1 Samuel 11:5

1 Samuel 11:5 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
• New International Version (NIV)Just then Saul was returning from the fields, behind his oxen, and he asked, “What is wrong with everyone? Why are they weeping?” Then they repeated to him what the men of Jabesh had said.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Now, behold, Saul was coming from the field behind the oxen. And Saul said, "What is wrong with the people, that they are weeping?" So they told him the news of the men of Jabesh.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now there was Saul, coming behind the herd from the field; and Saul said, “What troubles the people, that they weep?” And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.

Context of 1 Samuel 11:5

3The leaders of Jabesh told him, “Give us seven days so that we can send messengers throughout the territory of Israel. And if there’s no one to save us, we’ll surrender to you.” 4The messengers came to Saul’s town, Gibeah. When they told the people the news, the people cried loudly. Just then Saul was coming from the field behind some oxen. “Why are these people crying?” Saul asked. So they told him the news about the men of Jabesh. 6When he heard this news, God’s Spirit came over him, and he became very angry. 7Saul took a pair of oxen, cut them in pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the territory of Israel with the following message: “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who doesn’t follow Saul and Samuel ⌞into battle⌟.” So the people became terrified by the Lord, and they came out united ⌞behind Saul⌟.

1 Samuel 11:5 word by word

וְהִנֵּ֣ה שָׁא֗וּל בָּ֣א אַחֲרֵ֤י הַבָּקָר֙ מִן־הַשָּׂדֶ֔ה וַיֹּ֣אמֶר שָׁא֔וּל מַה־לָּעָ֖ם כִּ֣י יִבְכּ֑וּ וַיְסַ֨פְּרוּ־ל֔וֹ אֶת־דִּבְרֵ֖י אַנְשֵׁ֥י יָבֵֽישׁ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And, behold, Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• afterאַחַר'achar · afterH310
• the herdבָּקָרbâqâr · cattleH1241
• out of the fieldשָׂדֶהώâdeh ώâday · land: countryH7704
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• that they weepבָּכָהbâkâh · to weepH1058
• And they toldסָפַרsâphar · to recountH5608
• him the tidingsדָּבָרdâbâr · word: deedH1697
• of the menאֱנוֹשׁ'ĕnôsh · humanH582
• of Jabeshיָבֵשׁyâbêsh yâbêysh · Jabesh (Gilead)H3003

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 11:5

• 1 Samuel 9:1There was a man from the tribe of Benjamin whose name was Kish. He was a son of Abiel, grandson of Zeror, and great-grandson of Becorath, whose father was Aphiah, a descendant of Benjamin. Kish was a powerful man.
• 1 Kings 19:19Elijah found Elisha, son of Shaphat. Elisha was plowing behind 12 pairs of oxen. He was using the twelfth pair. Elijah took off his coat and put it on Elisha.
• Psalms 78:71He brought him from tending the ewes that had lambs so that David could be the shepherd of the people of Jacob, of Israel, the people who belonged to the Lord.
• Genesis 21:17God heard the boy crying, and the Messenger of God called to Hagar from heaven. “What’s the matter, Hagar?” he asked her. “Don’t be afraid! God has heard the boy crying from the bushes.
• Judges 18:23They shouted at them. But the people of Dan turned around and said to Micah, “What’s your problem? Why did you call your neighbors together to attack us?”
• Isaiah 22:1This is the divine revelation about the valley of Vision. What’s the matter with you? Why do all of you go up on the roofs?

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 11:5

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 5Saul came after the herd - He had been bred up to an agricultural life, and after his consecration he returned to it, waiting for a call of Divine providence, which he considered he had now received in the message from Jabesh-gilead. It has often been remarked, that mighty kings and accomplished generals have been chosen from among those who were engaged in agricultural concerns. In these observations one fact is lost sight of, viz., that in ancient times…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-13Saul showed he could lead by handling opposition and saving the town of Jabesh-gilead.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 11:5

• Decision
• Jabesh-Gilead
• Nahash

In the dictionaries

• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Cattle
• Farm
• Herdsman
• Nahash
• Renew
• Samuel, Books of
• Ail
• Ammon; Ammonites

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 11

• 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