1 Samuel 21:8 Then David asked Ahimelech, "Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business was urgent."

◄ 1 Samuel 21:8 ►

New International Version
David asked Ahimelek, “Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.”

New Living Translation
David asked Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword? The king’s business was so urgent that I didn’t even have time to grab a weapon!”

English Standard Version
Then David said to Ahimelech, “Then have you not here a spear or a sword at hand? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”

Berean Standard Bible
Then David asked Ahimelech, “Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s mission was urgent.”

King James Bible
And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

New King James Version
And David said to Ahimelech, “Is there not here on hand a spear or a sword? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”

New American Standard Bible
David said to Ahimelech, “Now is there no spear or sword on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s matter was urgent.”

NASB 1995
David said to Ahimelech, “Now is there not a spear or a sword on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s matter was urgent.”

NASB 1977
And David said to Ahimelech, “Now is there not a spear or a sword on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s matter was urgent.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And David said to Ahimelech, “Now is there not a spear or a sword on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my weapons in my hand because the king’s matter was urgent.”

Amplified Bible
David said to Ahimelech, “Do you not have a sword or spear here on hand? For I brought neither my sword nor my [other] weapons with me, because the king’s business was urgent.”

Christian Standard Bible
David said to Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword on hand? I didn’t even bring my sword or my weapons since the king’s mission was urgent.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
David said to Ahimelech, “Do you have a spear or sword on hand? I didn’t even bring my sword or my weapons since the king’s mission was urgent.”

American Standard Version
And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thy hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

Contemporary English Version
David asked Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or a sword? I had to leave so quickly on this mission for the king that I didn't bring along my sword or any other weapons."

English Revised Version
And David said unto Ahimelech, And is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David asked Ahimelech, "Don't you have a spear or a sword here? I didn't take either my spear or any other weapon because the king's business was urgent."

Good News Translation
David said to Ahimelech, "Do you have a spear or a sword you can give me? The king's orders made me leave in such a hurry that I didn't have time to get my sword or any other weapon."

International Standard Version
David told Ahimelech, "Is there no spear or sword available here? I took neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's mission is urgent."

Majority Standard Bible
Then David asked Ahimelech, ?Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king?s mission was urgent.?

NET Bible
David said to Ahimelech, "Is there no sword or spear here at your disposal? I don't have my own sword or equipment in hand due to the urgency of the king's instructions."

New Heart English Bible
David said to Ahimelech, "Isn't there here under your control spear or sword? For I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste."

Webster's Bible Translation
And David said to Ahimelech, And is there not here under thy hand a spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

World English Bible
David said to Ahimelech, “Isn’t there here under your hand spear or sword? For I haven’t brought my sword or my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And David says to Ahimelech, “And is there not spear or sword here under your hand? For I have taken neither my sword nor my vessels in my hand, for the matter of the king was urgent.”

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith to Ahimelech, 'And is there not here under thy hand spear or sword? for neither my sword nor my vessels have I taken in my hand, for the matter of the king was urgent.'

Smith's Literal Translation
The original Julia E. Smith Bible records the following as a verse reference for 1 Sam 21:9 And David will say to Ahimelech, And is there not here under thy hand, spear or sword? for also sword and also utensil I took not into my hand, for the king's word was pressing.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And David said to Achimelech: Hast thou here at hand a spear, or a sword? for I brought not my own sword, nor my own weapons with me, for the king's business required haste.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then David said to Ahimelech: “Do you have, here at hand, a spear or a sword? For I did not take my own sword, or my own weapons with me. For the word of the king was urgent.”

New American Bible
David then asked Ahimelech: “Do you have a spear or a sword on hand? I brought along neither my sword nor my weapons, because the king’s business was urgent.”

