1 Samuel 14:39

1 Samuel 14:39 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)For, as the Lord liveth, which saveth Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die. But there was not a man among all the people that answered him.
• New International Version (NIV)As surely as the Lord who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die.” But not one of them said a word.
• English Standard Version (ESV)For as the Lord lives who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die." But there was not a man among all the people who answered him.
• New King James Version (NKJV)For as the Lord lives, who saves Israel, though it be in Jonathan my son, he shall surely die.” But not a man among all the people answered him.

Context of 1 Samuel 14:39

37So Saul inquired of God, “Should I go after the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But God did not answer him that day. 38Saul said, “All you leaders of the troops, come here. Let’s investigate how this sin has occurred today. As surely as the Lord lives who saves Israel, even if it is because of my son Jonathan, he must die!” Not one of the troops answered him. 40So he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the troops replied, “Do whatever you want.” 41So Saul said to the Lord, “God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If the unrighteousness is in me or in my son Jonathan, Lord God of Israel, give Urim; but if the fault is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared of the charge.

1 Samuel 14:39 word by word

כִּ֣י חַי־יְהוָ֗ה הַמּוֹשִׁ֙יעַ֙ אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל כִּ֧י אִם־יֶשְׁנ֛וֹ בְּיוֹנָתָ֥ן בְּנִ֖י כִּ֣י מ֣וֹת יָמ֑וּת וְאֵ֥ין עֹנֵ֖הוּ מִכָּל־הָעָֽם׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• livethחַיchay · aliveH2416
• which savethיָשַׁעyâsha‛ · to saveH3467
• Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• though it beיֵשׁyêsh · thereH3426
• in Jonathanיוֹנָתָןyônâthân · JonathanH3129
• my sonבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• he shall surelyמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
• not a man among all the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 14:39

• 1 Samuel 14:24and the men of Israel were worn out that day, for Saul had placed the troops under an oath: “The man who eats food before evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies is cursed.” So none of the troops tasted any food.
• 1 Samuel 19:6Saul listened to Jonathan’s advice and swore an oath: “As surely as the Lord lives, David will not be killed.”
• 1 Samuel 20:31Every day Jesse’s son lives on earth you and your kingship are not secure. Now send for him and bring him to me — he must die!”
• 1 Samuel 22:16But the king said, “You will die, Ahimelech — you and your father’s whole family!”
• 1 Samuel 28:10Then Saul swore to her by the Lord: “As surely as the Lord lives, no punishment will come to you from this.”
• 2 Samuel 12:5David was infuriated with the man and said to Nathan, “As the Lord lives, the man who did this deserves to die!
• Ecclesiastes 9:2Everything is the same for everyone: There is one fate for the righteous and the wicked, for the good and the bad, for the clean and the unclean, for the one who sacrifices and the one who does not sacrifice. As it is for the good, so also it is for the sinner; as it is for the one who takes an oath, so also for the one who fears an oath.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14:39

• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 39Saul‘s rashness becomes more and more apparent. He now adds an additional oath, to bring down yet further guilt in “taking God‘s name in vain” The expressions in 1 Samuel 14:36, 1 Samuel 14:40, indicate the fear in which the people stood of Saul. None dared to resist his will.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 36-46Verses 36-46 If God turns away our prayer, we have reason to suspect it is for some sin harboured in our hearts, which we should find out, that we may put it away, and put it to death. We should always first suspect and examine ourselves; but an unhumbled heart suspects every other person, and looks every where but at home for the sinful cause of calamity. Jonathan was discovered to be the offender. Those most indulgent to their own sins are most severe…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-52Saul's actions in this chapter further support his removal as king (1 Samuel 13:8–14; see also 15). Saul was estranged from both Samuel and his brave son Jonathan. 1 Samuel 14 foreshadows Jonathan's important role in the shift from Saul's rule to David's.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 14:39

• Armies
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Jonathan
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Discomfiture
• Discover
• Enlighten
• Faulty
• Fight
• Flew

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings