1 Samuel 21 שְׁמוּאֵל א פרק כ״א

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 1 Samuel 21 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיָּקׇםvay/YA/komand aroseוַיֵּלַךְvay/ye/LAKHand wentוִיהוֹנָתָןVi/ho/na/TANand Jonathanבָּאbawent intoהָעִיר׃ha/IRthe city

   And he arose and departed: and Jonathan went into the city.

2. 2

   וַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand cameדָוִדDa/VIDDavidנֹבֶהNO/veto Nobאֶל־אֲחִימֶלֶךְel-A/chi/ME/lekhto Ahimelechהַכֹּהֵןhak/ko/HENthe priestוַיֶּחֱרַדvay/ye/che/RADand trembledאֲחִימֶלֶךְA/chi/ME/lekhAhimelechלִקְרַאתlik/RATat meetingדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלוֹloto himמַדּוּעַmad/DU/awhy areאַתָּהat/TAyouלְבַדֶּךָle/vad/DE/khaaloneוְאִישׁve/ISHand a manאֵיןenthere is notאִתָּךְ׃it/TAKHwith you

   Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?

3. 3

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidלַאֲחִימֶלֶךְla/A/chi/ME/lekhto Ahimelechהַכֹּהֵןhak/ko/HENthe priestהַמֶּלֶךְham/ME/lekhthe kingצִוַּנִיtsiv/VA/nihas commanded meדָבָרda/VARa matterוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֵלַיe/LAYto meאִישׁishanyoneאַל־יֵדַעal-ye/DAlet not knowמְאוּמָהme/U/maanythingאֶת־הַדָּבָרet-had/da/VARthe matterאֲשֶׁר־אָנֹכִיa/SHER-a/no/KHIon which Iשֹׁלֵחֲךָsho/le/cha/KHAam sending youוַאֲשֶׁרva/a/SHERand whatצִוִּיתִךָtsiv/vi/TI/khaI have commanded youוְאֶת־הַנְּעָרִיםve/ET-han/ne/a/RIMand the young menיוֹדַעְתִּיyo/DA/tiI have directedאֶל־מְקוֹםel-me/KOMto a placeפְּלֹנִיpe/lo/NIsuchאַלְמוֹנִי׃al/mo/NIand such

   And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

4. 4

   וְעַתָּהve/at/TAand nowמַה־יֵּשׁma-yeshwhat is thereתַּחַת־יָדְךָTA/chat-ya/de/KHAunder your handחֲמִשָּׁה־לֶחֶםcha/mish/SHA-LE/chemfive loavesתְּנָהte/NAgiveבְיָדִיve/ya/DIinto my handאוֹoorהַנִּמְצָא׃han/nim/TSAwhatever is found

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

5. 5

   וַיַּעַןvay/YA/anand he answeredהַכֹּהֵןhak/ko/HENthe priestאֶת־דָּוִדet-Da/VIDDavidוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאֵין־לֶחֶםen-LE/chemthere is no breadחֹלcholcommonאֶל־תַּחַתel-TA/chatunderיָדִיya/DImy handכִּי־אִם־לֶחֶםki-im-LE/chembut breadקֹדֶשׁKO/deshholyיֵשׁyeshthere isאִם־נִשְׁמְרוּim-nish/me/RUif have kept themselvesהַנְּעָרִיםhan/ne/a/RIMthe young menאַךְakhonlyמֵאִשָּׁה׃me/ish/SHAfrom women

   And the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.

6. 6

   וַיַּעַןvay/YA/anand answeredדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidאֶת־הַכֹּהֵןet-hak/ko/HENthe priestוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidלוֹloto himכִּיkisurelyאִם־אִשָּׁהim-ish/SHAwomenעֲצֻרָה־לָנוּa/tsu/RA-LA/nuhave been kept from usכִּתְמוֹלkit/MOLas yesterdayשִׁלְשֹׁםshil/SHOMand beforeבְּצֵאתִיbe/tse/TIwhen I set outוַיִּהְיוּvay/yih/YUand areכְלֵי־הַנְּעָרִיםkhe/LE-han/ne/a/RIMthe vessels of the young menקֹדֶשׁKO/deshholyוְהוּאve/HUthough it isדֶּרֶךְDE/rekha journeyחֹלcholcommonוְאַףve/AFand how much moreכִּיkithenהַיּוֹםhay/YOMtodayיִקְדַּשׁyik/DASHwill be holyבַּכֶּלִי׃bak/KE/liin their vessels

   And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.

