1 Samuel 30:7
New International Version
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelek, “Bring me the ephod.” Abiathar brought it to him,

New Living Translation
Then he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring me the ephod!” So Abiathar brought it.

English Standard Version
And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

Berean Standard Bible
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

New American Standard Bible
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

NASB 1995
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

NASB 1977
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the ephod near to me.” So Abiathar brought the ephod near to David.

Amplified Bible
David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought him the ephod.

Christian Standard Bible
David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
David said to Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,

American Standard Version
And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

Contemporary English Version
and he said to the priest, "Abiathar, let's ask God what to do." Abiathar brought everything he needed to get answers from God, and he went over to David.

English Revised Version
And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
David told the priest Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, "Please bring me the priestly ephod." So Abiathar brought David the ephod.

Good News Translation
David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod," and Abiathar brought it to him.

International Standard Version
David told Ahimelech's son Abiathar the priest, "Bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

Majority Standard Bible
Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him,

NET Bible
Then David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, "Bring me the ephod." So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

New Heart English Bible
David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, "Please bring me here the ephod." Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

Webster's Bible Translation
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.

World English Bible
David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And David says to Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Please bring the ephod near to me”; and Abiathar brings the ephod near to David,

Young's Literal Translation
And David saith unto Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, 'Bring nigh, I pray thee, to me the ephod;' and Abiathar bringeth nigh the ephod unto David,

Smith's Literal Translation
And David will say to Abiathar the priest, son of Ahimelech, Bring now near to me the ephod. And Abiathar will bring near the ephod to David.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to Abiathar the priest the son of Achimelech: Bring me hither the ephod. And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to the priest Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring the ephod to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

New American Bible
and said to Abiathar, the priest, son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod!” When Abiathar brought him the ephod,

New Revised Standard Version
David said to the priest Abiathar son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought the ephod to David.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimeleck's son, Bring me here the ephod. And Abiathar brought the ephod to David.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to Abiathar the Priest, son of Akhimelek: “Bring me the ephod”, and Abiathar brought the ephod to David
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech: 'I pray thee, bring me hither the ephod.' And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And David said to Abiathar the priest the son of Achimelech, Bring near the ephod.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
David Destroys the Amalekites
7Then David said to Abiathar the priest, the son of Ahimelech, “Bring me the ephod.” So Abiathar brought it to him, 8and David inquired of the LORD: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them?” “Pursue them,” the LORD replied, “for you will surely overtake them and rescue the captives.”…

Cross References
Exodus 28:30
And place the Urim and Thummim in the breastpiece of judgment, so that they will also be over Aaron’s heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Aaron will continually carry the judgment of the sons of Israel over his heart before the LORD.

Numbers 27:21
He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”

1 Samuel 23:9-12
When David learned that Saul was plotting evil against him, he said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod.” / And David said, “O LORD, God of Israel, Your servant has heard that Saul intends to come to Keilah and destroy the city on my account. / Will the citizens of Keilah surrender me into his hand? Will Saul come down, as Your servant has heard? O LORD, God of Israel, please tell Your servant.” “He will,” said the LORD. ...

1 Samuel 14:18-19
Then Saul said to Ahijah, “Bring the ark of God.” (For at that time it was with the Israelites.) / While Saul was talking to the priest, the commotion in the Philistine camp continued to increase. So Saul said to the priest, “Withdraw your hand.”

2 Samuel 2:1
Some time later, David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up to one of the towns of Judah?” “Go up,” the LORD answered. Then David asked, “Where should I go?” “To Hebron,” replied the LORD.

2 Samuel 5:19
So David inquired of the LORD, “Should I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?” “Go up,” replied the LORD, “for I will surely deliver the Philistines into your hand.”

2 Samuel 5:23
So David inquired of the LORD, who answered, “Do not march straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the balsam trees.

1 Chronicles 10:13-14
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, / and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

1 Chronicles 13:3
Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him in the days of Saul.”

1 Chronicles 15:11-12
David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. / And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it.

1 Chronicles 21:9-13
And the LORD instructed Gad, David’s seer, / “Go and tell David that this is what the LORD says: ‘I am offering you three options. Choose one of them, and I will carry it out against you.’” / So Gad went and said to David, “This is what the LORD says: ‘You must choose ...

2 Chronicles 26:5
He sought God throughout the days of Zechariah, who instructed him in the fear of God. And as long as he sought the LORD, God gave him success.

2 Chronicles 29:25
Hezekiah stationed the Levites in the house of the LORD with cymbals, harps, and lyres according to the command of David, of Gad the king’s seer, and of Nathan the prophet. For the command had come from the LORD through His prophets.

2 Chronicles 34:20-21
and commanded Hilkiah, Ahikam son of Shaphan, Abdon son of Micah, Shaphan the scribe, and Asaiah the servant of the king: / “Go and inquire of the LORD for me and for those remaining in Israel and Judah concerning the words in the book that has been found. For great is the wrath of the LORD that has been poured out on us because our fathers have not kept the word of the LORD by doing all that is written in this book.”

Matthew 7:7-8
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. / For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.


Treasury of Scripture

And David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech's son, I pray you, bring me here the ephod. And Abiathar brought thither the ephod to David.

Abiathar

1 Samuel 22:20,21
And one of the sons of Ahimelech the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David…

1 Samuel 23:2-9
Therefore David inquired of the LORD, saying, Shall I go and smite these Philistines? And the LORD said unto David, Go, and smite the Philistines, and save Keilah…

1 Kings 2:26
And unto Abiathar the priest said the king, Get thee to Anathoth, unto thine own fields; for thou art worthy of death: but I will not at this time put thee to death, because thou barest the ark of the Lord GOD before David my father, and because thou hast been afflicted in all wherein my father was afflicted.

