1 Samuel 19:5

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest [it], and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

Complete Jewish Bible:

He put his life in his hands to attack the P'lishtim, and ADONAI accomplished a great victory for all Isra'el. You yourself saw it, and you were happy about it. So why do you want to sin against innocent blood by killing David without any reason?"

Berean Standard Bible:

He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”

American Standard Version:

for he put his life in his hand, and smote the Philistine, and Jehovah wrought a great victory for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice; wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

For he did put{H7760} his life{H5315} in his hand{H3709}, and slew{H5221} the Philistine{H6430}, and the LORD{H3068} wrought{H6213} a great{H1419} salvation{H8668} for all Israel{H3478}: thou sawest{H7200} it, and didst rejoice{H8055}: wherefore then wilt thou sin{H2398} against innocent{H5355} blood{H1818}, to slay{H4191} David{H1732} without a cause{H2600}?

Cross-References (KJV):

1 Samuel 11:13

  • And Saul said, There shall not a man be put to death this day: for to day the LORD hath wrought salvation in Israel.

1 Chronicles 11:14

  • And they set themselves in the midst of [that] parcel, and delivered it, and slew the Philistines; and the LORD saved [them] by a great deliverance.

1 Samuel 20:32

  • And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him, Wherefore shall he be slain? what hath he done?

Judges 9:17

  • (For my father fought for you, and adventured his life far, and delivered you out of the hand of Midian:

Matthew 27:4

  • Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What [is that] to us? see thou [to that].

Psalms 119:109

  • ¶ My soul [is] continually in my hand: yet do I not forget thy law.

1 Samuel 28:21

  • And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

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Commentary for 1 Samuel 19:5

1 Samuel 19:5 is a verse that captures a moment of tension and moral appeal within the broader narrative of the young David's rise to prominence in Israel. The verse is part of a conversation between King Saul and his son Jonathan, following Saul's repeated attempts to kill David out of jealousy and fear of his growing popularity and success.

In this verse, Jonathan reminds his father, King Saul, of the incredible feat David accomplished when he put his life on the line to defeat Goliath, the Philistine champion. This act not only saved David's life but also brought about a great victory for all of Israel, a victory that Saul himself had witnessed and celebrated. Jonathan's words serve to highlight David's loyalty and the divine favor that rests upon him, as evidenced by his triumph over Goliath. The "great salvation" refers to the deliverance of Israel from the Philistine threat, a deliverance that was directly attributable to David's courage and faith.

Jonathan's speech is a plea for Saul to recognize the injustice of his current intentions towards David. By asking, "wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?" Jonathan confronts Saul with the moral and ethical implications of his actions. He points out the lack of justification for Saul's murderous plans, emphasizing David's innocence and the senselessness of shedding his blood.