7. 7

   וַיִּתֶּן־לוֹvay/YIT/ten-loso gave himהַכֹּהֵןhak/ko/HENthe priestקֹדֶשׁKO/deshholy breadכִּיkiforלֹא־הָיָהlo-ha/YAthere was noשָׁםshamthereלֶחֶםLE/chembreadכִּי־אִם־לֶחֶםki-im-LE/chembut the bread ofהַפָּנִיםhap/Pa/NIMthe Presenceהַמּוּסָרִיםham/mu/sa/RIMthat had been removedמִלִּפְנֵיmil/lif/NEfrom beforeיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDלָשׂוּםla/SUMto putלֶחֶםLE/chembreadחֹםchomhotבְּיוֹםbe/YOMon the dayהִלָּקְחוֹ׃hil/la/ke/CHOit was taken away

   So the priest gave him hallowed bread: for there was no bread there but the shewbread, that was taken from before the LORD, to put hot bread in the day when it was taken away.

8. 8

   וְשָׁםve/SHAMnow there wasאִישׁisha manמֵעַבְדֵיme/av/DEof the servants ofשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulבַּיּוֹםbay/YOMon the dayהַהוּאha/HUthatנֶעְצָרne/TSARdetainedלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוּשְׁמוֹu/she/MOand his nameדֹּאֵגDo/EGDoegהָאֲדֹמִיha/A/do/MIthe Edomiteאַבִּירab/BIRthe chief ofהָרֹעִיםha/ro/IMthe shepherdsאֲשֶׁרa/SHERwho belongedלְשָׁאוּל׃le/Sha/ULto Saul

   Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.

9. 9

   וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidלַאֲחִימֶלֶךְla/A/chi/ME/lekhto Ahimelechוְאִיןve/INand is there notיֶשׁ־פֹּהyesh-pohereתַחַת־יָדְךָTA/chat-ya/de/KHAunder your handחֲנִיתcha/NITa spearאוֹ־חָרֶבo-CHA/revor a swordכִּיkiforגַם־חַרְבִּיgam-char/BIneither my swordוְגַם־כֵּלַיve/GAM-ke/LAYnor my weaponsלֹא־לָקַחְתִּיlo-la/KACH/tihave I broughtבְיָדִיve/ya/DIwith meכִּי־הָיָהki-ha/YAfor wasדְבַר־הַמֶּלֶךְde/VAR-ham/ME/lekhthe king’s businessנָחוּץ׃na/CHUTSurgent

   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.

10. 10

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidהַכֹּהֵןhak/ko/HENthe priestחֶרֶבCHE/revthe sword ofגׇּלְיָתGol/YATGoliathהַפְּלִשְׁתִּיhap/Pe/lish/TIthe Philistineאֲשֶׁר־הִכִּיתָa/SHER-hik/KI/tawhom you struckבְּעֵמֶקbe/E/mekin the valley ofהָאֵלָהHa/e/LAElahהִנֵּה־הִיאhin/NE-hibehold it isלוּטָהlu/TAwrappedבַשִּׂמְלָהvas/sim/LAin a clothאַחֲרֵיa/cha/REbehindהָאֵפוֹדha/e/FODthe ephodאִם־אֹתָהּim-o/TAif itתִּקַּח־לְךָtik/KACH-le/KHAyou will take for yourselfקָחkachtake itכִּיkiforאֵיןenthere is noאַחֶרֶתa/CHE/retotherזוּלָתָהּzu/la/TAexcept itבָּזֶהba/ZEhereוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidאֵיןenthere is noneכָּמוֹהָka/MO/halike itתְּנֶנָּהte/NEN/nagive itלִּי׃lime

    And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

11. 11

    וַיָּקׇםvay/YA/komand aroseדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidוַיִּבְרַחvay/yiv/RACHand he fledבַּיּוֹם־הַהוּאbay/YOM-ha/HUon that dayמִפְּנֵיmip/pe/NEfromשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulוַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand cameאֶל־אָכִישׁel-A/KHISHto AchishמֶלֶךְME/lekhthe king ofגַּת׃GatGath

    And David arose, and fled that day for fear of Saul, and went to Achish the king of Gath.

