📖WEB · 1 Samuel 22:20

What does 1 Samuel 22:20 mean?

"One of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David."

— 1 Samuel 22:20 (World English Bible)

Surrounding context

17

The king said to the guard who stood about him, “Turn, and kill the priests of Yahweh; because their hand also is with David, and because they knew that he fled, and didn’t disclose it to me.” But the servants of the king wouldn’t put out their hand to fall on the priests of Yahweh.

18

The king said to Doeg, “Turn and attack the priests!” Doeg the Edomite turned, and he attacked the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five people who wore a linen ephod.

19

He struck Nob, the city of the priests, with the edge of the sword, both men and women, children and nursing babies, and cattle and donkeys and sheep, with the edge of the sword.

20

One of the sons of Ahimelech, the son of Ahitub, named Abiathar, escaped, and fled after David.

21

Abiathar told David that Saul had slain Yahweh’s priests.

22

David said to Abiathar, “I knew on that day, when Doeg the Edomite was there, that he would surely tell Saul. I am responsible for the death of all the persons of your father’s house.

23

Stay with me. Don’t be afraid, for he who seeks my life seeks your life. For you will be safe with me.”

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Biblical perspective

What does 222 mean in the Bible?

If you've been seeing 222 and searching for its spiritual meaning, the Bible doesn't use number patterns as divine signals — but it does speak clearly about God's faithfulness and timing.

Lamentations 2:22 and Revelation 22:20 are real verses. The Revelation passage — "Come, Lord Jesus" — is one of the most striking short prayers in all of Scripture.

Read Revelation 22 →

ScriptureCompanion serves verses directly from a verified Bible database — no paraphrasing or AI-generated scripture. All quotes above are from the World English Bible (WEB).