1 Samuel 23 · Verse 6

1 Samuel 23:6

And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
1 Samuel 23:6, King James Version

1 Samuel 23:6 in other translations

BSB(Now Abiathar son of Ahimelech had brought the ephod with him when he fled to David at Keilah.)
WEBWhen Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
ASVAnd it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.
YLTAnd it cometh to pass, in the fleeing of Abiathar son of Ahimelech unto David, to Keilah, an ephod came down in his hand.
DARBYAnd it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, he came down with an ephod in his hand.
BBENow when Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, went in flight to David, he came down to Keilah with the ephod in his hand.
WebsterAnd it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

What does 1 Samuel 23:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. an ephod--in which was the Urim and Thummim (Ex 28:30). It had, probably, been committed to his care, while Ahimelech and the other priests repaired to Gibeah, in obedience to the summons of Saul. 1Sa 23:7-13. Saul's Coming, and Treachery of the Keilites.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 Came down with an ephod - I think this verse should come immediately after 1Sam 23:1 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:1-6

When princes persecute God's people, let them expect vexation on all sides. The way for any country to be quiet, is to let God's church be quiet in it: if Saul fight against David, the Philistines fight against his country. David considered himself the protector of the land. Thus did the Saviour Jesus, and left us an example. Those are unlike David, who sullenly decline to do good, if they are not rewarded for…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 23:1-6 →

1 Samuel 23:6 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְהִ֗יvay.Hiand it wasH1961
בִּ֠בְרֹחַBiv.ro.achwhen fledH1272
אֶבְיָתָ֧ר'ev.ya.TarAbiatharH54
בֶּן\־ben-[the] son ofH1121
אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ'a.chi.Me.lekhAhimelechH288
אֶל\־'el-toH413
דָּוִ֖דda.VidDavidH1732
קְעִילָ֑הke.'i.LahKeilahH7084
אֵפ֖וֹד'e.Fodan ephodH646
יָרַ֥דya.Radit came downH3381
בְּיָדֽוֹ\׃be.ya.Doin hand hisH3027

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 23:6

  • 1 Samuel 22:20

    And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

  • 1 Samuel 14:3

    And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I–chabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.

  • 1 Samuel 14:18

    And Saul said unto Ahiah, Bring hither the ark of God. For the ark of God was at that time with the children of Israel.

  • Exodus 28:30-31

    And thou shalt put in the breastplate of judgment the Urim and the Thummim; and they shall be upon Aaron’s heart, when he goeth in before the Lord: and Aaron shall bear the judgment of the children of Israel upon his heart before the Lord continually. And thou shalt make the robe of the ephod all of blue.

  • 1 Samuel 14:36-37

    And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God. And Saul asked counsel of God, Shall I go down after the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into the hand of Israel? But he answered him not that day.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
when Abiathar.
22:20
an ephod.
14:3,18,36,37; Ex 28:30,31

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 23:5

    So David and his men went to Keilah, and fought with the Philistines, and brought away their cattle, and smote them with a great slaughter. So David saved the inhabitants of Keilah.

  • 1 Samuel 23:6

    And it came to pass, when Abiathar the son of Ahimelech fled to David to Keilah, that he came down with an ephod in his hand.

  • 1 Samuel 23:7

    And it was told Saul that David was come to Keilah. And Saul said, God hath delivered him into mine hand; for he is shut in, by entering into a town that hath gates and bars.

Read all of 1 Samuel 23

1 Samuel 23:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y aconteció que, huyendo Abiathar hijo de Ahimelech á David á Keila, vino también con él el ephod.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et il était arrivé que, lorsque Abiathar, fils d’Akhimélec, s’était enfui auprès de David à Kehila, il était descendu avec un éphod en sa main.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Es geschah aber, als Abjathar, der Sohn Ahimelechs, zu David nach Kehila floh, da kam er hinab mit einem Ephod in seiner Hand.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Porro eo tempore quo fugiebat Abiathar filius Achimelech ad David in Ceilam, ephod secum habens descenderat.