12. 12

    וַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidעַבְדֵיav/DEthe servants ofאָכִישׁA/KHISHAchishאֵלָיוe/LAYVto himהֲלוֹא־זֶהha/LO-zeis this notדָוִדDa/VIDDavidמֶלֶךְME/lekhthe king ofהָאָרֶץha/A/retsthe landהֲלוֹאha/LOdid notלָזֶהla/ZEof this oneיַעֲנוּya/a/NUthey sing one to anotherבַמְּחֹלוֹתvam/me/cho/LOTin dancesלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingהִכָּהhik/KAhas struckשָׁאוּלSha/ULSaulבַּאֲלָפָוba/a/la/FAVhis thousandsוְדָוִדve/Da/VIDand Davidבְּרִבְבֹתָו׃be/riv/vo/TAVhis ten thousands

    And the servants of Achish said unto him, Is not this David the king of the land? did they not sing one to another of him in dances, saying, Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands?

13. 13

    וַיָּשֶׂםvay/YA/semand tookדָּוִדDa/VIDDavidאֶת־הַדְּבָרִיםet-had/de/va/RIMthe wordsהָאֵלֶּהha/EL/letheseבִּלְבָבוֹbil/va/VOto heartוַיִּרָאvay/yi/RAand he was afraidמְאֹדme/ODgreatlyמִפְּנֵיmip/pe/NEofאָכִישׁA/KHISHAchishמֶלֶךְ־גַּת׃ME/lekh-Gatthe king of Gath

    And David laid up these words in his heart, and was sore afraid of Achish the king of Gath.

14. 14

    וַיְשַׁנּוֹvay/shan/NOso he changedאֶת־טַעְמוֹet-ta/MOhis behaviorבְּעֵינֵיהֶםbe/e/ne/HEMin their eyesוַיִּתְהֹלֵלvay/yit/ho/LELand pretended to be madבְּיָדָםbe/ya/DAMin their handsוַיְתָוvay/TAVand scratchedעַל־דַּלְתוֹתal-dal/TOTon the doors ofהַשַּׁעַרhash/SHA/arthe gateוַיּוֹרֶדvay/YO/redand let run downרִירוֹri/ROhis salivaאֶל־זְקָנוֹ׃el-ze/ka/NOonto his beard

    And he changed his behaviour before them, and feigned himself mad in their hands, and scrabbled on the doors of the gate, and let his spittle fall down upon his beard.

15. 15

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidאָכִישׁA/KHISHAchishאֶל־עֲבָדָיוel-a/va/DAYVto his servantsהִנֵּהhin/NEbeholdתִרְאוּtir/Uyou seeאִישׁisha manמִשְׁתַּגֵּעַmish/tag/GE/aacting madלָמָּהLAM/mawhyתָּבִיאוּta/VI/uhave you broughtאֹתוֹo/TOhimאֵלָי׃e/LAYto me

    Then said Achish unto his servants, Lo, ye see the man is mad: wherefore then have ye brought him to me?

16. 16

    חֲסַרcha/SARlackingמְשֻׁגָּעִיםme/shug/ga/IMmadmenאָנִיA/niam Iכִּי־הֲבֵאתֶםki-ha/ve/TEMthat you have broughtאֶת־זֶהet-zethisלְהִשְׁתַּגֵּעַle/hish/tag/GE/ato act madעָלָיa/LAYbefore meהֲזֶהha/ZEshall this oneיָבוֹאya/VOcomeאֶל־בֵּיתִי׃el-be/TIto my house

    Have I need of mad men, that ye have brought this fellow to play the mad man in my presence? shall this fellow come into my house?