New King James Version
1 Samuel 14:6
6Then 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.”
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 Living Translation (NLT)“Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!”
Context of 1 Samuel 14:6
4Between the passes, by which Jonathan sought to go over to the Philistines’ garrison, there was a sharp rock on one side and a sharp rock on the other side. And the name of one was Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh. 5The front of one faced northward opposite Michmash, and the other southward opposite Gibeah. 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.” 7So his armorbearer said to him, “Do all that is in your heart. Go then; here I am with you, according to your heart.” 8Then Jonathan said, “Very well, let us cross over to these men, and we will show ourselves to them.
Read all of 1 Samuel 141 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 17:26Then David spoke to the men who stood by him, saying, “What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?”
- Genesis 17:7And I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you in their generations, for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and your descendants after you.
- Judges 15:18Then he became very thirsty; so he cried out to the Lord and said, “You have given this great deliverance by the hand of Your servant; and now shall I die of thirst and fall into the hand of the uncircumcised?”
- 2 Samuel 1:20Tell it not in Gath, Proclaim it not in the streets of Ashkelon— Lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, Lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.
- Jeremiah 9:23Thus says the Lord: “Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, Let not the mighty man glory in his might, Nor let the rich man glory in his riches;
- Ephesians 2:11Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands—
- Philippians 3:3For we are the circumcision, who worship God in the Spirit, rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh,
- 2 Samuel 16:12It may be that the Lord will look on my affliction, and that the Lord will repay me with good for his cursing this day.”
- 2 Kings 19:4It may be that the Lord your God will hear all the words of the Rabshakeh, whom his master the king of Assyria has sent to reproach the living God, and will rebuke the words which the Lord your God has heard. Therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left.’ ”
- Amos 5:15Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts Will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.
- Zephaniah 2:3Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth, Who have upheld His justice. Seek righteousness, seek humility. It may be that you will be hidden In the day of the Lord’s anger.
- Deuteronomy 32:30How could one chase a thousand, And two put ten thousand to flight, Unless their Rock had sold them, And the Lord had surrendered them?
- Judges 7:4But the Lord said to Gideon, “The people are still too many; bring them down to the water, and I will test them for you there. Then it will be, that of whom I say to you, ‘This one shall go with you,’ the same shall go with you; and of whomever I say to you, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ the same shall not go.”
- 2 Chronicles 14:11And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, “Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!”
- Psalms 115:1Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, But to Your name give glory, Because of Your mercy, Because of Your truth.
- Zechariah 4:6So he answered and said to me: “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts.
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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries