1 Samuel 23 · Verse 9

1 Samuel 23:9

And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
1 Samuel 23:9, King James Version

1 Samuel 23:9 in other translations

BSBWhen David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.”
WEBDavid knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.”
ASVAnd David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.
YLTAnd David knoweth that against him Saul is devising the evil, and saith unto Abiathar the priest, ‘Bring nigh the ephod.'
DARBYAnd when David knew that Saul devised mischief against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring the ephod.
BBEAnd it was clear to David that Saul had evil designs against him, and he said to Abiathar the priest, Come here with the ephod.
WebsterAnd David knew that Saul secretly plotted mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

What does 1 Samuel 23:9 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
9. he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod--The consultation was made, and the prayer uttered, by means of the priest. The alternative conditions here described have often been referred to as illustrating the doctrine of God's foreknowledge and preordination of events. 1Sa 23:14-18. David Escapes to Ziph.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 9 Bring hither the ephod - It seems as if David himself, clothed with the ephod, had consulted the Lord; and 1Sam 23:10-12 contain the words of the consultation, and the Lord's answer. But see on 1Sam 23:2 (note).

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 23:7-13

Well might David complain of his enemies, that they rewarded him evil for good, and that for his love they were his adversaries. Christ was used thus basely. David applied to his great Protector for direction. No sooner was the ephod brought him than he made use of it. We have the Scriptures in our hands, let us take advice from them in doubtful cases. Say, Bring hither the Bible. David's address to God is very…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 23:7-13 →

1 Samuel 23:9 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.

וַיֵּ֣דַעvai.Ye.da'and he knewH3045
דָּוִ֔דda.VidDavidH1732
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
עָלָ֔יו'a.Lavon himH5921
שָׁא֖וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
מַחֲרִ֣ישׁma.cha.Rish[was] plottingH2790
הָרָעָ֑הha.ra.'Ah<the> evilH7451
וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙vai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֶל\־'el-toH413
אֶבְיָתָ֣ר'ev.ya.TarAbiatharH54
הַכֹּהֵ֔ןha.ko.Henthe priestH3548
הַגִּ֖ישָׁהha.Gi.shahbring near !H5066
הָאֵפֽוֹד\׃\ \סha.'e.Fodthe ephodH646

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

Cross references for 1 Samuel 23:9

  • 1 Samuel 30:7

    And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

  • 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.

  • Numbers 27:21

    And he shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ask counsel for him after the judgment of Urim before the Lord: at his word shall they go out, and at his word they shall come in, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.

  • Acts 9:24

    But their laying await was known of Saul. And they watched the gates day and night to kill him.

  • Jeremiah 11:18-19

    And the Lord hath given me knowledge of it, and I know it: then thou shewedst me their doings. But I was like a lamb or an ox that is brought to the slaughter; and I knew not that they had devised devices against me, saying, Let us destroy the tree with the fruit thereof, and let us cut him off from the land of the living, that his name may be no more remembered.

  • Jeremiah 33:3

    Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

  • 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.

  • 1 Samuel 22:20

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

  • Acts 23:16-18

    And when Paul’s sister’s son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul. Then Paul called one of the centurions unto him, and said, Bring this young man unto the chief captain: for he hath a certain thing to tell him. So he took him, and brought him to the chief captain, and said, Paul the prisoner called me unto him, and prayed me to bring this young man unto thee, who hath something to say unto thee.

  • Acts 14:6

    They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about:

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
David.
Jer 11:18,19; Ac 9:24; 14:6; 23:16-18
Bring.
6; 14:18; 30:7; Nu 27:21; Jer 33:3

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

Context

  • 1 Samuel 23:8

    And Saul called all the people together to war, to go down to Keilah, to besiege David and his men.

  • 1 Samuel 23:9

    And David knew that Saul secretly practised mischief against him; and he said to Abiathar the priest, Bring hither the ephod.

  • 1 Samuel 23:10

    Then said David, O Lord God of Israel, thy servant hath certainly heard that Saul seeketh to come to Keilah, to destroy the city for my sake.

Read all of 1 Samuel 23

1 Samuel 23:9 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Mas entendiendo David que Saúl ideaba el mal contra él, dijo á Abiathar sacerdote: Trae el ephod.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et David sut que Saül méditait du mal contre lui, et il dit à Abiathar, le sacrificateur: Apporte l’éphod.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und als David erfuhr, daß Saul Böses wider ihn schmiedete, da sprach er zu Abjathar, dem Priester: Bringe das Ephod her!
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Quod cum David rescisset quia præpararet ei Saul clam malum, dixit ad Abiathar sacerdotem: Applica ephod.