The Meaning of 1 Samuel 22:16 Explained

1 Samuel 22:16

KJV: And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.

YLT: And the king saith, 'Thou dost surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all the house of thy father.'

Darby: And the king said, Thou shalt certainly die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.

ASV: And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.

Discover 1 Samuel 22:16

CONTEXT: What is the Context of 1 Samuel 22:16?

MEANING: What does 1 Samuel 22:16 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 22:16 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in 1 Samuel 22:16?

What is the context of 1 Samuel 22:16?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.

What does 1 Samuel 22:16 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 22:11-23 - The Slaughter Of David's Friends

The Apostle James says that "the tongue is set on fire of hell." Surely this was the case when Saul, encamped on the height above Gibeah, scattered his biting words like firebrands. They met with a ready response in Doeg's evil heart, and the two perpetrated one of the most atrocious tragedies of history.

This black act-the blackest of Saul's life-was not to be extenuated, although it executed the malediction, uttered long before in the days of Eli, against the latter's evil house. That Saul's footmen refused to execute the king's sentence should have made Him hesitate. Doeg's tale was true in its statement, but false in its implications.

There is nothing to alleviate the lurid horror of this incident, except David's welcome to Abiathar. Are not such words addressed by our Lord to all who escape to Him? "Abide with me" may be understood in the light of John 15:1-27. With Christ there is safeguard. "Your life is hid with Christ in God." Fear not, trembling soul; Christ stands surety for thee! See Psalms 52:1-9, where David predicts Doeg's fate, and contrasts it with his own happy lot. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 22

¹ Companies resort unto David at Adullam
³ At Mizpeh he commends his parents unto the king of Moab
⁵ Admonished by Gad, he comes to Hareth,
⁶ Saul going to pursue him, complains of his servants' unfaithfulness
⁹ Doeg accuses Ahimelech
¹¹ Saul commands to kill the priests
¹⁷ The footmen refusing, Doeg executes it
²⁰ Abiathar escaping, brings David the news

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 22:16 mean?

And said the king surely You shall die Ahimelech you and all house of your father

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ מ֥וֹת תָּמ֖וּת אֲחִימֶ֑לֶךְ אַתָּ֖ה וְכָל־ בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיךָ

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	And said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ	the king
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: מֶלֶךְ Sense: king.
מ֥וֹת	surely
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute Root: מוּת Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
תָּמ֖וּת	You shall die
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular Root: מוּת Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
אֲחִימֶ֑לֶךְ	Ahimelech
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: אֲחִימֶלֶךְ Sense: a priest murdered by Doeg at Saul’s command, for supposedly assisting David.
וְכָל־	and all
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct Root: כֹּל Sense: all, the whole.
בֵּ֥ית	house
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct Root: בַּיִת Sense: house.
אָבִֽיךָ	of your father
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular Root: אָב Sense: father of an individual.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 22:16?

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