1 Samuel 21:4 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ahimelech has only consecrated bread to give, and asks whether David's men have kept themselves ceremonially pure.
What Does 1 Samuel 21:4 Mean?
The only bread at the sanctuary is the holy bread set apart for the LORD. Ahimelech is willing to share it, but raises the question of purity, for those who handle sacred things were to be set apart. His concern shows reverence, not refusal.
Holiness mattered deeply in Israel's worship, yet here mercy and human need press upon the sacred order. The moment anticipates a greater teaching: that the holy things of God serve life, not the reverse. Compassion for the hungry honors the God in whose presence the bread was kept.
1 Samuel 21:4 in the Original Language
qodesh (קֹדֶשׁ), 'holy' -- that which is set apart and consecrated to God.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 21:4
What does 1 Samuel 21:4 mean?
Ahimelech has only consecrated bread to give, and asks whether David's men have kept themselves ceremonially pure.