King James Version

1 Samuel 21:5

And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the bread is in a manner common, yea, though it were sanctified this day in the vessel.

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Hebrew

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In the Hebrew text this line is 1 Samuel 21:6.

וַיַּעַן֩vayaanand shoutעָנָהconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and shout”, the next action in the storyH6030properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announcegive account, afflict (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by mistake for H6031 (עָנָה)), cry, hear, Leannoth, lift up, say, [idiom] scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter,…דָּוִ֨דdavidDavidדָּוִדnoun, proper name — “David”H1732David, the youngest son of JesseDavid.אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).הַכֹּהֵ֜ןhakohenthe priestכֹּהֵןdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the priest”, the ordinary formH3548literally one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman)chief ruler, [idiom] own, priest, prince, principal officer.וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvayomerand sayאָמַרconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and say”, the next action in the storyH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…ל֗וֹlvotoל֗וֹpreposition, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “to”toכִּ֣יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…אִםimoh thatאִםconjunction — “oh that”H518used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also Oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not(and, can-, doubtless, if, that) (not), [phrase] but, either, [phrase] except, [phrase] more(-over if, than), neither, nevertheless, nor, oh that, or, [phrase] save (only, -ing), seeing, since, sith, [phrase] surely (no more, none, not), t…אִשָּׁ֤הishaheachאִשָּׁהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “each”, the ordinary formH802a woman(adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English.עֲצֻֽרָהatsurahclose upעָצָרverb, qal, passive participle, absolute — “close up”, a verb used as a describing wordH6113to inclose; by analogy, to hold back; also to maintain, rule, assemble[idiom] be able, close up, detain, fast, keep (self close, still), prevail, recover, refrain, [idiom] reign, restrain, retain, shut (up), slack, stay, stop, withhold (self).לָ֨נוּ֙lanvtoלָ֨נוּ֙preposition, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, plural — “to”toכִּתְמ֣וֹלkitmolas yesterdayתְּמוֹלpreposition, adverb — “as yesterday”H8543properly, ago, i.e. a (short or long) time since; especially yesterday, or day before yesterday[phrase] before (-time), [phrase] these (three) days, [phrase] heretofore, [phrase] time past, yesterday.שִׁלְשֹׁ֔םshilshomexcellent thingsשִׁלְשׁוֹםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “excellent things”, the ordinary formH8032trebly, i.e. (in time) day before yesterday[phrase] before (that time, -time), excellent things (from the margin), [phrase] heretofore, three days, [phrase] time past.בְּצֵאתִ֕יbetsetiin bring forthיָצָאpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct, suffix, pronominal, 1st person, common, singular — “in bring forth”, the to-form of the verbH3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim.[idiom] after, appear, [idiom] assuredly, bear out, [idiom] begotten, break out, bring forth (out, up), carry out, come (abroad, out, thereat, without), [phrase] be condemned, depart(-ing, -ure), draw forth, in the end, escape, exact, fail…וַיִּהְי֥וּvayihyvand beהָיָהconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “and be”, the next action in the storyH1961to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)beacon, [idiom] altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, [phrase] follow, happen, [idiom] have, last, pertain, quit (one-) self, require, [idiom] use.כְלֵֽיkhelevesselכְּלִיnoun, common, masculine, plural, construct — “vessel”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3627something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)armour(-bearer), artillery, bag, carriage, [phrase] furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, [idiom] one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, [phrase] psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, [phrase] w…הַנְּעָרִ֖יםhanarimthe boyנַעַרdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “the boy”, the ordinary formH5288(concretely) a boy (as active), from the age of infancy to adolescence; by implication, a servant; also (by interch. of sex), a girl (of similar latitude in age)babe, boy, child, damsel (from the margin), lad, servant, young (man).קֹ֑דֶשׁqodeshconsecratedקֹדֶשׁnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “consecrated”, the ordinary formH6944a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctityconsecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, ([idiom] most) holy ([idiom] day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.וְהוּא֙vehuand as for herהוּאconjunction, pronoun, personal, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and as for her”H1931he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demonstrative) this or that; occasionally (instead of copula) as or arehe, as for her, him(-self), it, the same, she (herself), such, that (...it), these, they, this, those, which (is), who.דֶּ֣רֶךְderekhalongדֶּרֶךְnoun, common, both genders, singular, construct — “along”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1870a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverbalong, away, because of, [phrase] by, conversation, custom, (east-) ward, journey, manner, passenger, through, toward, (high-) (path-) way(-side), whither(-soever).חֹ֔לcholprofaneחֹלnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “profane”, the ordinary formH2455properly, exposed; hence, profanecommon, profane (place), unholy.וְאַ֕ףveafand alsoאַףconjunction, adverb — “and also”H637meaning accession (used as an adverb or conjunction); also or yea; adversatively thoughalso, [phrase] although, and (furthermore, yet), but, even, [phrase] how much less (more, rather than), moreover, with, yea.כִּ֥יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…הַיּ֖וֹםhayomthe as long asיוֹםdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the as long as”, the ordinary formH3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) lon…יִקְדַּ֥שׁyiqdashappointקָדַשׁverb, qal, imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “appoint”, an unfinished actionH6942to be (causatively, make, pronounce or observe as) clean (ceremonially or morally)appoint, bid, consecrate, dedicate, defile, hallow, (be, keep) holy(-er, place), keep, prepare, proclaim, purify, sanctify(-ied one, self), [idiom] wholly.בַּכֶּֽלִיbakeliin vesselכְּלִיpreposition, with the article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “in vessel”, the ordinary formH3627something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)armour(-bearer), artillery, bag, carriage, [phrase] furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, [idiom] one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, [phrase] psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, [phrase] w…

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

(21-6) And David answered the priest, and said unto him: 'Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; when I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then to-day, when there shall be holy bread in their vessels?'

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

And David answered the priest, and said unto him, Of a truth women have been kept from us about these three days; when I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was but a common journey; how much more then to-day shall their vessels be holy?

Young’s Literal Translation

And David answereth the priest, and saith to him, 'Surely, if women have been restrained from us as heretofore in my going out, then the vessels of the young men are holy, and it [is] a common way: and also, surely to-day it is sanctified in the vessel.'

World English Bible

David answered the priest, and said to him, “Truly, women have been kept from us as usual these three days. When I came out, the vessels of the young men were holy, though it was only a common journey. How much more then today shall their vessels be holy?”

Darby Translation

And David answered the priest and said to him, Yes indeed, women have been kept from us about these three days, since I came out, and the vessels of the young men are holy, and the [bread] is in a manner common, and the more so, because to-day [new] is hallowed in the vessels.

Douay-Rheims

And David answered the priest, and said to him: Truly, as to what concerneth women, we have refrained ourselves from yesterday and the day before, when we came out, and the vessels of the young men were holy. Now this way is defiled, but it shall also be sanctified this day in the vessels.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And David answered the priest, and said to him, Yea, we have been kept from women for three days: when I came forth for the journey all the young men were purified; but this expedition is unclean, wherefore it shall be sanctified this day because of my weapons.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ ἀπεκρίθη Δαυὶδ τῷ ἱερεῖ, καὶ εἶπεν αὐτῷ, ἀλλὰ ἀπὸ γυναικὸς ἀπεσχήμεθα ἐχθὲς καὶ τρίτην ἡμέραν· ἐν τῷ ἐξελθεῖν με εἰς ὁδὸν γέγονε πάντα τὰ παιδία ἡγνισμένα, καὶ αὐτὴ ἡ ὁδὸς βέβηλος, διότι ἁγιασθήσεται σήμερον διὰ τὰ σκεύη μου.