The Meaning of 1 Samuel 22:14 Explained

1 Samuel 22:14

KJV: Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, which is the king's son in law, and goeth at thy bidding, and is honourable in thine house?

YLT: And Ahimelech answereth the king and saith, 'And who among all thy servants is as David -- faithful, and son-in-law of the king, and hath turned aside unto thy council, and is honoured in thy house?

Darby: And Ahimelech answered the king and said, And who is so faithful among all thy servants as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and has access to thy secret council, and is honourable in thy house?

ASV: Then Ahimelech answered the king, and said, And who among all thy servants is so faithful as David, who is the king's son-in-law, and is taken into thy council, and is honorable in thy house?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then Ahimelech  answered  the king,  and said,  And who [is so] faithful  among all thy servants  as David,  which is the king's  son in law,  and goeth  at thy bidding,  and is honourable  in thine house? 

What does 1 Samuel 22:14 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 22:11-23 - The Slaughter Of David's Friends
The Apostle James says that "the tongue is set on fire of hell." Surely this was the case when Saul, encamped on the height above Gibeah, scattered his biting words like firebrands. They met with a ready response in Doeg's evil heart, and the two perpetrated one of the most atrocious tragedies of history.
This black act-the blackest of Saul's life-was not to be extenuated, although it executed the malediction, uttered long before in the days of Eli, against the latter's evil house. That Saul's footmen refused to execute the king's sentence should have made Him hesitate. Doeg's tale was true in its statement, but false in its implications.
There is nothing to alleviate the lurid horror of this incident, except David's welcome to Abiathar. Are not such words addressed by our Lord to all who escape to Him? "Abide with me" may be understood in the light of John 15:1-27. With Christ there is safeguard. "Your life is hid with Christ in God." Fear not, trembling soul; Christ stands surety for thee! See Psalms 52:1-9, where David predicts Doeg's fate, and contrasts it with his own happy lot. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 22

1  Companies resort unto David at Adullam
3  At Mizpeh he commends his parents unto the king of Moab
5  Admonished by Gad, he comes to Hareth,
6  Saul going to pursue him, complains of his servants' unfaithfulness
9  Doeg accuses Ahimelech
11  Saul commands to kill the priests
17  The footmen refusing, Doeg executes it
20  Abiathar escaping, brings David the news

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 22:14 mean?

So answered Ahimelech - the king and said and who among all your servants as David [is as] faithful and who is son-in-law of the king and who goes at your bidding and is honorable in your house
וַיַּ֧עַן אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ אֶת־ הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ וַיֹּאמַ֑ר וּמִ֤י בְכָל־ עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙ כְּדָוִ֣ד נֶאֱמָ֔ן וַחֲתַ֥ן הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ וְסָ֥ר אֶל־ מִשְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ךָ וְנִכְבָּ֥ד ؟ בְּבֵיתֶֽךָ

וַיַּ֧עַן  So  answered 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לְעַנּׄות 
Sense: to answer, respond, testify, speak, shout.
אֲחִימֶ֛לֶךְ  Ahimelech 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: אֲחִימֶלֶךְ  
Sense: a priest murdered by Doeg at Saul’s command, for supposedly assisting David.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הַמֶּ֖לֶךְ  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וַיֹּאמַ֑ר  and  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
וּמִ֤י  and  who 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
בְכָל־  among  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עֲבָדֶ֙יךָ֙  your  servants 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: עֶבֶד  
Sense: slave, servant.
כְּדָוִ֣ד  as  David 
Parse: Preposition-k, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: דָּוִד  
Sense: youngest son of Jesse and second king of Israel.
נֶאֱמָ֔ן  [is  as]  faithful 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: אָמַן 
Sense: to support, confirm, be faithful.
וַחֲתַ֥ן  and  who  is  son-in-law 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: חָתָן  
Sense: son-in-law, daughter’s husband, bridegroom, husband.
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ  of  the  king 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וְסָ֥ר  and  who  goes 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
אֶל־  at 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אֶל  
Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
מִשְׁמַעְתֶּ֖ךָ  your  bidding 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: מִשְׁמַעַת  
Sense: subjects, body of subjects, bodyguard, listeners, obedient ones.
וְנִכְבָּ֥ד  and  is  honorable 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Participle, masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
؟ בְּבֵיתֶֽךָ  in  your  house 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.