1 Samuel 31:3

1 Samuel 31:3 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
• New International Version (NIV)The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded him critically.
• English Standard Version (ESV)The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers.
• New King James Version (NKJV)The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.

Context of 1 Samuel 31:3

1Now the Philistines were fighting against Israel, and the men of Israel fled from the Philistines but fell fatally wounded on Mount Gilboa. 2And the Philistines also overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines killed Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. The battle went heavily against Saul, and the archers found him; and he was gravely wounded by the archers. 4Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and pierce me through with it, otherwise these uncircumcised Philistines will come and pierce me through, and abuse me.” But his armor bearer was unwilling, because he was very fearful. So Saul took his sword and fell on it. 5When his armor bearer saw that Saul was dead, he also fell on his sword and died with him.

1 Samuel 31:3 word by word

וַתִּכְבַּ֤ד הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וַיִּמְצָאֻ֥הוּ הַמּוֹרִ֖ים אֲנָשִׁ֣ים בַּקָּ֑שֶׁת וַיָּ֥חֶל מְאֹ֖ד מֵהַמּוֹרִֽים׃Read the interlinear

• The battleמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• wentכָּבֵדkâbad kâbêd · to honor: honourH3513
• againstאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• and the archersיָרָאyârâh yârâ' · to shootH3384
• and the archersאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• and the archersקֶ֫שֶׁתqesheth · bowH7198
• foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• him; and he was gravelyמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• woundedחוּלchûl chîyl · to twist: writh in painH2342

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 31:3

• 2 Samuel 1:4David said to him, “How did things go? Please tell me.” And he said, “The people have fled from the battle, and many of the people also have fallen and are dead; and Saul and his son Jonathan are also dead.”
• Amos 2:14Refuge will be lost from the swift, And the strong will not strengthen his power, Nor the warrior save his life.
• Genesis 49:23The archers provoked him, And shot at him and were hostile toward him;
• 1 Kings 22:34Now one man drew his bow at random and struck the king of Israel in a joint of the armor. So he said to the driver of his chariot, “Turn around and take me out of the battle, for I am severely wounded.”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 31:3

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3He was sore wounded of the archers - It is likely that Saul's sons were slain by the archers, and that Saul was now mortally wounded by the same. Houbigant translates, The archers rushed upon him, from whom he received a grievous wound. He farther remarks that had not Saul been grievously wounded, and beyond hope of recovery, he would not have wished his armor-bearer to despatch him; as he might have continued still to fight, or have made his escape from…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3He was sore wounded - Better, “he was sore afraid” (compare Deuteronomy 2:25). Saul‘s fear is explained in 1 Samuel 31:4.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-13While David was in the south successfully fighting the Amalekites (1 Samuel 30), Saul was in the north unsuccessfully fighting the Philistines.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 3-53-5. the battle went sore against Saul, &c.--He seems to have bravely maintained his ground for some time longer; but exhausted with fatigue and loss of blood, and dreading that if he fell alive into the enemy's hands, they would insolently maltreat him (Jos 8:29; 10:24; Jud 8:21), he requested his armor bearer to despatch him. However, that officer refused to do so. Saul then falling on the point of his sword killed himself; and the armor bearer, who…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 31:3

• Archery
• Arrow
• Gilboa
• Jezreel

In the dictionaries

• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Archer
• Gilboa
• Hit
• Jezreel, Valley of
• Achish
• Army
• Chronicles, Books of
• Esdraelon, Plain of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 31

• 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
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings