1 Samuel 21:5
New International Version
David replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men’s bodies are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!”

New Living Translation
“Don’t worry,” David replied. “I never allow my men to be with women when we are on a campaign. And since they stay clean even on ordinary trips, how much more on this one!”

English Standard Version
And David answered the priest, “Truly women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition. The vessels of the young men are holy even when it is an ordinary journey. How much more today will their vessels be holy?”

Berean Standard Bible
David answered, “Women have indeed been kept from us, as is usual when I set out. And the equipment of the young men is holy, as it is even on common missions, and all the more at this time.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us about three days since I came out. And the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in effect common, even though it was consecrated in the vessel this day.”

New American Standard Bible
David answered the priest and said to him, “Be assured, women have been denied to us as previously when I left and the bodies of the young men were consecrated, though it was an ordinary journey; how much more then will their bodies be consecrated today?”

NASB 1995
David answered the priest and said to him, “Surely women have been kept from us as previously when I set out and the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was an ordinary journey; how much more then today will their vessels be holy?”

NASB 1977
And David answered the priest and said to him, “Surely women have been kept from us as previously when I set out and the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was an ordinary journey; how much more then today will their vessels be holy?

Legacy Standard Bible
And David answered the priest and said to him, “Surely women have been kept from us as previously when I set out and the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was an ordinary journey; how much more then today will their vessels be holy?”

Amplified Bible
David answered the priest, “Be assured that women have been kept from us in these three days since I set out, and the bodies of the young men were consecrated (ceremonially clean), although it was an ordinary (unconsecrated) journey; so how much more will their vessels be holy today?”

Christian Standard Bible
David answered him, “I swear that women are being kept from us, as always when I go out to battle. The young men’s bodies are consecrated even on an ordinary mission, so of course their bodies are consecrated today.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
David answered him, “I swear that women are being kept from us, as always when I go out to battle. The young men’s bodies are consecrated even on an ordinary mission, so of course their bodies are consecrated today.”

American Standard Version
And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; when I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then to-day shall their vessels be holy?

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And the Priest answered David and said to him: “There is no common bread under my hands, but the bread of holiness is. If the young men have kept themselves from the offering”

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David answered the priest, and said to him, Yea, we have been kept from women for three days: when I came forth for the journey all the young men were purified; but this expedition is unclean, wherefore it shall be sanctified this day because of my weapons.

Contemporary English Version
"Of course we didn't sleep with women," David answered. "I never let my men do that when we're on a mission. They have to be acceptable to worship God even when we're on a regular mission, and today we're on a special mission."

Douay-Rheims Bible
And David answered the priest, and said to him: Truly, as to what concerneth women, we have refrained ourselves from yesterday and the day before, when we came out, and the vessels of the young men were holy. Now this way is defiled, but it shall also be sanctified this day in the vessels.

English Revised Version
And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; When I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then today shall their vessels be holy?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David answered the priest, "Of course women have been kept away from us as usual when we go [on a mission]. The young men's bodies are kept holy even on ordinary campaigns. How much more then will their bodies be holy today?"

Good News Translation
"Of course they haven't," answered David. "My men always keep themselves ritually pure even when we go out on an ordinary mission; how much more this time when we are on a special mission!"

International Standard Version
David answered the priest, saying to him, "Indeed, women were kept from us as is usual whenever I go out on a mission, and the equipment of the young men is consecrated even when it's an ordinary journey, so how much more is their equipment consecrated today?"

JPS Tanakh 1917
And David answered the priest, and said unto him: 'Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; when I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then to-day, when there shall be holy bread in their vessels?'

Literal Standard Version
And David answers the priest and says to him, “Surely, if women have been restrained from us as before in my going out, then the vessels of the young men are holy, and it [is] a common way; and also, surely it is sanctified today in the vessel.”

Majority Standard Bible
David answered, “Women have indeed been kept from us, as is usual when I set out. And the equipment of the young men is holy, as it is even on common missions, and all the more at this time.”

New American Bible
David answered the priest: “We have indeed stayed away from women. In the past whenever I went out on a campaign, all the young men were consecrated—even for an ordinary campaign. All the more so are they consecrated with their weapons today!”

