1 Samuel 21:7
1 Samuel 21:7 in Multiple Translations
Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before Jehovah; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chiefest of the herdsmen that belonged to Saul.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, kept back before the Lord; his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the strongest of Saul's runners.
One of Saul's servants happened to be there that day, trying to make himself right with the Lord. He was Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief shepherd.
(And there was the same day one of the seruants of Saul abiding before the Lord, named Doeg the Edomite, the chiefest of Sauls heardmen)
And there [is] a man of the servants of Saul on that day detained before Jehovah, and his name [is] Doeg the Edomite, chief of the shepherds whom Saul hath.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg the Edomite, the best of the herdsmen who belonged to Saul.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, detained before the LORD; and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chief of the herdmen that belonged to Saul.
Now a certain man of the servants of Saul was there that day, within the tabernacle of the Lord: and his name was Doeg, an Edomite, the chiefest of Saul’s herdsmen.
It happened that Doeg, from the Edom people-group, was there on that day to make himself acceptable to Yahweh, and he saw what Ahimelech did. He was one of Saul’s officials and the leader of Saul’s shepherds.
On that same day a working man came to that place to show respect to God. He heard David and Ahimelek as they talked together. His name was Doeg, and he came from the country called Edom. He worked for Saul, and he looked after Saul’s sheep.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Samuel 21:7
Hover over any word to see its amplified meaning. Click a word to explore its full definition and translation comparisons.
Amplified text is generated using scripting to tie together English translations for comparison. Always refer to the core BSB translation and original Hebrew/Greek text for accuracy. Anomalies may occur.
1 Samuel 21:7 Interlinear (Deep Study)
Select any word above to explore its original meaning, root, and usage across Scripture.
Use ← → arrow keys to navigate between words.
Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Samuel 21:7
Study Notes — 1 Samuel 21:7
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Samuel 21:7 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 21:7
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 21:7
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:7
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:7
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:7
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:7
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 21:7
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Samuel 21:7
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:7
- Sermons on 1 Samuel 21:7
Context — David Takes the Consecrated Bread
7Now one of Saul’s servants was there that day, detained before the LORD. And his name was Doeg the Edomite, the chief shepherd for Saul.
8Then David asked Ahimelech, “Is there not a spear or sword on hand here? For I have brought neither my sword nor my weapons with me, because the king’s mission was urgent.” 9The priest replied, “The sword of Goliath the Philistine, whom you killed in the Valley of Elah, is here; it is wrapped in a cloth behind the ephod. If you want, you may take it. For there is no other but this one here.” And David said, “There is none like it; give it to me.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 22:9 | But Doeg the Edomite, who had stationed himself with Saul’s servants, answered: “I saw the son of Jesse come to Ahimelech son of Ahitub at Nob. |
| 2 | Psalms 52:1–9 | 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 You love every word that devours, O deceitful tongue. Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin; He will snatch you up and tear you away from your tent; He will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah The righteous will see and fear; they will mock the evildoer, saying, “Look at the man who did not make God his refuge, but trusted in the abundance of his wealth and strengthened himself by destruction.” But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in the loving devotion of God forever and ever. I will praise You forever, because You have done it. I will wait on Your name— for it is good— in the presence of Your saints. |
| 3 | 1 Chronicles 27:29 | Shitrai the Sharonite was in charge of the herds grazing in Sharon. Shaphat son of Adlai was in charge of the herds in the valleys. |
| 4 | Matthew 15:8 | ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. |
| 5 | Genesis 13:7–8 | And there was discord between the herdsmen of Abram and the herdsmen of Lot. At that time the Canaanites and the Perizzites were also living in the land. So Abram said to Lot, “Please let there be no contention between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen. After all, we are brothers. |
| 6 | 1 Samuel 11:5 | Just then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. “Why are they weeping?” And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh. |
| 7 | Amos 8:5 | asking, “When will the New Moon be over, that we may sell grain? When will the Sabbath end, that we may market wheat? Let us reduce the ephah and increase the shekel; let us cheat with dishonest scales. |
| 8 | Ezekiel 33:31 | So My people come to you as usual, sit before you, and hear your words; but they do not put them into practice. Although they express love with their mouths, their hearts pursue dishonest gain. |
| 9 | 2 Chronicles 26:10 | Since he had much livestock in the foothills and in the plain, he built towers in the desert and dug many cisterns. And since he was a lover of the soil, he had farmers and vinedressers in the hill country and in the fertile fields. |
| 10 | 1 Samuel 14:47 | After Saul had assumed the kingship over Israel, he fought against all his enemies on every side—the Moabites, the Ammonites, the Edomites, the kings of Zobah, and the Philistines. Wherever he turned, he routed them. |
1 Samuel 21:7 Summary
This verse introduces us to Doeg, one of Saul's servants who is present at the tabernacle where David has come to seek help. Doeg is described as being 'detained before the LORD', which means he is required to be present for some religious or ceremonial purpose. This verse is important because it sets the stage for the events that will unfold, and it highlights the tension and conflict that is present in the story, as seen in 1 Samuel 18:6-11. As we reflect on this verse, we can consider how being in the presence of God and being aware of the people around us can impact our lives and our relationships, as seen in Psalm 16:8 or Matthew 18:20.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Doeg the Edomite and why is he mentioned in this verse?
