1 samuel 21:4 - The priest answered David, and said, “I have no common bread, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.”
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What does "1 samuel 21:4" mean?
This verse comes from a story where David is fleeing from King Saul and seeks help from Ahimelech, the priest at Nob. David tells Ahimelech that he is on a secret mission from the king and needs food for himself and his men.
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"The priest answered David, and said, 'I have no common bread, but there is holy bread...'" Ahimelech explains that he doesn't have ordinary bread available, only "holy bread." This holy bread was the Showbread, or Bread of the Presence, which was offered to God and usually reserved for the priests to eat.
"...if only the young men have kept themselves from women.'" This is the key condition Ahimelech sets. Abstaining from sexual relations was considered a form of ritual purity or holiness in ancient Israel. The idea was that sexual activity could make someone temporarily unclean or impure, and therefore unsuitable to partake in sacred things like the holy bread. Ahimelech wants to ensure that David and his men are in a state that is considered pure enough to eat the bread.
In essence, the verse signifies:
The priest's limited resources: He only has consecrated bread, not regular bread.
The concept of ritual purity: The priest is concerned about the holiness of the bread and wants to ensure that those who eat it are in a state of ritual purity, which, in this context, includes abstaining from sexual relations.
The difficult situation David is in: He is desperate and needs to find a way to feed his men, even if it means potentially bending religious rules or making a false claim about his mission.
1 samuel 21:4 - The priest answered David, and said, “I have no common bread, but there is holy bread; if only the young men have kept themselves from women.”
What does "1 samuel 21:4" mean?
This verse comes from a story where David is fleeing from King Saul and seeks help from Ahimelech, the priest at Nob. David tells Ahimelech that he is on a secret mission from the king and needs food for himself and his men.
Here's a breakdown of the verse's meaning:
"The priest answered David, and said, 'I have no common bread, but there is holy bread...'" Ahimelech explains that he doesn't have ordinary bread available, only "holy bread." This holy bread was the Showbread, or Bread of the Presence, which was offered to God and usually reserved for the priests to eat.
"...if only the young men have kept themselves from women.'" This is the key condition Ahimelech sets. Abstaining from sexual relations was considered a form of ritual purity or holiness in ancient Israel. The idea was that sexual activity could make someone temporarily unclean or impure, and therefore unsuitable to partake in sacred things like the holy bread. Ahimelech wants to ensure that David and his men are in a state that is considered pure enough to eat the bread.
In essence, the verse signifies:
The priest's limited resources: He only has consecrated bread, not regular bread.
The concept of ritual purity: The priest is concerned about the holiness of the bread and wants to ensure that those who eat it are in a state of ritual purity, which, in this context, includes abstaining from sexual relations.
The difficult situation David is in: He is desperate and needs to find a way to feed his men, even if it means potentially bending religious rules or making a false claim about his mission.