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1 Samuel 30
1. The Amalekites raid Ziklag
4. David asking counsel, is encouraged by God to pursue them
11. By the means of a received Egyptian he is brought to the enemies,
18. and recovers all the spoil
22. David's law to divide the spoil equally
26. He sends presents to his friends














Then David said
This phrase marks a pivotal moment of leadership and decision-making. David, who is often seen as a man after God's own heart, takes initiative in a time of crisis. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) implies not just speaking, but a declaration or command. This reflects David's role as a leader who seeks divine guidance, setting an example for believers to turn to God in times of distress.

to Abiathar the priest
Abiathar, the son of Ahimelech, is a significant figure in David's life. As a priest, he represents the spiritual authority and connection to God. Historically, Abiathar is the sole survivor of the massacre of the priests at Nob, which adds depth to his relationship with David. This connection underscores the importance of seeking counsel from those who are spiritually mature and have a deep relationship with God.

the son of Ahimelech
This phrase provides a genealogical context, linking Abiathar to his father, Ahimelech, who was a priest serving under King Saul. The mention of Ahimelech serves as a reminder of the tragic events at Nob (1 Samuel 22), where Saul ordered the death of the priests. It highlights the continuity of God's priestly line and the resilience of faith amidst persecution.

Please bring me the ephod
The ephod is a priestly garment associated with seeking God's will. In the Hebrew context, the ephod (אֵפוֹד, 'ephod) was used in divination and seeking divine guidance. David's request for the ephod signifies his desire to know God's direction. It is a powerful reminder for believers to seek God's guidance through prayer and scripture, especially when faced with difficult decisions.

So Abiathar brought it to him
Abiathar's compliance indicates his support and trust in David's leadership. This act of bringing the ephod symbolizes the cooperation between spiritual and temporal leadership. It also reflects the importance of obedience and readiness to serve in God's plan. For believers, it is a call to be prepared to act in faith and support those who lead with integrity and seek God's will.

(7) Abiathar.--Abiathar had doubtless been with David, and he had joined him at Keilah. Through all his wanderings we hear, however, nothing of prayer and of consultation of the Urim. As regards the unfortunate Philistine sojourn, David seems to have determined upon that step entirely of himself; distrustful and despairing, he had fled the country, and taken refuge with the enemies of his people. One unbroken series of sin and calamity was the result ha sees of his fatal error.

And Abiathar brought thither the ephod.--Modern commentators, as a rule, prefer to disbelieve in any response coming through the medium of the Urim in the ephod. They either pass over the whole transaction in silence, or assume that some Divine inspiration came to the high priest when vested with the sacred garment. The plain meaning, however, of the frequent references tells us in some way or other the Divine will was made known through the agency of the mysterious Urim and Thummim. See, for instance, in the case of Saul, where definitely it is stated that the Lord answered him not "by Urim" (1Samuel 28:6), where this peculiar Divine response is carefully distinguished from the manifestation of the will of God in a dream or a vision, or through the Divine instrumentality of the prophet or seer. The ancient Hebrews had no hesitation in attributing to the sacred precious stones an occasional special power of declaring the oracles of God. The Talmudical traditions are clear and decisive here. Now, without attaching anything like an implicit credence to these most ancient Hebrew traditions--many of them fanciful and wild, many of them written in a cryptograph, or secret cypher, to which Christians in most cases do not possess the key--it does seem in the highest degree arbitrary to reject the ancient traditional belief of the Hebrew race contained in the Talmud with respect to this most mysterious ephod and its sacred gems, and to adopt another interpretation, which fits in very lamely with the plain text. The whole question respecting the traditions of the Urim and Thummim is discussed at some length in the short Excursus M on the Urini, at the end of this Commentary on the First Book of Samuel.

Verses 7, 8. - Looking only to Jehovah for aid, David sends for Abiathar, who seems to have remained constantly with him, and bids him consult Jehovah by the Urim. In strong contrast to the silence which surrounds Saul (1 Samuel 28:6), the answer is most encouraging. Literally it is, "Pursue; for overtaking thou shalt overtake, and delivering thou shalt deliver."

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then David
דָּוִ֗ד (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse

said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

Abiathar
אֶבְיָתָ֤ר (’eḇ·yā·ṯār)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 54: Abiathar -- 'the great one is father', an Israelite priest

the priest,
הַכֹּהֵן֙ (hak·kō·hên)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3548: Priest

the son
בֶּן־ (ben-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1121: A son

of Ahimelech,
אֲחִימֶ֔לֶךְ (’ă·ḥî·me·leḵ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 288: Ahimelech -- 'brother of a king', an Israelite name, also a Hittite name

“Bring
הַגִּֽישָׁה־ (hag·gî·šāh-)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

me
לִ֖י (lî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's Hebrew

the ephod.”
הָאֵפֹ֑ד (hā·’ê·p̄ōḏ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 646: A girdle, the ephod, highpriest's shoulder-piece, an image

So Abiathar
אֶבְיָתָ֛ר (’eḇ·yā·ṯār)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 54: Abiathar -- 'the great one is father', an Israelite priest

brought
וַיַּגֵּ֧שׁ (way·yag·gêš)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5066: To draw near, approach

it
הָאֵפֹ֖ד (hā·’ê·p̄ōḏ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 646: A girdle, the ephod, highpriest's shoulder-piece, an image

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

him,
דָּוִֽד׃ (dā·wiḏ)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 1732: David -- perhaps 'beloved one', a son of Jesse


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OT History: 1 Samuel 30:7 David said to Abiathar the priest (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 30:6
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