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

37Then Saul asked God, “Should I attack the Philistines? Will you hand them over to Israel?” But he received no answer that day. 38So Saul ordered all the leaders of the troops, “Come here! Find out what sin was committed today. I solemnly swear, as the Lord and Savior of Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan ⌞who did it⌟, he must die.” But not one of the soldiers replied. 40Saul told all Israel, “You stand on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side.” “Do whatever you think is best,” the troops responded to Saul. 41Then Saul said to the Lord, “O God of Israel, why didn’t you answer me today? If this sin is mine or my son Jonathan’s, Lord God of Israel, ⌞let the priest⌟ draw Urim. But if it is in your people Israel, ⌞let him⌟ draw Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, and the people were freed ⌞from guilt⌟.

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 14:24Israel’s soldiers were driven hard that day. Saul made the troops swear, “Cursed is anyone who eats food before the evening comes and before I’ve gotten revenge on my enemies.” So none of his troops tasted any food.
• 1 Samuel 19:6Saul listened to Jonathan, and he promised, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives, he will not be killed.”
• 1 Samuel 20:31As long as Jesse’s son lives on earth, neither you nor your right to be king is secure. Now, send some men to bring him to me. He’s a dead man!”
• 1 Samuel 22:16Saul said, “Ahimelech, you and your entire family are going to die.”
• 1 Samuel 28:10But Saul took an oath in the Lord’s name, “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives, you will not be harmed if you do this.”
• 2 Samuel 12:5David burned with anger against the man. “I solemnly swear, as the Lord lives,” he said to Nathan, “the man who did this certainly deserves to die!
• Ecclesiastes 9:2Everything turns out the same way for everyone. All people will share the same destiny, whether they are righteous, wicked, or good, clean or unclean, whether they offer sacrifices or don’t offer sacrifices. Good people are treated like sinners. People who take oaths are treated like those who are afraid to take oaths.

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