myBibleHistory

Journey of a Passage

1 Samuel 21:1–6; Mark 2:25–26

Ahimelech or Abiathar?

1 Samuel names the priest at Nob as Ahimelech. In Mark 2:26 Jesus says David ate the holy bread "in the days of Abiathar the high priest." This is a question between two books, not a variant within 1 Samuel.

Read 1 Samuel 21:1–6; Mark 2:25–26 in every edition

Same letters, different readings: the consonants agree, but ancient readers vocalized or interpreted them differently

The family tree

Each row is a language or text tradition. Witnesses in the same row may share ancestry, revise one another, or have an uncertain relationship; the line under each box says which. A solid arrow appears only where direct copying or a documented revised edition is established. Order by date never implies copying. Scroll sideways on a phone.

✓ contains it · ✕ does not · ❝ quotes part of it · ⓘ reports on manuscripts · ▢ pages lost · – no copy survives

  • Same line, through lost copies
  • Translation
Hebrew
  1. Original SamuelUnknown (debated)
  2. Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)AD 1008Descends, through lost copies, from Original Samuel
Greek
  1. Septuagint, 1 Kingdoms (library text: Giguet's French)Translated c. 2nd century BCTranslated from a Hebrew text of the period
  2. Greek New Testament (Mark 2:26)1st century AD; manuscripts from the 4th century
Latin
    English
    1. King James Bible1611Translated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

    Explanations

    "In the passage about Abiathar"
    The Greek epi can mean "at the section," as "at the bush" in Mark 12:26 refers to a passage.
    Abiathar was there
    Abiathar, Ahimelech's son, was present and became the better-known high priest under David.
    Confusion in the tradition
    The names Ahimelech and Abiathar alternate elsewhere (2 Samuel 8:17; 1 Chronicles 18:16).

    Every witness, in order

    1. Unknown (debated)

      Original Samuel

      – No copy survives

      No original survives.

    2. Translated c. 2nd century BC

      Septuagint, 1 Kingdoms (library text: Giguet's French)

      ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from a Hebrew text of the period

      How the site knows this: Known here only through a translation.

      David se rendit à Nomba chez le prêtre Abimélech (21:1)

      "Abimelech" for Ahimelech, a common confusion. One Greek text (Vaticanus type) via Giguet's French; not checked against a critical edition.

    3. 1st century AD; manuscripts from the 4th century

      Greek New Testament (Mark 2:26)

      ✓ Contains this passage

      How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: the Greek New Testament editions in the library (Textus Receptus, Byzantine Textform, Statistical Restoration).

      ἐπὶ Ἀβιαθὰρ ἀρχιερέως

      in the time of Abiathar the high priest

      Some manuscripts (Codex Bezae and others) omit the phrase; Matthew 12:4 and Luke 6:4 lack it.

    4. AD 1008

      Masoretic Text (Leningrad Codex)

      ✓ Contains this passageDescends, through lost copies, from Original Samuel

      How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: Westminster Leningrad Codex, a digital transcription of the Leningrad Codex.

      וַיָּבֹא דָוִד נֹבֶה אֶל־אֲחִימֶלֶךְ הַכֹּהֵן (21:2 Hebrew)

      And David came to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest

      Hebrew verse 21:2 = English 21:1.

    5. 1611

      King James Bible

      ✓ Contains this passageTranslated from printed Masoretic Hebrew

      How the site knows this: Read in the site's library text: King James Version (1769 text).

      in the days of Abiathar the high priest (Mark 2:26)

      The New Testament verse.

    What changed, and why

    Shown so readers can see both texts. The site does not treat it as an ancient manuscript variant in 1 Samuel.

    What the evidence shows

    • Independently documented1 Samuel names Ahimelech; Mark 2:26 names Abiathar.
    • DisputedMark 2:26 contains an error.

    Sources

    • E. Tov, Textual Criticism of the Hebrew Bible, 3rd ed. (2012)

    Related lessons

    • Nob, the Holy Bread and Gath →David flees to Nob and tells the priest Ahimelech he is on a secret mission for the king. Ahimelech gives him the holy bread and Goliath's sword. Doeg the Edomite, Saul's chief herdsman, is watching. David goes to Achish of Gath, is recognized, and pretends to be mad, scribbling on the gate and drooling.