1 Samuel 21:7 Meaning and Explanation
“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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →An onlooker is present that day: Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief herdsman, detained at the sanctuary.
What Does 1 Samuel 21:7 Mean?
The narrator pauses to mark a witness. Doeg, a foreigner in Saul's service, happens to be at Nob, held there before the LORD for some reason of his own. His name is set down deliberately, a shadow falling across the scene.
What seems a passing detail becomes a hinge of tragedy, for Doeg will later report this meeting to Saul and carry out a slaughter of the priests. Evil often waits unnoticed in the corner of a holy place. The text quietly warns that the company we keep before God is seen, and that hidden malice will surface in its time.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 21:7
What does 1 Samuel 21:7 mean?
An onlooker is present that day: Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief herdsman, detained at the sanctuary.