NET Bible
David said to the priest, "Certainly women have been kept away from us, just as on previous occasions when I have set out. The soldiers' equipment is holy, even on an ordinary journey. How much more so will they be holy today, along with their equipment!"

New Revised Standard Version
David answered the priest, “Indeed women have been kept from us as always when I go on an expedition; the vessels of the young men are holy even when it is a common journey; how much more today will their vessels be holy?”

New Heart English Bible
And David answered the priest, and said to him, "Truly women have been kept from us as always when I set out. All the young men are holy, even when it is an ordinary mission. So how much more today will their vessels be holy?"

Webster's Bible Translation
And David answered the priest, and said to 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, yes, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.

World English Bible
David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us as usual these three days. When I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was only a common journey. How much more then today shall their vessels be holy?”

Young's Literal Translation
And David answereth the priest, and saith to him, 'Surely, if women have been restrained from us as heretofore in my going out, then the vessels of the young men are holy, and it is a common way: and also, surely to-day it is sanctified in the vessel.'

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Takes the Consecrated Bread
4“There is no common bread on hand,” the priest replied, “but there is some consecrated bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.” 5David answered, “Women have indeed been kept from us, as is usual when I set out. And the equipment of the young men is holy, as it is even on common missions, and all the more at this time.” 6So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.…

Cross References
1 Corinthians 7:5
Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.

1 Thessalonians 4:4
each of you must know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,

Exodus 19:14
When Moses came down from the mountain to the people, he consecrated them, and they washed their clothes.

Exodus 19:15
"Be prepared for the third day," he said to the people. "Do not draw near to a woman."


Treasury of Scripture

And David answered the priest, and said to 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, yes, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.

the vessels

Acts 9:15
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:

1 Thessalonians 4:3,4
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: …

2 Timothy 2:20,21
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour…

in a manner

Leviticus 24:9
And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute.

Leviticus 8:26
And out of the basket of unleavened bread, that was before the LORD, he took one unleavened cake, and a cake of oiled bread, and one wafer, and put them on the fat, and upon the right shoulder:

Jump to Previous
Bread Common David Holy Journey Kept Manner Priest Sanctified Three Today Truth Vessel Vessels Women Young
Jump to Next
Bread Common David Holy Journey Kept Manner Priest Sanctified Three Today Truth Vessel Vessels Women Young
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














(5) The vessels.--Their clothes and light, portable baggage--answering to the modern "knapsack." The Vulg. renders the Hebrew word by "vasa." David means to say, "Since we have just left home, you may readily suppose that no impurity has been contracted; it would be different if we were returning home from a journey, when on the way--especially in war--uncleanness might be contracted by the blood of enemies or otherwise."--Seb. Schmid, quoted in Lange.

The LXX., by a very slight change in the Hebrew letters, instead of "the vessels of the young men," render, "all the young men."

And the bread is in a manner common.--The original is here very difficult, almost utterly obscure. The English Version of the clause is simply meaningless. Of the many translations which have been suggested, two at least offer a fairly good sense. (a) "And if it is an unholy way (viz., the way David and his band were going--his purpose or enterprise), moreover there is also the fact that it becomes holy through the instrument" (viz., through me, as an ambassador of the anointed of the Lord), on the supposition of the important royal mission upon which David pretended to be sent. So Keil and O. von Gerlach. (b) Lange, however, and Thenius, maintain that the words in question must contain a remark by which the priest is to be induced to give the bread, and would translate, "Though it is an unholy (ceremonially illegal) procedure (to take the shewbread), yet it is sanctified (to-day) through the instrument" (David or Ahimelech). The instrument is here David, the appointed messenger of the Lord's anointed, or, even better, Ahimelech, the sacred person of the high priest.

No doubt, the words of Leviticus 24:9, which speak of the destination of the stale shewbread--"And they (Aaron and his sons) shall eat it in the holy place"--suggested the practice of the Church of England embodied in the Rubric following the" Order of the Administration of the Holy Communion"--"And if any" (of the bread and wine) "remain of that which was consecrated, it shall not be carried out of the church, but the priest, and such other of the communicants as he shall then call unto him, shall immediately after the blessing reverently eat and drink the same." Among the legendary Jewish lore that has gathered round the history of this transaction is one strange tradition that the holy bread thus given became useless in the hands of the king's fugitive. (See Stanley, Lectures on the Jewish Church, Lect. 22, quoting from Jerome.)

