1 Samuel 14:41

1 Samuel 14:41 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Therefore Saul said unto the Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.
• New International Version (NIV)Then Saul prayed to the Lord, the God of Israel, “Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Therefore Saul said, "O Lord God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O Lord, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.

Context of 1 Samuel 14:41

39As 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.” So 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. 42Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,” and Jonathan was selected. 43Saul commanded him, “Tell me what you did.” Jonathan told him, “I tasted a little honey with the end of the staff I was carrying. I am ready to die!”

1 Samuel 14:41 word by word

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֗וּל אֶל־יְהוָ֛ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לָמָּה לֹא עָנִיתָ אֶת־עַבְדְּךָ הַיּוֹם אִם יֶשׁ־בִּי אוֹ בְּיוֹנָתָן בְנִי הֶעָוֹן הַזֶּה יְהוָה אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל הָבָה אוּרִים וְאִם יֶשְׁנוֹ הֶעָוֹן הַזֶּה בְּעַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל הָ֣בָה תָמִ֑ים וַיִּלָּכֵ֧ד יוֹנָתָ֛ן וְשָׁא֖וּל וְהָעָ֥ם יָצָֽאוּ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Therefore Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• Godאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• Giveיָהַבyâhab · to giveH3051
• a perfectתָּמִיםtâmîym · unblemished: ThummimH8549
• and Jonathanיוֹנָתָןyônâthân · JonathanH3129
• were takenלָכַדlâkad · to captureH3920
• but the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• escapedיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 14:41

• Proverbs 16:33The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the Lord.
• Acts 1:24Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know everyone’s hearts; show which of these two you have chosen
• 1 Samuel 10:20Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected.
• Joshua 7:16Joshua got up early the next morning. He had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected.
• Jonah 1:7“Come on!” the sailors said to each other. “Let’s cast lots. Then we’ll know who is to blame for this trouble we’re in.” So they cast lots, and the lot singled out Jonah.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14:41

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 41Lord God of Israel, Give a perfect lot - Both the Vulgate and Septuagint add much to this verse: And Saul said to the Lord God of Israel, Lord God of Israel, give judgment. Why is it that thou hast not answered thy servant to-day? If the iniquity be in me, or Jonathan my son, make it manifest. Or if this iniquity be in thy people, give sanctification.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 41Give a perfect lot - The phrase is obscure, but the meaning is probably as in the margin.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. 41Priests cast sacred lots by using the Urim and Thummim to learn what God wanted them to do (Exodus 28:30; Leviticus 8:8). David also used them to seek God's guidance (1 Samuel 23:2; 30:8; 2 Samuel 2:1). The Urim and Thummim were two small objects, possibly flat stones, sticks, or arrows, used like dice. They would give a positive, neutral, or negative answer.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 14:41

• Armies
• Lot, the
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• Israel
• Jonathan
• Lot
• Saul
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Paul, Saul
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Discomfiture

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