And David said unto Ahimelech the priest, The king hath commanded me a business, and hath said unto me, Let no man know any thing of the business whereabout I send thee, and what I have commanded thee: and I have appointed my servants to such and such a place.

1 SAMUEL 21:2KJV
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1 Samuel 21:2 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 21:2 mean?

1 Samuel 21:2 shows David telling Ahimelech the priest that he is on a secret mission from the king, and that no one else should know about it. David also says he has arranged for his men to meet him at a certain place, though he does not give details.

In this verse, David is speaking to Ahimelech after fleeing from King Saul, who is trying to kill him. David claims to be on royal business, but he is actually hiding from Saul. The verse highlights David’s attempt to protect himself and his men by not revealing the true reason for his visit, and it sets up the tension and secrecy that run through this part of David’s story.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 21:2

  • דָּבָר (davar, H1697) — "business" or "matter": This word is used twice in the verse and can refer to any kind of affair, message, or task. Here, it adds to the sense of secrecy and importance that David wants to convey to Ahimelech.
  • יָדַע (yada, H3045) — "know": David insists that no "man" (אִישׁ, ish, H376) should know anything about the "business." The word for "know" here emphasizes the need for complete secrecy.
  • שָׁלַח (shalach, H7971) — "send": David says the king sent him, which is part of the story he tells to explain his sudden appearance.
  • נַעַר (na'ar, H5288) — "servants" or "young men": David refers to his followers as "servants," which could mean young men or attendants, suggesting he is not alone, even if they are not present.

Why 1 Samuel 21:2 matters

  • This verse clarifies that David is not being truthful with Ahimelech, which becomes important later when Saul accuses the priests of helping David.
  • The emphasis on secrecy and the use of words like "business" and "know" show how dangerous David’s situation is and how careful he must be.
  • Understanding this verse helps explain why Ahimelech acts the way he does and why the events that follow are so tragic for the priests at Nob.

Where else these words appear

“such” Hebrew H6423 · used in 3 verses

  • Ruth 4:1 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
  • 2 Kings 6:8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

“such” Hebrew H492 · used in 3 verses

  • Ruth 4:1 Then went Boaz up to the gate, and sat him down there: and, behold, the kinsman of whom Boaz spake came by; unto whom he said, Ho, such a one! turn aside, sit down here. And he turned aside, and sat down.
  • 2 Kings 6:8 Then the king of Syria warred against Israel, and took counsel with his servants, saying, In such and such a place shall be my camp.

“Ahimelech” Hebrew H288 · used in 16 verses

  • 1 Samuel 21:1 Then came David to Nob to Ahimelech the priest: and Ahimelech was afraid at the meeting of David, and said unto him, Why art thou alone, and no man with thee?
  • 1 Samuel 22:16 And the king said, Thou shalt surely die, Ahimelech, thou, and all thy father's house.
  • 2 Samuel 8:17 And Zadok the son of Ahitub, and Ahimelech the son of Abiathar, were the priests; and Seraiah was the scribe;

“thing” Hebrew H3972 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 22:12 And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
  • 1 Samuel 12:4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.
  • 1 Kings 10:21 And all king Solomon's drinking vessels were of gold, and all the vessels of the house of the forest of Lebanon were of pure gold; none were of silver: it was nothing accounted of in the days of Solomon.