The historical context of this verse is set during the early monarchy period of Israel, when Saul was king and the nation was frequently at war with neighboring peoples, including the Philistines. This period was marked by political intrigue, divine selection, and the transition of leadership from Saul to David, as anointed by the prophet Samuel. The themes present in this verse include loyalty, divine intervention, the conflict between jealousy and righteousness, and the struggle for power. It underscores the complex dynamics of human relationships, the rule of law, and the sovereignty of God in the affairs of nations and individuals.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H7760
    There are 550 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שׂוּם
    Transliteration: sûwm
    Pronunciation: soom
    Description: or שִׂים; a primitive root; to put (used in a great variety of applications, literal, figurative, inferentially, and elliptically); [idiom] any wise, appoint, bring, call (a name), care, cast in, change, charge, commit, consider, convey, determine, [phrase] disguise, dispose, do, get, give, heap up, hold, impute, lay (down, up), leave, look, make (out), mark, [phrase] name, [idiom] on, ordain, order, [phrase] paint, place, preserve, purpose, put (on), [phrase] regard, rehearse, reward, (cause to) set (on, up), shew, [phrase] stedfastly, take, [idiom] tell, [phrase] tread down, (over-)turn, [idiom] wholly, work.
  2. Strong's Number: H5315
    There are 683 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נֶפֶשׁ
    Transliteration: nephesh
    Pronunciation: neh'-fesh
    Description: from נָפַשׁ; properly, a breathing creature, i.e. animal of (abstractly) vitality; used very widely in a literal, accommodated or figurative sense (bodily or mental); any, appetite, beast, body, breath, creature, [idiom] dead(-ly), desire, [idiom] (dis-) contented, [idiom] fish, ghost, [phrase] greedy, he, heart(-y), (hath, [idiom] jeopardy of) life ([idiom] in jeopardy), lust, man, me, mind, mortally, one, own, person, pleasure, (her-, him-, my-, thy-) self, them (your) -selves, [phrase] slay, soul, [phrase] tablet, they, thing, ([idiom] she) will, [idiom] would have it.
  3. Strong's Number: H3709
    There are 180 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: כַּף
    Transliteration: kaph
    Pronunciation: kaf
    Description: from כָּפַף; the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-tree); figuratively, power; branch, [phrase] foot, hand((-ful), -dle, (-led)), hollow, middle, palm, paw, power, sole, spoon.
  4. 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.
  5. Strong's Number: H6430
    There are 244 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: פְּלִשְׁתִּי
    Transliteration: Pᵉlishtîy
    Pronunciation: pel-ish-tee'
    Description: patrial from פְּלֶשֶׁת; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth; Philistine.
  6. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  7. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
  8. Strong's Number: H1419
    There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גָּדוֹל
    Transliteration: gâdôwl
    Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
    Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very.
  9. Strong's Number: H8668
    There are 32 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: תְּשׁוּעָה
    Transliteration: tᵉshûwʻâh
    Pronunciation: tesh-oo-aw'
    Description: or תְּשֻׁעָה; from שָׁוַע in the sense of יָשַׁע; rescue (literal or figurative, persons, national or spiritual); deliverance, help, safety, salvation, victory.
  10. Strong's Number: H3478
    There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
    Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
    Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
    Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.
  11. Strong's Number: H7200
    There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָאָה
    Transliteration: râʼâh
    Pronunciation: raw-aw'
    Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
  12. Strong's Number: H8055
    There are 145 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: שָׂמַח
    Transliteration: sâmach
    Pronunciation: saw-makh'
    Description: a primitive root; probably to brighten up, i.e. (figuratively) be (causatively, make) blithe or gleesome; cheer up, be (make) glad, (have, make) joy(-ful), be (make) merry, (cause to, make to) rejoice, [idiom] very.
  13. Strong's Number: H2398
    There are 220 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חָטָא
    Transliteration: châṭâʼ
    Pronunciation: khaw-taw'
    Description: a primitive root; properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn; bear the blame, cleanse, commit (sin), by fault, harm he hath done, loss, miss, (make) offend(-er), offer for sin, purge, purify (self), make reconciliation, (cause, make) sin(-ful, -ness), trespass.
  14. Strong's Number: H5355
    There are 42 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: נָקִי
    Transliteration: nâqîy
    Pronunciation: naw-kee'
    Description: or נָקִיא; (Joel 4:19; Jonah [1:14), from נָקָה; innocent; blameless, clean, clear, exempted, free, guiltless, innocent, quit.
  15. Strong's Number: H1818
    There are 295 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּם
    Transliteration: dâm
    Pronunciation: dawm
    Description: from דָּמַם (compare אָדַם); blood (as that which when shed causes death) of man or an animal; by analogy, the juice of the grape; figuratively (especially in the plural) bloodshed (i.e. drops of blood); blood(-y, -guiltiness, (-thirsty), [phrase] innocent.
  16. Strong's Number: H4191
    There are 694 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מוּת
    Transliteration: mûwth
    Pronunciation: mooth
    Description: a primitive root; to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill; [idiom] at all, [idiom] crying, (be) dead (body, man, one), (put to, worthy of) death, destroy(-er), (cause to, be like to, must) die, kill, necro(-mancer), [idiom] must needs, slay, [idiom] surely, [idiom] very suddenly, [idiom] in (no) wise.
  17. Strong's Number: H1732
    There are 911 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: דָּוִד
    Transliteration: Dâvid
    Pronunciation: daw-veed'
    Description: rarely (fully); דָּוִיד; from the same as דּוֹד; loving; David, the youngest son of Jesse; David.
  18. Strong's Number: H2600
    There are 31 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: חִנָּם
    Transliteration: chinnâm
    Pronunciation: khin-nawm'
    Description: from חֵן; gratis, i.e. devoid of cost, reason or advantage; without a cause (cost, wages), causeless, to cost nothing, free(-ly), innocent, for nothing (nought, in vain.