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.

1 SAMUEL 22:19KJV
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1 Samuel 22:19 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 22:19 mean?

1 Samuel 22:19 describes how the city of Nob, where the priests lived, was completely destroyed by the sword—every man, woman, child, infant, and even all the animals were killed. This verse shows the total devastation carried out against Nob as an act of violent retribution.

In this part of the story, King Saul has ordered the destruction of Nob because its priests had unknowingly helped David, whom Saul saw as a threat. Saul’s command leads to a massacre carried out by Doeg the Edomite, showing the extreme consequences of Saul’s anger and suspicion. The verse emphasizes the thoroughness of the destruction, listing every group and animal killed, highlighting the severity of Saul’s actions.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 22:19

  • "Edge" (פֶּה, peh): This word literally means "mouth," but here it refers to the "edge" or "mouth" of the sword, a Hebrew way of describing being killed by the sword’s blade. This phrase is repeated for emphasis, underlining the totality of the violence.
  • "Smote" (נָכָה, nakah): This verb means to strike or kill, often used in the context of battle or punishment. Its use here signals deliberate, forceful action rather than accidental harm.
  • "Priests" (כֹּהֵן, kohen): The verse calls Nob "the city of the priests," reminding the reader that those killed included God’s appointed religious leaders, not just ordinary citizens.

Why 1 Samuel 22:19 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Saul’s order did not just target David or the priests, but wiped out an entire city, including innocent people and animals, showing the depth of Saul’s paranoia and the tragedy it caused.
  • The detailed listing of victims—men, women, children, infants, and animals—emphasizes the indiscriminate nature of the violence and the horror of the event.
  • Understanding the destruction of Nob helps explain later events in David’s life, including his relationship with the priestly family and his sense of responsibility for their suffering.

Where else these words appear

“Nob” Hebrew H5011 · used in 6 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 22:9 Then answered Doeg the Edomite, which was set over the servants of Saul, and said, I saw the son of Jesse coming to Nob, to Ahimelech the son of Ahitub.
  • Nehemiah 11:32 And at Anathoth, Nob, Ananiah,

“children” Hebrew H5768 · used in 20 verses

  • 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.
  • Isaiah 13:16 Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled, and their wives ravished.
  • Lamentations 2:19 Arise, cry out in the night: in the beginning of the watches pour out thine heart like water before the face of the Lord: lift up thy hands toward him for the life of thy young children, that faint for hunger in the top of every street.

“sucklings” Hebrew H3243 · used in 30 verses

  • Genesis 21:7 And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
  • Deuteronomy 33:19 They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.
  • Isaiah 11:8 And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

“sheep” Hebrew H7716 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
  • Exodus 34:20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
  • 1 Samuel 14:34 And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.