Bible Strands
1 Samuel 21:4
“There is no common bread on hand,” the priest replied, “but there is some consecrated bread—provided that the young men have kept themselves from women.”
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The priest at Nob addresses David during his flight, responding to David’s request for provisions by offering consecrated bread conditional on the young men’s ritual purity.
The words — The Hebrew חֹל (chol) literally denotes “profaneness” or common use, establishing the boundary between ordinary and sacred items. The priest’s response hinges on this term to define the purity standard required before the consecrated bread may be distributed.
The thread — The purity condition parallels the preparation command in Exodus 19:15, while the consecrated bread itself recalls the perpetual Bread of the Presence in Exodus 25:30. Jesus later references this exact encounter in Matthew 12:3 to address the relationship between human necessity and ceremonial law.
Why it lands — The text records that divine provision is mediated through established holiness requirements rather than circumventing them. It asks the reader to examine how urgent physical need intersects with disciplined preparation without excusing neglect of ritual boundaries.
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 the priest answered David, and said, There is no common bread under mine hand, but there is hallowed bread; if the young men have kept themselves at least from women.
Cross-references
- Matthew 12:3 Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry?
- Exodus 19:15 “Be prepared for the third day,” he said to the people. “Do not draw near to a woman.”
- Exodus 25:30 And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.
- Leviticus 24:5 You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf,
- 1 Samuel 21:6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there but the Bread of the Presence, which had been removed from before the LORD and replaced with hot bread on the day it was taken away.
- Zechariah 7:3 by asking the priests of the house of the LORD of Hosts, as well as the prophets, “Should I weep and fast in the fifth month, as I have done these many years?”
- 1 Corinthians 7:5 Do not deprive each other, except by mutual consent and for a time, so you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again, so that Satan will not tempt you through your lack of self-control.