Bible Strands
1 Samuel 21:2
“The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission on which I am sending you. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — David speaks to Ahimelech the priest at Nob immediately after arriving alone, responding to the priest’s inquiry about his isolated state.
The words — The Hebrew דָבָר (davar) denotes “a matter” or mission, coupled with צִוַּ֣/נִי (tzi.vani) meaning “he commanded me,” establishing the king’s directive as a binding charge.
The thread — This motif of concealed directives and the tension between secrecy and truth runs through Colossians 3:9 and Genesis 27:20, where honesty is tied to covenant integrity.
Why it lands — The verse requires a reader to assess whether they shield others or protect a secret when facing institutional pressure, demanding a clear accounting of their actual motives.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
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.
Cross-references
- Galatians 2:12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself, for fear of those in the circumcision group.
- Colossians 3:9 Do not lie to one another, since you have taken off the old self with its practices,
- Genesis 27:20 But Isaac asked his son, “How did you ever find it so quickly, my son?” “Because the LORD your God brought it to me,” he replied.
- Genesis 27:24 Again he asked, “Are you really my son Esau?” And he replied, “I am.”
- 1 Samuel 19:17 And Saul said to Michal, “Why did you deceive me like this? You sent my enemy away, and he has escaped!” Michal replied, “He said to me, ‘Help me get away, or I will kill you!’”
- 1 Samuel 22:22 Then David said to Abiathar, “I knew that Doeg the Edomite was there that day, and that he was sure to tell Saul. I myself am responsible for the lives of everyone in your father’s house.
- 1 Kings 13:18 Then the prophet replied, “I too am a prophet like you, and an angel spoke to me by the word of the LORD, saying, ‘Bring him back with you to your house, so that he may eat bread and drink water.’” The old prophet was lying to him,
- Psalms 119:29 Remove me from the path of deceit and graciously grant me Your law.