Lexical Summary nachats: To press, drive, oppress Original Word: נָחַץ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance require haste A primitive root; to be urgent -- require haste. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition perhaps to urge NASB Translation urgent (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [נָחַץ] verb urge (?), whence (si vera lectio); — Qal Passive participle (active Participle in u, according to BaNB 175), דְּבַד הַמֶּל֛ח נָחוּץ 1 Samuel 21:9 the king's business was urgent (ᵐ5 κατὰ σπουδήν, A κατασπεῦδον). (Thes compare Arabic נחר (probably onomatopoetic √ of following; compare Assyrian na—îru, nostril; Arabic Topical Lexicon Biblical Occurrence The form translated from נָחַץ appears once in Scripture, in the narrative of David’s flight from Saul: 1 Samuel 21:8: “David asked Ahimelech, ‘Do you have a spear or sword on hand? I did not bring my sword or any other weapon, because the king’s business was urgent.’” Immediate Context David has fled Gibeah after Jonathan confirmed Saul’s murderous intent (1 Samuel 20). Arriving at Nob, he seeks both food and protection. His statement to Ahimelech that “the king’s business was urgent” explains the absence of his usual equipment and creates a believable pretext for receiving aid. The verb conveys a sense of being compelled or pressed—David presents himself as driven by royal orders that brook no delay. Historical Setting Nob, a priestly town near Jerusalem, housed the tabernacle in this period. Ahimelech, unaware of Saul’s hostility toward David, honors the request, providing consecrated bread and Goliath’s sword. The perceived urgency legitimizes David’s demand within Ancient Near Eastern protocol, where royal business superseded ordinary regulations (cf. Ecclesiastes 8:4). The episode foreshadows tragic repercussions when Saul slaughters the priests of Nob (1 Samuel 22:18-19). Themes of Compulsion and Mission 1. Authentic versus reported urgency Literary and Theological Implications • The single occurrence stands as a narrative hinge: David’s plea initiates a chain culminating in Doeg’s betrayal and Saul’s atrocities. A seemingly minor word concerned with haste thus anchors a lesson on the cost of sin, the misuse of authority, and the faithfulness of God to protect His anointed. Ministry Reflections 1. Discernment in Crisis Urgency often compels quick decisions. Ministers and believers must interrogate the source of pressure—whether it arises from genuine obedience to God or from fear and self-interest (James 3:17). David’s statement invites consideration of integrity when safety is at stake. Christ later embodies perfect truthfulness under far greater threat (John 18:37). Ahimelech’s response models pastoral care: he meets immediate physical need and indirectly provides spiritual encouragement by returning to David the symbol of former victory. Related Biblical Motifs • Pressing urgency appears elsewhere through different Hebrew verbs (Genesis 19:15; 2 Chronicles 24:5), reinforcing that God’s servants may be called to swift action, yet always within the bounds of righteousness. Application for Contemporary Believers Believers frequently cite urgency—mission deadlines, cultural pressures, personal crises—to justify choices. The narrative anchored by נָחַץ warns that haste must submit to God-honoring motives, counsel, and truth. True spiritual urgency flows from the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20), tempered by the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Summary Though נָחַץ appears only once, its single use illuminates the dynamics of haste, responsibility, and divine oversight in the life of David. The word reminds readers that every moment of pressured decision can either advance God’s purposes through faithful dependence or complicate the path through compromise. The Lord, who directed David’s steps amid crisis, remains sovereign over the urgencies that confront His people today. Forms and Transliterations נָחֽוּץ׃ נחוץ׃ nā·ḥūṣ naChutz nāḥūṣLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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ursit instititgue rogando [Kam Frey]); text dubious; HPS נָאוֺץ (from אוץ), > נחושׁ. 
snort, 
nostril; Ethiopic 
snort; Syriac 
id., 
nostril; ᵑ7 נְחִירָא id.; also Late Hebrew Pi`el snort). — נָחַר