1 Samuel 21:3
New International Version
Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.”

New Living Translation
Now, what is there to eat? Give me five loaves of bread or anything else you have.”

English Standard Version
Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.”

Berean Standard Bible
Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”

King James Bible
Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or what there is present.

New King James Version
Now therefore, what have you on hand? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.”

New American Standard Bible
Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”

NASB 1995
“Now therefore, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”

NASB 1977
“Now therefore, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, what do you have on hand? Give five loaves of bread into my hand, or whatever can be found.”

Amplified Bible
Now what [food] do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.”

Christian Standard Bible
Now what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever can be found.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Now what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever can be found.”

American Standard Version
Now therefore what is under thy hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatsoever there is present.

Contemporary English Version
Do you have any food you can give me? Could you spare five loaves of bread?"

English Revised Version
Now therefore what is under thine hand? give me five loaves of bread in mine hand, or whatsoever there is present.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
[David added,] "Now, what do you have [to eat]? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever you can find."

Good News Translation
Now, then, what supplies do you have? Give me five loaves of bread or anything else you have."

International Standard Version
Now, what do you have available? Give me five loaves of bread or whatever you have."

Majority Standard Bible
Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.?

NET Bible
Now what do you have at your disposal? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found."

New Heart English Bible
Now, if there are five loaves of bread under your control, give them into my hand, or whatever there is."

Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore what is under thy hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or what there is present.

World English Bible
Now therefore what is under your hand? Please give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever is available.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, what is there under your hand? Give five loaves into my hand, or that which is found.”

Young's Literal Translation
and now, what is there under thy hand? five loaves give into my hand, or that which is found.'

Smith's Literal Translation
The original Julia E. Smith Bible records the following as a verse reference for 1 Sam 21:4 And now what is under thy hand? five of bread thou shalt give into my hand, or that being found.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now therefore if thou have any thing at hand, though it were but five loaves, give me, or whatsoever thou canst find.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now therefore, if you have anything at hand, even five loaves of bread, or whatever you may find, give it to me.”

New American Bible
Now what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves, or whatever you can find.”

New Revised Standard Version
Now then, what have you at hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever is here.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now therefore what provisions have you in your possession? Give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or whatever can be found.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And David said to Akhimelek the Priest: “The King commanded me something and said to me, “No man shall know the thing for which I send you and command you and the young men. I discovered the place of a garden and a secret place
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore what is under thy hand? five loaves of bread? give them in my hand, or whatsoever there is present.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now if there are under thy hand five loaves, give into my hand what is ready.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Takes the Consecrated Bread
2“The king has given me a mission,” David replied. “He told me no one is to know about the mission or charge. And I have directed my young men to meet me at a certain place. 3Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever can be found.” 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.”…

Cross References
Matthew 12:3-4
Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? / He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread, which was not lawful for them to eat, but only for the priests.

Mark 2:25-26
Jesus replied, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? / During the high priesthood of Abiathar, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which was lawful only for the priests. And he gave some to his companions as well.”

Luke 6:3-4
Jesus replied, “Have you not read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? / He entered the house of God, took the consecrated bread and gave it to his companions, and ate what is lawful only for the priests to eat.”

Exodus 25:30
And place the Bread of the Presence on the table before Me at all times.

Leviticus 24:5-9
You are also to take fine flour and bake twelve loaves, using two-tenths of an ephah for each loaf, / and set them in two rows—six per row—on the table of pure gold before the LORD. / And you are to place pure frankincense near each row, so that it may serve as a memorial portion for the bread, a food offering to the LORD. ...

Hebrews 9:2
A tabernacle was prepared. In its first room were the lampstand, the table, and the consecrated bread. This was called the Holy Place.

1 Samuel 22:10
Ahimelech inquired of the LORD for him and gave him provisions. He also gave him the sword of Goliath the Philistine.”

1 Samuel 22:13
And Saul asked him, “Why have you and the son of Jesse conspired against me? You gave him bread and a sword and inquired of God for him so that he could rise up against me to lie in wait, as he is doing today.”

1 Samuel 22:17
Then the king ordered the guards at his side, “Turn and kill the priests of the LORD, because they too sided with David. For they knew he was fleeing, but they did not tell me.” But the king’s servants would not lift a hand to strike the priests of the LORD.

1 Kings 21:4
So Ahab went to his palace, sullen and angry because Naboth the Jezreelite had told him, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” He lay down on his bed, turned his face away, and refused to eat.

2 Kings 11:4-12
Then in the seventh year, Jehoiada sent for the commanders of hundreds, the Carites, and the guards, and had them brought into the house of the LORD. There he made a covenant with them and put them under oath. He showed them the king’s son / and commanded them, “This is what you are to do: A third of you who come on duty on the Sabbath shall guard the royal palace, / a third shall be at the gate of Sur, and a third at the gate behind the guards. You are to take turns guarding the temple— ...