Verses 5, 6. - About these three days since I came out. This exactly agrees with the time during which David had lain concealed (1 Samuel 20:24, 27, 35), and explains the hunger under which he was suffering, as he had no doubt taken with him only feed sufficient for his immediate wants, he wishes, however, the high priest to believe that he had been engaged with his men during this time on public business, whereas they had been at home and some of them possibly were unclean. The whole chapter sets David before us in a very humiliating light. Just as some books of Homer are styled "the prowess" of some hero, so this chapter might be called David's degradation. The determined hatred of Saul seems to have thrown him off his balance, and it was not till he got among the hills of Judah, wherein was the cave of Adullam, that he recovered his serenity. The vessels of the young men. Their scrips, in which they would carry the bread, and their baggage generally. The bread is in a manner common, etc. The word bread is supplied by the translators, to give some sense to this most difficult passage. Literally translated, the two last clauses are, "And the way is profane, although it be sanctified today in the vessel." Among the numerous interpretations of these words the following seems the best: "And though our journey be not connected with a religious object, yet it (the bread) will be kept holy in the vessel (in which it will be carried)." There is no difficulty in supplying bread in the last clause, as the shewbread was the subject of the conversation, and a nominative is constantly supplied by the mind from the principal matter that is occupying the thoughts of the speakers. David's argument, therefore, is that both his attendants and their wallets were free from legal defilement, and that though their expedition was on some secular business, yet that at all events the bread would be secure from pollution. The shewbread that was taken from before Jehovah. The Talmud ('Menach.,' 92, 2) points out that this bread was not newly taken out of the sanctuary, but, as the last clause shows, had been removed on some previous day. As after a week's exposure it was stale and dry, the priests, we are told, ate but little of it, and the rest was left (see Talmud, 'Tract. Yom.,' 39, 1). It also points out that, had such violations of the Levitical law been common, so much importance would not have been attached to this incident.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

answered,
וַיַּעַן֩ (way·ya·‘an)
0
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

“Women [have]
אִשָּׁ֤ה (’iš·šāh)
0
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

indeed
אִם־ (’im-)
0
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

[been] kept
עֲצֻֽרָה־ (‘ă·ṣu·rāh-)
0
Strong's 6113: To inclose, to hold back, to maintain, rule, assemble

from us,
לָ֙נוּ֙ (lā·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's Hebrew

as usual
שִׁלְשֹׁ֔ם (šil·šōm)
Direct object marker
Strong's 8032: Three days ago, day before, yesterday

when I set out.
בְּצֵאתִ֕י (bə·ṣê·ṯî)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim

And
וַיִּהְי֥וּ (way·yih·yū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the equipment
כְלֵֽי־ (ḵə·lê-)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus

of the young men
הַנְּעָרִ֖ים (han·nə·‘ā·rîm)
Conjunction
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

is holy,
קֹ֑דֶשׁ (qō·ḏeš)
Conjunction
Strong's 6944: A sacred place, thing, sanctity

as it [is]
וְהוּא֙ (wə·hū)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1931: He, self, the same, this, that, as, are

even on common
חֹ֔ל (ḥōl)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 2455: Profaneness, commonness

missions,
דֶּ֣רֶךְ (de·reḵ)
Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - feminine singular
Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action

and all the more
וְאַ֕ף (wə·’ap̄)
Preposition-k | Adverb
Strong's 637: Meaning accession, yea, adversatively though

at
כִּ֥י (kî)
Adverb
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

this time.”
הַיּ֖וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Preposition-b | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | first person common singular
Strong's 3117: A day


Links
1 Samuel 21:5 NIV
1 Samuel 21:5 NLT
1 Samuel 21:5 ESV
1 Samuel 21:5 NASB
1 Samuel 21:5 KJV

1 Samuel 21:5 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 21:5 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 21:5 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 21:5 French Bible
1 Samuel 21:5 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 21:5 David answered the priest and said (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 21:4
Top of Page
Top of Page