New Revised Standard Version
David said to Ahimelech, “Is there no spear or sword here with you? I did not bring my sword or my weapons with me, because the king’s business required haste.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And David said to Ahimeleck, Is there not here in your possession a sword or a spear? For I have brought neither my sword nor my javelin with me, because the king's business required haste.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And a man was there of the Servants of Shaul on that day, shut up before LORD JEHOVAH, and his name was Dueg an Edomite, a mighty man of the Shepherds of Shaul

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And David said unto Ahimelech: 'And is there peradventure here under thy hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David said to Abimelech, See if there is here under thy hand spear or sword, for I have not brought in my hand my sword or my weapons, for the word of the king was urgent.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

David Flees to Gath
8Then David asked Ahimelech, “Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s business was urgent.” 9The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For there is no other but this one.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Samuel 17:50-51
Thus David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone; without a sword in his hand he struck down the Philistine and killed him. / David ran and stood over him. He grabbed the Philistine’s sword and pulled it from its sheath and killed him, and he cut off his head with the sword. When the Philistines saw that their hero was dead, they turned and ran.

1 Samuel 18:10-11
The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear, / and he hurled it, thinking, “I will pin David to the wall.” But David eluded him twice.

1 Samuel 19:9-10
But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp, / Saul tried to pin him to the wall with his spear. But David eluded him and the spear struck the wall. And David fled and escaped that night.

1 Samuel 22:10
Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

1 Samuel 23:9
When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”

1 Samuel 25:13
And David said to his men, “Strap on your swords!” So David and all his men strapped on their swords, and about four hundred men followed David, while two hundred stayed with the supplies.

1 Samuel 30:7-8
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him, / and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”

2 Samuel 23:9-10
Next in command was Eleazar son of Dodo the Ahohite. As one of the three mighty men, he went with David to taunt the Philistines who had gathered for battle at Pas-dammim. The men of Israel retreated, / but Eleazar stood his ground and struck the Philistines until his hand grew weary and stuck to his sword. The LORD brought about a great victory that day. Then the troops returned to him, but only to plunder the dead.

2 Kings 6:17
Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Psalm 144:1
Of David. Blessed be the LORD, my Rock, who trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.

Matthew 12:3-4
Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? / He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.

Mark 2:25-26
Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? / During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”

Luke 6:3-4
Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? / He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.

Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Treasury of Scripture

And David said to Ahimelech, And is there not here under your hand spear or sword? for I have neither brought my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king's business required haste.

Jump to Previous

Ahimelech Ahim'elech Arms Business David Hand Haste King's Matter Peradventure Required Spear Sword Urgent Vessels Weapon Weapons

Jump to Next

Ahimelech Ahim'elech Arms Business David Hand Haste King's Matter Peradventure Required Spear Sword Urgent Vessels Weapon Weapons

1 Samuel 21

1. David at Nob obtains Ahimelech's hallowed bread
7. Doeg is present
8. David takes Goliath's sword
10. David at Gath feigns himself insane

Berean Study Bible

Then David asked Ahimelech
David, the anointed future king of Israel, finds himself in a precarious situation, seeking refuge and assistance from Ahimelech, the priest. The name "Ahimelech" means "my brother is king," which is significant as it reflects the priestly lineage and authority. David's approach to Ahimelech highlights his reliance on spiritual guidance and provision during times of distress. Historically, this encounter occurs during David's flight from King Saul, emphasizing the tension and danger he faced.

Is there not a spear or sword on hand?
David's inquiry about a weapon underscores his vulnerability and the urgency of his situation. The Hebrew word for "sword" (חֶרֶב, chereb) often symbolizes power and protection in the Old Testament. David's lack of a weapon is unusual for a warrior of his stature, indicating the haste and desperation of his escape. This moment foreshadows the divine provision that often accompanies David, as God equips him for the battles ahead.

For I did not bring my sword or my weapons with me
David's explanation reveals the gravity of his circumstances. The absence of his personal weapons suggests a sudden departure, driven by the immediate threat posed by Saul. This phrase highlights David's faith and dependence on God rather than on human strength or armament. It serves as a reminder that in times of crisis, believers are called to trust in God's provision and protection.

because the king’s business was urgent
David refers to his flight as "the king’s business," which is a strategic and perhaps diplomatic way to explain his presence to Ahimelech. The Hebrew word for "urgent" (נָחַץ, nachats) conveys a sense of pressing necessity. This phrase reflects the tension between David's loyalty to Saul as the current king and his own anointing as the future king. It underscores the complexity of David's situation, navigating obedience to God's anointing while respecting Saul's authority.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(8) Spear or sword?--We may well suppose to what David pointed when he made his request--the famous sword, the trophy of the combat which had for ever made his name illustrious. In the first flush of gratitude to the invisible One who had stood by him in the hour of peril, he had doubtless taken and presented to the sanctuary guardians, as an offering to be kept for ever, a memorial of the victory of Israel over the uncircumcised; but now, in his hour of need and humiliation, he needed all the credentials he could gather together of his ability and power to lead men, so he trusts the priest will let him have his glorious prize back again. This seems to have been really the meaning of his petition to Ahimelech, and so evidently the priest understood David, for at once he suggested restoring the well-known, treasured sword. The sanctuary, he said, possesses no war weapon but that one which hangs up among us, a votive offering.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 8, 9. - Is there not here under thine hand spear or sword? The sight of Doeg made David feel how helpless he was in case of attack, and he excuses his request for weapons by saying that he had left home unarmed because of the urgeney of the king's business. The whole matter must have seemed very suspicious to Ahimelech, but he was powerless, and answers that the only weapon in the sanctuary was David's own votive offering, the sword of Goliath, carefully deposited in a place of honour behind the ephod with the Urim and Thummim, and wrapped in a cloth for its protection. As the word is used in Isaiah 9:5 of military attire, it may mean Goliath's war mantle, but more probably it was a covering to preserve it from rust and damp. In 1 Samuel 17:54 it is said that Goliath's armour became David's private property, and nothing could be more natural than that he should thus lay up the sword in the tabernacle, as a thank offering to God. He now takes it with pleasure, saying, There is none like that; for it was a memorial of his greatest achievement, and might be the presage of good fortune again. DAVID SEEKS REFUGE WITH THE KING OF GATH (vers. 10-15).

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then David
דָּוִד֙ (dā·wiḏ)
0
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

asked
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
0
Strong's 559: To utter, say

Ahimelech,
לַאֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ (la·’ă·ḥî·me·leḵ)
0
Strong's 288: Ahimelech -- 'brother of a king', an Israelite name, also a Hittite name

“Is there
יֶשׁ־ (yeš-)
0
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

not
וְאִ֛ין (wə·’în)
0
Strong's 371: Is it not?

a spear
חֲנִ֣ית (ḥă·nîṯ)
0
Strong's 2595: A lance

or
אוֹ־ (’ōw-)
0
Strong's 176: Desire, if

sword
חָ֑רֶב (ḥā·reḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

on
תַֽחַת־ (ṯa·ḥaṯ-)
0
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

hand
יָדְךָ֖ (yā·ḏə·ḵā)
0
Strong's 3027: A hand

here?
פֹּ֥ה (pōh)
0
Strong's 6311: This place, here

For
גַם־ (ḡam-)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

I have brought
לָקַ֣חְתִּי (lā·qaḥ·tî)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

neither
לֹֽא־ (lō-)
Preposition
Strong's 3808: Not, no

my sword
חַרְבִּ֤י (ḥar·bî)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 2719: Drought, a cutting instrument, as a, knife, sword

nor
וְגַם־ (wə·ḡam-)
Adverb
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

my weapons
כֵּלַי֙ (kê·lay)
Adverb
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus

with me,
בְיָדִ֔י (ḇə·yā·ḏî)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 3027: A hand

because
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the king's
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Conjunction
Strong's 4428: A king

business
דְבַר־ (ḏə·ḇar-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

was
הָיָ֥ה (hā·yāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

urgent.?
נָחֽוּץ׃ (nā·ḥūṣ)
Noun - feminine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5169: Perhaps to urge

Links

1 Samuel 21:8 NIV
1 Samuel 21:8 NLT
1 Samuel 21:8 ESV
1 Samuel 21:8 NASB
1 Samuel 21:8 KJV

1 Samuel 21:8 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 21:8 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 21:8 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 21:8 French Bible
1 Samuel 21:8 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 21:8 David said to Ahimelech Isn't there here (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)