1 Samuel 14:26

1 Samuel 14:26 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And when the people were come into the wood, behold, the honey dropped; but no man put his hand to his mouth: for the people feared the oath.
• New International Version (NIV)When they went into the woods, they saw the honey oozing out; yet no one put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And when the people entered the forest, behold, the honey was dropping, but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath.
• New Living Translation (NLT)They didn’t dare touch the honey because they all feared the oath they had taken.

Context of 1 Samuel 14:26

24And 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. 25Now all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was honey on the ground. And when the people had come into the woods, there was the honey, dripping; but no one put his hand to his mouth, for the people feared the oath. 27But Jonathan had not heard his father charge the people with the oath; therefore he stretched out the end of the rod that was in his hand and dipped it in a honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth; and his countenance brightened. 28Then one of the people said, “Your father strictly charged the people with an oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food this day.’ ” And the people were faint.

1 Samuel 14:26 word by word

וַיָּבֹ֤א הָעָם֙ אֶל־הַיַּ֔עַר וְהִנֵּ֖ה הֵ֣לֶךְ דְּבָ֑שׁ וְאֵין־מַשִּׂ֤יג יָדוֹ֙ אֶל־פִּ֔יו כִּֽי־יָרֵ֥א הָעָ֖ם אֶת־הַשְּׁבֻעָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And when the peopleעַם‛am · peopleH5971
• were comeבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• into the woodיַ֫עַרya‛ar · honeycombH3293
• behold, the honeyדְּבַשׁdebash · honeyH1706
• droppedהֵ֫לֶךְhêlek · travellerH1982
• but no man putנָשַׂגnâώag · to overtakeH5381
• his handיָדyâd · handH3027
• to his mouthפֶּהpeh · lipH6310
• fearedיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• the oathשְׁבוּעָהshebû‛âh · oathH7621

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 14:26

• Ecclesiastes 9:2All things come alike to all: One event happens to the righteous and the wicked; To the good, the clean, and the unclean; To him who sacrifices and him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; He who takes an oath as he who fears an oath.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14:26

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 26The honey dropped - It seems to have dropped from the trees on the ground. Honey dews, as they are called, are not uncommon in most countries; and this appears to have been something of this kind. I have seen honey in considerable quantity on the trees and long grass in the fields, and have often eaten of it.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 26The honey dropped - Rather, “Behold a stream of honey.” The same thing may be seen in Spain, where in woody and rocky ground copious streams of honey are often found.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. 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 14:26

• Jonathan

In the dictionaries

• Discomfiture
• Discover
• Enlighten
• Faulty
• Fight
• Flew
• Honey
• Moabite
• Philistines
• Rod

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