Psalm 34:1-22
Of David, when he pretended to be insane before Abimelech, so that the king drove him away. I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise will always be on my lips. / My soul boasts in the LORD; let the oppressed hear and rejoice. / Magnify the LORD with me; let us exalt His name together. ...

Psalm 52:1-9
For the choirmaster. A Maskil of David. After Doeg the Edomite went to Saul and told him, “David has gone to the house of Ahimelech.” Why do you boast of evil, O mighty man? The loving devotion of God endures all day long. / Your tongue devises destruction like a sharpened razor, O worker of deceit. / You love evil more than good, falsehood more than speaking truth. Selah ...

Matthew 4:4
But Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

John 6:31-35
Our fathers ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” / Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is My Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. / For the bread of God is He who comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.” ...


Treasury of Scripture

Now therefore what is under your hand? give me five loaves of bread in my hand, or what there is present.

under thine

1 Samuel 21:4
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.

Judges 9:29
And would to God this people were under my hand! then would I remove Abimelech. And he said to Abimelech, Increase thine army, and come out.

Isaiah 3:6
When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:

present [heb] found

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Bread Cakes Hand Loaves Present Whatever Whatsoever
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1 Samuel 21
1. David at Nob obtains Ahimelech's hallowed bread
7. Doeg is present
8. David takes Goliath's sword
10. David at Gath feigns himself insane














Now then
This phrase indicates a transition or a shift in the narrative. In the Hebrew text, the word used is "וְעַתָּה" (ve'atah), which often signifies a call to action or a request. David, having fled from Saul, is now in a position of urgent need. This moment marks a pivotal point in David's journey, highlighting his reliance on God's provision even in dire circumstances.

what do you have on hand?
David's question to Ahimelech the priest is both practical and revealing of his immediate need. The Hebrew word for "hand" is "יָד" (yad), often symbolizing power or possession. In this context, it underscores David's vulnerability and dependence on the resources available at the tabernacle. Historically, this reflects the ancient Near Eastern custom of seeking sustenance and refuge in sacred spaces.

Give me
The phrase "Give me" is a direct request, showing David's boldness and faith. The Hebrew verb "נָתַן" (natan) means to give or to grant. David's approach to Ahimelech is not just a plea for physical sustenance but also an act of faith, trusting that God will provide through His servants. This reflects the broader biblical theme of God's provision for His anointed ones.

five loaves of bread
Bread, in biblical times, was a staple of life, symbolizing sustenance and God's provision. The number five can be seen as significant, often representing grace in biblical numerology. The Hebrew word for bread is "לֶחֶם" (lechem), which is also related to "Bethlehem," meaning "house of bread." This connection foreshadows the coming of Jesus, the Bread of Life, from Bethlehem.

or whatever can be found
David's flexibility in his request shows his humility and desperation. The phrase "whatever can be found" indicates his willingness to accept whatever God provides, trusting in His sufficiency. This reflects a heart of dependence on God, a theme that runs throughout David's life. The Hebrew root "מָצָא" (matsa) means to find or to discover, suggesting that God's provision may come in unexpected ways.

Verses 3, 4. - What is under thine hand? This does not mean that Ahimelech was himself carrying the shewbread out of the tabernacle, but simply, "What hast thou? The sense of the whole verse is, "Now, therefore, what hast thou at hand? Give me five loaves, or whatever there may be." Ahimelech answers, "There is no common bread at hand." I have no ordinary food; there is only hallowed bread, that is, the shewbread, which, after remaining in Jehovah's presence from sabbath to sabbath, was then to be eaten by the priests in the holy place (Leviticus 24:8, 9). As Ahimelech could not venture to refuse David's request, he asks if his attendants are at least ceremonially clean, as in that case the urgency of the king's business might excuse the breach of the letter of the commandment. Our Lord in Matthew 12:3 cites this as a case in which the inward spirit of the law was kept, and the violation of its literal precept thereby justified.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now then,
וְעַתָּ֗ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
0
Strong's 6258: At this time

what
מַה־ (mah-)
0
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

do you have
יֵּ֧שׁ (yêš)
0
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

on
תַּֽחַת־ (ta·ḥaṯ-)
0
Strong's 8478: The bottom, below, in lieu of

hand?
יָדְךָ֛ (yā·ḏə·ḵā)
0
Strong's 3027: A hand

Give [me]
תְּנָ֣ה (tə·nāh)
0
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

five [loaves of]
חֲמִשָּׁה־ (ḥă·miš·šāh-)
0
Strong's 2568: Five

bread,
לֶ֖חֶם (le·ḥem)
0
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

or
א֖וֹ (’ōw)
0
Strong's 176: Desire, if

whatever can be found.”
הַנִּמְצָֽא׃ (han·nim·ṣā)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 4672: To come forth to, appear, exist, to attain, find, acquire, to occur, meet, be present


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OT History: 1 Samuel 21:3 Now therefore what is under your hand? (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 21:2
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