod!”

10

Then David said,“O LORD God of Israel, your servant has clearly heard that Saul is planning to come to Keilah to destroy the city because of me.

11

Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me into his hand? Will Saul come down as your servant has heard? O LORD God of Israel, please inform your servant!”Then the LORD said,“He will come down.”

12

David asked,“Will the leaders of Keilah deliver me and my men into Saul’s hand?” The LORD said,“They will deliver you over.”

1 Samuel 23:9 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 23:9 say?
1 Samuel 23:9 in the NET Bible reads: “When David realized that Saul was planning to harm him, he told Abiathar the priest,“Bring 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 (NET): “When David realized that Saul was planning to harm him, he told Abiathar the priest,“Bring 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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