Doeg the Edomite was one of Saul's servants and the chief shepherd, and he is mentioned in this verse because he was present at the scene and would later play a role in the events that unfolded, as seen in 1 Samuel 22:9-19. He was detained before the LORD, which may have been for some ritual or religious purpose, similar to the consecration of the young men in 1 Samuel 21:5.
What does it mean to be 'detained before the LORD'?
Being 'detained before the LORD' likely means that Doeg was required to be present at the tabernacle or temple for some religious or ceremonial purpose, possibly related to his role as a servant of Saul or as a worshiper, similar to the concept of being 'set apart' in Leviticus 15:31 or 'consecrated' in Exodus 28:41.
Why is Doeg's occupation as a chief shepherd significant?
Doeg's occupation as a chief shepherd may be significant because it highlights his importance and influence in Saul's household, as well as his potential connection to the natural world and the symbolism of sheep and shepherds in the Bible, as seen in Psalm 23:1-4 or John 10:11-16.
How does this verse relate to the rest of the story in 1 Samuel?
This verse sets the stage for the events that will unfold in the next chapter, as Doeg's presence and actions will have significant consequences for David and the priests at Nob, as seen in 1 Samuel 22:6-23, and ultimately contribute to the ongoing conflict between David and Saul, as seen in 1 Samuel 18:6-11 and 1 Samuel 24:1-22.
Reflection Questions
- What does this verse reveal about the character of Doeg and his potential role in the story?
- How does the presence of Doeg affect the tone and tension of the scene, and what does this reveal about the nature of David's situation?
- What does this verse teach us about the importance of being aware of our surroundings and the people who are present in our lives, as seen in Proverbs 22:24-25 or Proverbs 27:6?
- How can we apply the concept of being 'detained before the LORD' to our own lives and worship, and what does this mean for our relationship with God, as seen in Romans 12:1-2 or Hebrews 10:19-25?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 21:7
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 21:7
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:7
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:7
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:7
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:7
Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 21:7
Barnes' Notes on 1 Samuel 21:7
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 21:7
Sermons on 1 Samuel 21:7
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Danger of Doubting by C.H. Spurgeon | In this sermon, the speaker addresses the doubts and fears that can arise in times of trouble. He encourages the audience to trust in God's purposes and not to doubt His faithfulne |
|
Attributes of God - Grace, Mercy, Longsuffering and Goodness by William MacDonald | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the smallness of the earth in the vast universe, highlighting the insignificance of humanity in comparison. However, despite our sinful state |
|
(How to Understand the Kjv Bible) 46 Psalm 52 by Keith Simons | Keith Simons teaches on Psalm 52, focusing on the contrast between the wickedness of Doeg the Edomite and the enduring goodness of God. He explains how Doeg's deceitful actions led |
|
Crusade 1957 by Billy Graham | This sermon emphasizes the importance of examining and surrendering our hearts to God. It delves into the sinful, wicked, rebellious, and hardened nature of the human heart, highli |
|
Doctrine of the Remnant - Part 1 by A.W. Tozer | In this sermon, the preacher begins by praying for mercy upon America and for people to turn away from idols and serve God. He emphasizes the importance of not just worshiping God |
|
(The Word for Today) Isaiah 29:1 - Part 1 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of not just going through the motions of worship, but truly drawing near to God with our hearts. He emphasizes the need |
|
Discipline and Blessing Part 1 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the desperate times we are living in and the need for people to turn to God. He highlights the serious social and moral problems we are faci |






