1 Samuel 14:6

1 Samuel 14:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.
• New International Version (NIV)Jonathan said to his young armor-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few."
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will work for us. For nothing restrains the Lord from saving by many or by few.”

Context of 1 Samuel 14:6

4There was a cliff on each side of the mountain pass where Jonathan searched for a way to cross over to attack the Philistine military post. The name of one ⌞cliff⌟ was Bozez, and the name of the other was Seneh. 5One cliff stood like a pillar on the north facing Michmash, the other stood south facing Geba. Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Let’s go to the military post of these uncircumcised people. Maybe the Lord will act on our behalf. The Lord can win a victory with a few men as well as with many.” 7His armorbearer answered him, “Do whatever you have in mind. Go ahead! I agree with you.” 8Jonathan continued, “Listen, we’ll cross over to the Philistines and show ourselves to them.

1 Samuel 14:6 word by word

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר יְהוֹנָתָ֜ן אֶל־הַנַּ֣עַר׀ נֹשֵׂ֣א כֵלָ֗יו לְכָה֙ וְנַעְבְּרָ֗ה אֶל־מַצַּב֙ הָעֲרֵלִ֣ים הָאֵ֔לֶּה אוּלַ֛י יַעֲשֶׂ֥ה יְהוָ֖ה לָ֑נוּ כִּ֣י אֵ֤ין לַֽיהוָה֙ מַעְצ֔וֹר לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ בְּרַ֖ב א֥וֹ בִמְעָֽט׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Jonathanיְהוֹנָתָןyehônâthân · JonathanH3083
• saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• to the young manנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• that bareנָשָׂאnâώâ' nâsâh · to lift: bearH5375
• his armourכְּלִיkelîy · article/utensilH3627
• Comeיָלַךְyâlak · to walkH3212
• and let us go overעָבַר‛âbar · to passH5674
• unto the garrisonמַצָּבmatstsâb · stationH4673
• of these uncircumcisedעָרֵל‛ârêl · uncircumcisedH6189
• it may be that the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• will workעָשָׂה‛âώâh · to make: doH6213
• no restraintמַעְצוֹרma‛tsôr · restraintH4622
• to saveיָשַׁעyâsha‛ · to saveH3467
• by manyרַבrab · manyH7227
• or by fewמְעַטme‛aţ me‛âţ · littleH4592

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 14:6

• 1 Samuel 17:26David asked the men who were standing near him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and gets rid of Israel’s disgrace? Who is this uncircumcised Philistine that he should challenge the army of the living God?”
• Genesis 17:7I will make my promise to you and your descendants for generations to come as an everlasting promise. I will be your God and the God of your descendants.
• Judges 15:18Samson was very thirsty. So he called out to the Lord and said, “You have given me this great victory. But now I’ll die from thirst and fall into the power of godless men.”
• 2 Samuel 1:20Don’t tell the news in Gath. Don’t announce the victory in the streets of Ashkelon, or the daughters of the Philistines will be glad, and the daughters of godless men will celebrate.
• Jeremiah 9:23This is what the Lord says: Don’t let wise people brag about their wisdom. Don’t let strong people brag about their strength. Don’t let rich people brag about their riches.
• Ephesians 2:11Remember that once you were not Jewish physically. Those who called themselves “the circumcised” because of what they had done to their bodies called you “the uncircumcised.”
• Philippians 3:3We are the ⌞true⌟ circumcised people ⌞of God⌟ because we serve God’s Spirit and take pride in Christ Jesus. We don’t place any confidence in physical things,
• 2 Samuel 16:12Maybe the Lord will see my misery and turn his curse into a blessing for me today.”
• 2 Kings 19:4The Lord your God may have heard all the words of the field commander. His master, the king of Assyria, sent him to defy the living God. The Lord your God may punish him because of the message that the Lord your God heard. Pray for the few people who are left.”
• Amos 5:15Hate evil and love good. Then you will be able to have justice in your courts. Maybe the Lord God of Armies will have pity on the faithful few of Joseph.
• Zephaniah 2:3Search for the Lord, all you humble people in the land who carry out his justice. Search for what is right. Search for humility. Maybe you will find shelter on the day of the Lord’s anger.
• Deuteronomy 32:30How could one person chase a thousand or two people make ten thousand flee? Their rock used these people to defeat them and the Lord gave them no help.
• Judges 7:4The Lord said to Gideon, “There are still too many men. Bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. If I say to you, ‘This one will go with you,’ he must go with you. And if I say to you, ‘This one won’t go with you,’ he must not go.”
• 2 Chronicles 14:11Asa called on the Lord his God. He said, “Lord, there is no one except you who can help those who are not strong so that they can fight against a large ⌞army⌟. Help us, Lord our God, because we are depending on you. In your name we go against this large crowd. You are the Lord our God. Don’t let anyone successfully oppose you.”
• Psalms 115:1Don’t give glory to us, O Lord. Don’t give glory to us. Instead, give glory to your name because of your mercy and faithfulness.
• Zechariah 4:6Then he replied, “This is the word the Lord spoke to Zerubbabel: You won’t ⌞succeed⌟ by might or by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord of Armies.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6Let us go over - Moved, doubtless, by a Divine impulse. There is no restraint to the Lord - This is a fine sentiment; and where there is a promise of defense and support, the weakest, in the face of the strongest enemy, may rely on it with the utmost confidence.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6It is remarkable that the epithet “uncircumcised,” used as a term of reproach, is confined almost exclusively to the Philistines. (Compare 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36; Judges 14:3; Judges 15:18, etc.) This is probably an indication of the long oppression of the Israelites by the Philistines and of their frequent wars.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6uncircumcised men: A word used to show strong dislike or disrespect for Israel’s enemies (see also 1 Samuel 17:36; 31:4). Perhaps: Jonathan had no promise of survival, but he believed God could give them victory against the odds. Victory depended on God; Jonathan offered himself as a tool for God to use. whether by many or by few: Jonathan understood what Gideon had learned long ago (see Judges 7:2–8).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 66. it may be that the Lord will work for us--This expression did not imply a doubt; it signified simply that the object he aimed at was not in his own power--but it depended upon God--and that he expected success neither from his own strength nor his own merit.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 14:6

• Armor-Bearer
• Faith
• God Continued...
• Jonathan
• Power

In the dictionaries

• Jonathan
• Circumcision
• Discomfiture
• Discover
• Enlighten
• Faulty
• Fight
• Flew
• Garrison
• Moabite

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