1 Samuel 21:6 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The priest gives David the showbread, the consecrated loaves removed from the LORD's presence and replaced with fresh bread.
What Does 1 Samuel 21:6 Mean?
The shewbread, twelve loaves set continually before the LORD, was renewed each Sabbath; the old loaves belonged to the priests. Ahimelech gives these to David in his need. Centuries later Jesus would recall this very act when His own disciples were charged with breaking the Sabbath.
Christ pointed to this moment to teach that human need rightly receives mercy, and that the sabbath was made for man. The sacred bread, given to the hungry, becomes a sign of God's heart. He who is Himself the bread of life feeds all who come to Him empty and in want.
1 Samuel 21:6 in the Original Language
lechem happanim (לֶחֶם הַפָּנִים), 'bread of the face' -- the showbread set before the presence of the LORD.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 21:6
What does 1 Samuel 21:6 mean?
The priest gives David the showbread, the consecrated loaves removed from the LORD's presence and replaced with fresh bread.