1 Samuel 22:14 Meaning and Explanation
“Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Ahimelech defends David as the most faithful of all Saul's servants -- the king's own son-in-law, obedient and honored in the royal house.
What Does 1 Samuel 22:14 Mean?
Ahimelech answers not with self-defense but with a defense of David. He reminds Saul of what everyone once knew: David is the most loyal of all the king's servants, his son-in-law, quick to obey, honored in the palace. The priest assumed he was aiding a trusted royal officer, because that is exactly what David had been.
Here a condemned man speaks the truth boldly to the king's face, praising the one Saul hates. Ahimelech will not save himself by slandering David; he stakes his life on what is right. His witness shines all the brighter against Saul's darkness. To speak well of the absent and the accused, even at personal cost, is the mark of an honest heart -- and it foreshadows the fearless integrity God honors above the favor of kings.
1 Samuel 22:14 in the Original Language
aman (אָמַן), 'faithful' -- firm, reliable, trustworthy; the root from which 'amen' is formed, meaning that which is sure and steadfast.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 22:14
What does 1 Samuel 22:14 mean?
Ahimelech defends David as the most faithful of all Saul's servants -- the king's own son-in-law, obedient and honored in the royal house.