1 Samuel 21:9

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

David asked Ahimelech, 'Don’t you have a spear or a sword here? I haven’t brought my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s mission was urgent.'

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיֹּ֤אמֶר דָּוִד֙ לַאֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ וְאִ֛ין יֶשׁ־פֹּ֥ה תַֽחַת־יָדְךָ֖ חֲנִ֣ית אוֹ־חָ֑רֶב כִּ֣י גַם־חַרְבִּ֤י וְגַם־כֵּלַי֙ לֹֽא־לָקַ֣חְתִּי בְיָדִ֔י כִּֽי־הָיָ֥ה דְבַר־הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ נָחֽוּץ׃

Transliteration

And wayyōʾmer Dāwid to laʾĂḥîmelek and is there not yeš-here under-your yādekā ḥănît or-ḥāreb for also-my ḥarbî and also-my kēlay not-lāqaḥtî in my beyādî for-hāyâ debar-the hammelek nāḥûṣ

Grammar Details

• *wayyōʾmer*: waw consecutive + qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he said
• *Dāwid*: proper noun, masculine singular - David
• *laʾĂḥîmelek*: preposition + proper noun, masculine singular - to Ahimelech
• *yeš*: particle of existence - there is/are
• *yādekā*: noun, feminine singular + 2nd masculine singular suffix - your hand
• *ḥănît*: noun, feminine singular, absolute - spear
• *ḥāreb*: noun, feminine singular, absolute - sword
• *ḥarbî*: noun, feminine singular + 1st person singular suffix - my sword
• *kēlay*: noun, masculine plural + 1st person singular suffix - my weapons/vessels
• *lāqaḥtî*: qal perfect, 1st person singular - I took
• *beyādî*: preposition + noun, feminine singular + 1st person singular suffix - in my hand
• *hāyâ*: qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - was/it was
• *debar*: noun, masculine singular construct - matter/business of
• *hammelek*: definite article + noun, masculine singular, absolute - the king
• *nāḥûṣ*: qal passive participle, masculine singular - urgent/pressing

Word Meanings

• *ḥănît*: spear/lance
• *ḥāreb*: sword/dagger/knife
• *kēlay*: weapons/equipment/vessels/utensils
• *debar-hammelek nāḥûṣ*: king's matter was urgent/king's business was pressing/king's command was hasty

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the Valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if you will take that, take it, for there is no other but that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it to me.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it: for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the priest{H3548} said,{H559} The sword{H2719} of Goliath{H1555} the Philistine,{H6430} whom thou slewest{H5221} in the vale{H6010} of Elah,{H425} behold, it is here wrapped{H3874} in a cloth{H8071} behind{H310} the ephod:{H646} if thou wilt take{H3947} that, take{H3947} it; for there is no other{H312} save{H2108} that here.{H2088} And David{H1732} said,{H559} There is none like that; give{H5414} it me.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And the priest{H3548} said{H559}{(H8799)}, The sword{H2719} of Goliath{H1555} the Philistine{H6430}, whom thou slewest{H5221}{(H8689)} in the valley{H6010} of Elah{H425}, behold, it is here wrapped{H3874}{(H8803)} in a cloth{H8071} behind{H310} the ephod{H646}: if thou wilt take{H3947}{(H8799)} that, take{H3947}{(H8798)} it: for there is no other{H312} save{H2108} that here{H2088}. And David{H1732} said{H559}{(H8799)}, There is none like that; give{H5414}{(H8798)} it me.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  The prest sayde: The swerde of Goliath the Philistyne whom thou smotest in the Oke valley, is here wrapped in a cloth behynde the ouerbody cote. Yf thou wylt haue it, take it, for here is els none but it. Dauid sayde: There is not soch another, geue me it.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And the Priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistim, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it is wrapt in a cloth behinde the Ephod: if thou wilt take that to thee, take it: for there is none other saue that here: And Dauid sayd, There is none to that, giue it me.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And the priest sayd: The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou sluest in the valley of Elah, beholde it is here wrapt in a cloth behind the Ephod: If thou wilt take that, take it: for ther is no other saue that here. And Dauid sayd: There is none to that, geue it me.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the valley of Elah, behold, it [is here] wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take [it]: for [there is] no other save that here. And David said, [There is] none like that; give it me.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  The priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if you will take that, take it; for there is no other except that here. David said, There is none like that; give it me.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And the priest saith, `The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou didst smite in the valley of Elah, lo, it is wrapt in a garment behind the ephod, if it thou dost take to thyself, take; for there is none other save it in this `place'.' And David saith, `There is none like it -- give it to me.'

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the vale of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it; for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom thou slewest in the vale of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod: if thou wilt take that, take it; for there is no other save that here. And David said, There is none like that; give it me.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And the priest said, The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you put to death in the valley of Elah, is here folded in a cloth at the back of the ephod: take that, if you will, for there is no other sword here. And David said, there is no other sword like that; give it to me.

• World English Bible (2000)

  The priest said, "The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the valley of Elah, behold, it is here wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you will take that, take it; for there is no other except that here." David said, "There is none like that. Give it to me."

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  David Goes to Gath The priest replied,“The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you struck down in the valley of Elah, is wrapped in a garment behind the ephod. If you wish, take it for yourself. Other than that, there’s nothing here.” David said,“There’s nothing like it! Give it to me!”

Referenced Verses

• 1 Sam 17:2 : 2 Saul and the men of Israel also gathered and camped in the Valley of Elah, arranging themselves for battle against the Philistines.
• 1 Sam 17:50-54 : 50 So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone. Without a sword in his hand, he struck down the Philistine and killed him. 51 Then David ran and stood over the Philistine. He took the Philistine’s sword, drew it from its sheath, and killed him by cutting off his head. When the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they turned and ran. 52 The men of Israel and Judah rose up, shouted, and pursued the Philistines all the way to the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. The dead Philistines lay scattered along the road to Shaaraim, as far as Gath and Ekron. 53 Then the Israelites returned from pursuing the Philistines and plundered their camps. 54 David took the Philistine's head and brought it to Jerusalem, but he kept the Philistine's weapons in his tent.
• 1 Sam 31:10 : 10 They put his armor in the temple of Ashtaroth and hung his corpse on the wall of Beth-shan.
• Exod 28:6-9 : 6 They must make the ephod of finely woven gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely twisted linen, the work of a skilled artisan. 7 It shall have two shoulder pieces joined at its two edges, so it can be fastened together. 8 The waistband of the ephod, made to match it, shall also be of gold, blue, purple, and scarlet yarn, and finely twisted linen. 9 Take two onyx stones and engrave on them the names of the sons of Israel. 10 Engrave six of their names on one stone and the remaining six names on the other stone, in the order of their birth. 11 Engrave the two stones with the work of a gem cutter, as one would engrave a seal. Mount them in gold filigree settings. 12 Place the two stones on the shoulder pieces of the ephod as memorial stones for the sons of Israel. Aaron is to bear their names before the LORD on his shoulders as a memorial. 13 Make gold filigree settings. 14 Make two pure gold chains of braided work, and attach the braided chains to the settings.