1 Samuel 14:24

1 Samuel 14:24 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the men of Israel were distressed that day: for Saul had adjured the people, saying, Cursed be the man that eateth any food until evening, that I may be avenged on mine enemies. So none of the people tasted any food.
• New International Version (NIV)Now the Israelites were in distress that day, because Saul had bound the people under an oath, saying, “Cursed be anyone who eats food before evening comes, before I have avenged myself on my enemies!” So none of the troops tasted food.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the men of Israel had been hard pressed that day, so Saul had laid an oath on the people, saying, "Cursed be the man who eats food until it is evening and I am avenged on my enemies." So none of the people had tasted food.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had placed the people under oath, saying, “Cursed is the man who eats any food until evening, before I have taken vengeance on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food.

Context of 1 Samuel 14:24

22The Israelite soldiers who had hidden in the hill country of Ephraim also heard the news. When they knew that the Philistine soldiers were running away, they chased after them as well. 23In that way, the Lord saved Israel's people on that day. The battle moved all the way to Beth Aven and beyond it. The Israelite soldiers became very weak and hungry that day. Saul had told his army to agree to this promise: ‘Nobody may eat any food before this evening. By then I will have won against my enemies. If anyone eats anything before then, may God curse him!’ So no soldier in Saul's army ate any food. 25Saul's army went into a forest. There was honey on the ground. 26The men saw all the honey but none of them ate any of it. They were afraid that God would curse them.

1 Samuel 14:24 word by word

וְאִֽישׁ־יִשְׂרָאֵ֥ל נִגַּ֖שׂ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וַיֹּאֶל֩ שָׁא֨וּל אֶת־הָעָ֜ם לֵאמֹ֗ר אָר֣וּר הָ֠אִישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יֹ֨אכַל לֶ֜חֶם עַד־הָעֶ֗רֶב וְנִקַּמְתִּי֙ מֵאֹ֣יְבַ֔י וְלֹֽא טָעַ֥ם כָּל־הָעָ֖ם לָֽחֶם׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• were distressedנָגַשׂnâgaώ · to oppressH5065
• that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• for Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• had adjuredאָלָה'âlâh · to swearH422
• the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Cursedאָרַר'ârar · to curseH779
• that eatethאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• foodלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899
• until eveningעֶ֫רֶב‛ereb · eveningH6153
• that I may be avengedנָקַםnâqam · to avengeH5358
• on mine enemiesאֹיֵב'ôyêb 'ôyêb · enemyH341
• tastedטָעַםţâ‛am · to perceiveH2938

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 14:24

• 1 Samuel 14:27But Jonathan had not heard about the soldiers' promise to his father. He pushed the end of his stick into the honey. He took some honey on his fingers and he ate it. Then he felt stronger.
• Leviticus 27:29God might decide that a person must die. If he does, nobody can buy the person back. The person must die.
• Numbers 21:2The Israelites made this promise to the Lord: ‘If you put these people under our power, we will destroy their towns for you.’
• Deuteronomy 27:15‘God will curse anyone who makes any image of a god and who worships it secretly. The Lord hates all idols that people make with metal or with wood.’ Then all the people will say, ‘Yes, we agree!’
• Joshua 6:17The city and everything that is in it belongs to the Lord, so destroy it all. Only the prostitute Rahab and all the people who are with her in her house will live. This is because she hid the two men that we sent.
• Judges 11:30Jephthah promised the Lord, ‘Please let us win the battle against the Ammonites.
• Judges 11:31Then, when I return home safely, I will give you a burnt offering. Whatever is first to come out through the door of my house as I arrive, I will offer it to you as a sacrifice.’
• Judges 21:1The Israelites had made a promise to the Lord at Mizpah. They agreed together, ‘None of us will allow our daughters to marry a man of Benjamin's tribe.’
• Proverbs 11:9People who do not respect God say things that destroy their friends. But the knowledge that righteous people have keeps them safe.
• Romans 10:2I can say this about them: They really want to serve God well. But they do not understand the right way to do this.
• 1 Corinthians 16:22If anyone among you does not really love the Lord, I pray that God will curse that person. Our Lord, come now! We are waiting for you!
• Judges 5:2‘The leaders of Israel led their people out. The people were happy to follow them to the battle. Praise the Lord!
• Judges 1:28When the Israelites had a strong army, they made the Canaanites do hard work for them. But they could never chase the Canaanites away completely.
• Psalms 18:47He is the true God who punishes my enemies. He makes the nations obey me.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14:24

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 24Saul had adjured the people - He was afraid, if they waited to refresh themselves, the Philistines would escape out of their hands, and therefore he made the taking any food till sunset a capital crime. This was the very means of defeating his own intention; for as the people were exhausted for want of food, they could not continue the pursuit of their enemies: had it not been for this foolish adjuration, there had been a greater slaughter of the…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 24-35Verses 24-35 Saul's severe order was very unwise; if it gained time, it lost strength for the pursuit. Such is the nature of our bodies, that daily work cannot be done without daily bread, which therefore our Father in heaven graciously gives. Saul was turning aside from God, and now he begins to build altars, being then most zealous, as many are, for the form of godliness when he was denying the power of it.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 24By making them swear an oath, Saul forced his tired, hungry men to abstain from food. This oath likely aimed to manipulate God for a good outcome, like the pagans might do (see notes on Exodus 23:26; 25:22; 32:4). Saul's use of my enemies instead of "our enemies" shows his self-centered pride.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2424. Saul had adjured the people--Afraid lest so precious an opportunity of effectually humbling the Philistine power might be lost, the impetuous king laid an anathema on any one who should taste food until the evening. This rash and foolish denunciation distressed the people, by preventing them taking such refreshments as they might get on the march, and materially hindered the successful attainment of his own patriotic object.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 14:24

• Jonathan

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Saul
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Paul, Saul
• That Day
• Adjuration
• Discomfiture
• Discover
• Enlighten

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