1 Samuel 22:19 Meaning and Explanation
“And Nob, the city of the priests, smote he with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and sucklings, and oxen, and asses, and sheep, with the edge of the sword.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The whole priestly city of Nob is destroyed by the sword -- people, infants, and livestock alike.
What Does 1 Samuel 22:19 Mean?
The violence spreads beyond the priests to their entire town. Nob, the city of the priests, is put to the sword -- men and women, children and nursing infants, even the animals. The destruction is total, the kind of utter devastation Saul had once refused to carry out against an enemy God had named, now turned against God's own people.
The horror is almost unbearable to read, and Scripture does not soften it. This is the wages of a kingship that has abandoned the Lord. The bitter irony hangs heavy: what Saul withheld in earlier disobedience, he now pours out upon the innocent. The passage forces us to face the real cost of sin unrepented, and to long for the day when the Lord wipes away every tear and the meek, not the violent, inherit the earth.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 22:19
What does 1 Samuel 22:19 mean?
The whole priestly city of Nob is destroyed by the sword -- people, infants, and livestock alike.