King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armourbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were an half acre of land, [which] a yoke [of oxen might plow].
Complete Jewish Bible:
That first slaughter, of about twenty men, was accomplished by Y'honatan and his armor bearer in a space only half as long as one side of the area a pair of oxen could plow in a day [about 200 yards].
Berean Standard Bible:
In that first assault, Jonathan and his armor-bearer struck down about twenty men over half an acre of land.
American Standard Version:
And that first slaughter, which Jonathan and his armorbearer made, was about twenty men, within as it were half a furrow’s length in an acre of land.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And that first{H7223} slaughter{H4347}, which Jonathan{H3129} and his armourbearer{H5375}{H3627} made{H5221}, was about twenty{H6242} men{H376}, within as it were an half{H2677} acre{H4618} of land{H7704}, which a yoke{H6776} of oxen might plow.
Cross-References (KJV):
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 1 Samuel 14:14
1 Samuel 14:14 is a verse set within the context of the early monarchy period of Israel, during the reign of King Saul. The narrative describes a daring military exploit by Jonathan, King Saul's son, and his armor-bearer against a Philistine garrison. The Philistines were a dominant sea people who had established control over much of the coastal areas of Canaan and were a persistent threat to the Israelites during this period.
In this verse, the theme of divine deliverance and the bravery of individuals in the face of overwhelming odds is highlighted. Jonathan and his armor-bearer, despite being vastly outnumbered, manage to kill about twenty Philistine soldiers in a surprisingly small area, likened to half an acre of land. This small patch of ground is described as being so tiny that it could be plowed by a single yoke of oxen, emphasizing the intensity and close-quarters nature of the combat.
The verse underscores the valor and faith of Jonathan, who trusts in God's guidance and strength, even in a seemingly impossible situation. His actions precipitate a larger conflict, eventually leading to a rout of the Philistines by the Israelite forces. This event is emblematic of the broader theme in the Old Testament of God empowering the weak to overcome the strong, often through the agency of individuals who exhibit great courage and trust in God.
The historical context of 1 Samuel 14:14 reflects the ongoing struggle of the Israelites to establish and maintain their territory against neighboring peoples. It also illustrates the complex dynamics of the period, where individual acts of heroism could have significant military and political consequences. Jonathan's bravery serves as a prelude to the eventual rise of David, who would embody similar qualities of faith and martial prowess as he ascends to the throne.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H7223
There are 174 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רִאשׁוֹן
Transliteration: riʼshôwn
Pronunciation: ree-shone'
Description: or רִאשֹׁן; from רִאשָׁה; first, in place, time or rank (as adjective or noun); ancestor, (that were) before(-time), beginning, eldest, first, fore(-father) (-most), former (thing), of old time, past. - Strong's Number: H4347
There are 46 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַכָּה
Transliteration: makkâh
Pronunciation: mak-kaw'
Description: or (masculine) מַכֶּה; (plural only) from נָכָה; a blow (in 2 Chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication,; a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence; beaten, blow, plague, slaughter, smote, [idiom] sore, stripe, stroke, wound(-ed). - Strong's Number: H3129
There are 35 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יוֹנָתָן
Transliteration: Yôwnâthân
Pronunciation: yo-naw-thawn'
Description: a form of יְהוֹנָתָן; Jonathan, the name of ten Israelites; Jonathan. - Strong's Number: H5375
There are 611 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָשָׂא
Transliteration: nâsâʼ
Pronunciation: naw-saw'
Description: or נָסָה; (Psalm 4:6 (אֲבַד)), a primitive root; to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative; accept, advance, arise, (able to, (armor), suffer to) bear(-er, up), bring (forth), burn, carry (away), cast, contain, desire, ease, exact, exalt (self), extol, fetch, forgive, furnish, further, give, go on, help, high, hold up, honorable ([phrase] man), lade, lay, lift (self) up, lofty, marry, magnify, [idiom] needs, obtain, pardon, raise (up), receive, regard, respect, set (up), spare, stir up, [phrase] swear, take (away, up), [idiom] utterly, wear, yield. - Strong's Number: H3627
There are 276 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כְּלִי
Transliteration: kᵉlîy
Pronunciation: kel-ee'
Description: from כָּלָה; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon); armour(-bearer), artillery, bag, carriage, [phrase] furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, [idiom] one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, [phrase] psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, [phrase] whatsoever. - Strong's Number: H5221
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָכָה
Transliteration: nâkâh
Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. - Strong's Number: H6242
There are 281 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶשְׂרִים
Transliteration: ʻesrîym
Pronunciation: es-reem'
Description: from עֶשֶׂר; twenty; also (ordinal) twentieth; (six-) score, twenty(-ieth). - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H2677
There are 103 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: חֵצִי
Transliteration: chêtsîy
Pronunciation: khay-tsee'
Description: from חָצָהlemma חָעָה ayin, corrected to חָצָה; the half or middle; half, middle, mid(-night), midst, part, two parts. - Strong's Number: H4618
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַעֲנָה
Transliteration: maʻănâh
Pronunciation: mah-an-aw'
Description: from עָנָה, in the sense of depression or tilling; a furrow; [phrase] acre, furrow. - Strong's Number: H7704
There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂדֶה
Transliteration: sâdeh
Pronunciation: saw-deh'
Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild. - Strong's Number: H6776
There are 15 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: צֶמֶד
Transliteration: tsemed
Pronunciation: tseh'-med
Description: a yoke or team (i.e. pair); hence, an acre (i.e. day's task for a yoke of cattle to plough); acre, couple, [idiom] together, two (donkeys), yoke (of oxen).