What Does 1 Samuel 22:14 Mean in the King James?
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?
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The word for “honourable” is rooted in weight, making David’s standing in the king’s house something he carries through his service.
THE MEANING
You can see trustworthiness made concrete here: David is steady among the servants, responds to the king’s bidding, and carries weight in the king’s house. His character shows up in how he moves through the trust already placed in him.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The king’s suspicion defines David; this verse answers it with the visible record of his steady service and standing in the house.
THE ROOT
נִכְבָּד
nikhbad
GROWS FROM
כבד
To be heavy; to carry weight.
“honourable” in this verse is nikhbad. The English can sound like a compliment, while the Hebrew pictures David as weighty in the king’s house. The same root gives kavod (כָּבוֹד, weight), so his honour is presented as a presence with substance and standing.
ALSO GROWS
kavod: Weight; substance; honor.
כָּבוֹד
This branch shows that honor and weight share the same seed: David is described as someone whose presence matters in the house.
kaved: Heavy; weighty.
כָּבֵד
The ordinary sense of heaviness gives “honourable” its image of someone who carries consequence and standing.
נֶאֱמָן
ne’eman
GROWS FROM
אמן
To be firm, steady, reliable.
“faithful” in this verse is ne’eman. The verse calls David firm and reliable, a quality shown by his response to the king’s bidding. This root also gives emunah (אֱמוּנָה, trust that leans its full weight) and amen (אָמֵן, firm; sure), joining reliability, trust, and affirmation in one word family.
ALSO GROWS
emunah: Trust; steadiness.
אֱמוּנָה
This branch reveals that the faithfulness attributed to David is the kind of reliability another person can lean their full weight on.
amen: Firm; sure.
אָמֵן
The same seed appears in “Amen,” an affirmation grounded in firmness rather than a mere sound of agreement.
דָּוִד
dāwid
GROWS FROM
דוד
Beloved; beloved one.
David’s name carries the nature of the beloved. Here that name stands beside a description of steady service and weight in the household, joining who he is called with how he is known there.
ALSO GROWS
dod: Beloved; beloved one.
דּוֹד
This root association gives the name David its sense of the beloved, which resonates with the esteem described in the verse.
dodim: Loves; expressions of affection.
דֹּדִים
This related form carries the root’s language of love, showing the name’s connection to affection.
THE PATTERN
Trust becomes visible in steady service, and that steadiness is answered with a place of responsibility or belonging.
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.As the cold of snow in the time of harvest, so is a faithful messenger to them that send him: for he refresheth the soul of his masters.His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.THE THREAD
Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me.The same Hebrew root, אמן (aman, to be firm and steady), lies behind “faithful” in both verses. The psalm pairs that steadiness with dwelling and service, opening Ahimelech’s words as a claim about David’s proven place in the house, not just a label.
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