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

22When all the men of Israel who had kept themselves hidden in the hill country of Ephraim heard that the Philistines had fled, they also closely pursued them in the battle. 23So the Lord saved Israel that day, and the battle spread beyond Beth-aven. Now the men of Israel were hard-pressed on that day, for Saul had put the people under oath, saying, “Cursed be the man who eats food before evening, and before I have avenged myself on my enemies.” So none of the people tasted food. 25All the people of the land entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. 26When the people entered the forest, behold, there was honey dripping; but no man put his hand to his mouth, because the people feared the oath.

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

• Now the menאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• were hard-pressedנָגַשׂnâgaώ · to oppressH5065
• on that dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• for Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• putאָלָה'âlâh · to swearH422
• the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• sayingאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Cursedאָרַר'ârar · to curseH779
• whoאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · whichH834
• eatsאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• foodלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899
• beforeעַד‛ad · tillH5704
• eveningעֶ֫רֶב‛ereb · eveningH6153
• I have avengedנָקַםnâqam · to avengeH5358
• myself on my enemiesאָיַב'âyab · be hostileH340
• So noneלֹאlô' lô' lôh · notH3808
• So noneכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• tastedטָעַםţâ‛am · to perceiveH2938

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 14:24

• 1 Samuel 14:27However, Jonathan had not heard it when his father put the people under oath; so he put out the end of the staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.
• Leviticus 27:29No one who may have been set apart among mankind shall be ransomed; he must be put to death.
• Numbers 21:2So Israel made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed hand over this people to me, then I will utterly destroy their cities.”
• Deuteronomy 27:15‘Cursed is the person who makes a carved image or cast metal image, an abomination to the Lord, the work of the hands of a craftsman, and sets it up in secret.’ And all the people shall reply and say, ‘Amen.’
• Joshua 6:17But the city shall be designated for destruction, it and everything that is in it belongs to the Lord; only Rahab the prostitute and all who are with her in the house shall live, because she hid the messengers whom we sent.
• Judges 11:30And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord and said, “If You will indeed hand over to me the sons of Ammon,
• Judges 11:31then whatever comes out the doors of my house to meet me when I return safely from the sons of Ammon, it shall be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
• Judges 21:1Now the men of Israel had sworn in Mizpah, saying, “None of us shall give his daughter to Benjamin in marriage.”
• Proverbs 11:9With his mouth the godless person destroys his neighbor, But through knowledge the righteous will be rescued.
• Romans 10:2For I testify about them that they have a zeal for God, but not in accordance with knowledge.
• 1 Corinthians 16:22If anyone does not love the Lord, he is to be accursed. Maranatha!
• Judges 5:2“For the leaders leading in Israel, For the people volunteering, Bless the Lord!
• Judges 1:28And it came about, when Israel became strong, that they put the Canaanites to forced labor; but they did not drive them out completely.
• Psalms 18:47The God who executes vengeance for me, And subdues peoples under 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