1 Samuel 14:52

1 Samuel 14:52 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there was sore war against the Philistines all the days of Saul: and when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he took him unto him.
• New International Version (NIV)All the days of Saul there was bitter war with the Philistines, and whenever Saul saw a mighty or brave man, he took him into his service.
• English Standard Version (ESV)There was hard fighting against the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man, or any valiant man, he attached him to himself.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Now there was fierce war with the Philistines all the days of Saul. And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him for himself.

Context of 1 Samuel 14:52

50Saul’s wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul’s army was Abner, the son of Saul’s uncle Ner. 51Saul’s father, Kish, and Abner’s father, Ner, were both sons of Abiel. The Israelites fought constantly with the Philistines throughout Saul’s lifetime. So whenever Saul observed a young man who was brave and strong, he drafted him into his army.

1 Samuel 14:52 word by word

וַתְּהִ֤י הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ חֲזָקָ֣ה עַל־פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כֹּ֖ל יְמֵ֣י שָׁא֑וּל וְרָאָ֨ה שָׁא֜וּל כָּל־אִ֤ישׁ גִּבּוֹר֙ וְכָל־בֶּן־חַ֔יִל וַיַּאַסְפֵ֖הוּ אֵלָֽיו׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And there was soreחָזָקchâzâq · strongH2389
• warמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
• against the Philistinesפְּלִשְׁתִּיpelishtîy · PhilistineH6430
• all the daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• of Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• any strongגִּבּוֹרgibbôr gibbôr · mighty manH1368
• manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• or any valiantחַ֫יִלchayil · strengthH2428
• manבֵּןbên · son: descendant/peopleH1121
• he tookאָסַף'âsaph · to gatherH622

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 14:52

• 1 Samuel 8:1As Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons to be judges over Israel.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 14:52

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 52When Saul saw any strong man - This was very politic. He thus continued to recruit his army with strong and effective men.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 47-52Verses 47-52 Here is a general account of Saul's court and camp. He had little reason to be proud of his royal dignity, nor had any of his neighbours cause to envy him, for he had but little enjoyment after he took the kingdom. And often men's earthly glory makes a blaze just before the dark night of disgrace and woe comes on them.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 52Saul easily defeated the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:11), but he struggled against the Philistines. The Philistines had a strong army and controlled iron and bronze (1 Samuel 13:19–22). Saul would enlist him: Samuel had warned earlier that the king would take people and possessions (1 Samuel 8:11).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 14:52

• Armies
• Conscription
• Saul

In the dictionaries

• Philistines
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Army
• Discomfiture
• Discover
• Enlighten
• Faulty
• Fight
• Flew

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