The Meaning of 1 Samuel 21:3 Explained

1 Samuel 21:3

KJV: Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

YLT: and now, what is there under thy hand? five loaves give into my hand, or that which is found.'

Darby: And now what is under thy hand? give me five loaves in my hand, or what may be found.

ASV: Now therefore what is under thy hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatsoever there is present.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now therefore what is  under thine hand?  give  [me] five  [loaves of] bread  in mine hand,  or what there is present. 

What does 1 Samuel 21:3 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 21:1-15 - Food And Weapon: A Side Step
David fled to Nob, at the north of the Mount of Olives, where Ahimelech presided over the relics of the ancient sanctuary. His suspicions were removed by an evasion on David's part, which he must have regretted to the end of his life. If we are right with God and know ourselves to be on the predestined path, we need not resort to deceit nor subterfuge-if we adopt such means, the results are likely to be disastrous to ourselves and others, our innocent fellow-sufferers.
It was the Sabbath day, for the show-bread had just been removed from the table, Leviticus 24:8. This was the perquisite of the priest, but, in subordinating the ceremonial to the urgency of human need, Ahimelech acted in strict harmony with the spirit of the Mosaic legislation. This is the distinct teaching of Mark 2:25, and of our Lord's insistence on his right to heal on the Sabbath day. Read Psalms 34:1-22; Psalms 56:1-13 with the closing paragraph of 1 Samuel 21:1-15. David's behavior was unworthy, yet, in his heart, he was hiding in God. We must not judge by appearances, but with discerning judgment. There is a large measure of humanity in all God's saints. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 21:3 mean?

So said David to Ahimelech the priest the king has ordered me on some business and said to me anyone not do let know anything about the business on which I send you or what I have commanded you and [my] young men I have directed to a place such and such
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר דָּוִ֜ד לַאֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ הַכֹּהֵ֗ן הַמֶּלֶךְ֮ צִוַּ֣נִי דָבָר֒ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֗י אִ֣ישׁ אַל־ יֵ֧דַע מְא֛וּמָה אֶת־ הַדָּבָ֛ר אֲשֶׁר־ אָנֹכִ֥י שֹׁלֵֽחֲךָ֖ וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר צִוִּיתִ֑ךָ וְאֶת־ הַנְּעָרִ֣ים יוֹדַ֔עְתִּי אֶל־ מְק֥וֹם פְּלֹנִ֖י אַלְמוֹנִֽי

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  So  said 
Parse:
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
דָּוִ֜ד  David 
Parse:
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
לַאֲחִימֶ֣לֶךְ  to  Ahimelech 
Parse:
Root: אֲחִימֶלֶךְ  
Sense: a priest murdered by Doeg at Saul’s command, for supposedly assisting David.
הַכֹּהֵ֗ן  the  priest 
Parse:
Root: כֹּהֵן  
Sense: priest, principal officer or chief ruler.
הַמֶּלֶךְ֮  the  king 
Parse:
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
צִוַּ֣נִי  has  ordered  me 
Parse:
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
דָבָר֒  on  some  business 
Parse:
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר  and  said 
Parse:
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
אֵלַ֗י  to  me 
Parse:
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
אִ֣ישׁ  anyone 
Parse:
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יֵ֧דַע  do  let  know 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
מְא֛וּמָה  anything 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְאוּמָה  
Sense: anything.
אֶת־  about 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַדָּבָ֛ר  the  business 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
אֲשֶׁר־  on  which 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, third person masculine singular, first person common singular
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
שֹׁלֵֽחֲךָ֖  send  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: שָׁלַח  
Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
וַאֲשֶׁ֣ר  or  what 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: אֲשֶׁר 
Sense: (relative part.).
צִוִּיתִ֑ךָ  I  have  commanded  you 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
הַנְּעָרִ֣ים  [my]  young  men 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נַעַר  
Sense: a boy, lad, servant, youth, retainer.
יוֹדַ֔עְתִּי  I  have  directed 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּעָה 
Sense: to know.
מְק֥וֹם  a  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָקֹום  
Sense: standing place, place.
פְּלֹנִ֖י  such 
Parse: Pronoun, relative
Root: פְּלֹנִי  
Sense: a certain one.
אַלְמוֹנִֽי  and  such 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אַלְמֹנִי  
Sense: someone, a certain one.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 21:3?

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