1 Samuel 14:33

Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against the LORD, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have transgressed: roll a great stone unto me this day.

Then they told {H5046} Saul {H7586}, saying {H559}, Behold, the people {H5971} sin {H2398} against the LORD {H3068}, in that they eat {H398} with the blood {H1818}. And he said {H559}, Ye have transgressed {H898}: roll {H1556} a great {H1419} stone {H68} unto me this day {H3117}.

Sha'ul was told, "Look how the people are sinning against ADONAI, eating with the blood." He said, "You have not kept faith! Roll a big stone to me immediately!

Then someone reported to Saul: “Look, the troops are sinning against the LORD by eating meat with the blood still in it.” “You have broken faith,” said Saul. “Roll a large stone over here at once.”

Then they told Saul, saying, Behold, the people sin against Jehovah, in that they eat with the blood. And he said, Ye have dealt treacherously: roll a great stone unto me this day.

Commentary

1 Samuel 14:33 (KJV) recounts a critical moment during King Saul's reign when the Israelite army, exhausted and starving after a fierce battle, inadvertently sinned against the Lord by eating meat that had not been properly drained of blood. This verse highlights the immediate reporting of the transgression to Saul and his decisive response to correct it, emphasizing the sanctity of God's laws.

Context

This verse occurs immediately after a day of intense warfare where King Saul's forces achieved a significant victory over the Philistines. However, the victory came at a cost: Saul had imposed a rash oath on his soldiers, forbidding them to eat until evening. By the time the oath was lifted, the army was so famished that they slaughtered animals and ate them without properly draining the blood, a clear violation of God's established dietary laws. The people, seeing their transgression, reported it to Saul.

Key Themes

  • Obedience to God's Law: Even under extreme duress—intense hunger and exhaustion—the divine command regarding the consumption of blood remained non-negotiable. This emphasizes that God's laws are to be honored regardless of circumstances.
  • The Sanctity of Blood: Blood was understood in ancient Israel as representing life itself, and its consumption was strictly forbidden. This prohibition was rooted in the understanding that the life of the creature is in the blood, and it was reserved for atonement on the altar.
  • Leadership Responsibility: While Saul's initial rash oath led to the army's desperate hunger, his immediate response to the reported sin demonstrates a responsible leader's duty to address transgression and guide his people back to righteousness. His command to "roll a great stone" provided a makeshift altar for proper ritual slaughter.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "eat with the blood" directly translates the Hebrew concept of consuming meat without properly draining the blood, a practice strictly forbidden in the Mosaic Law. The word "transgressed" (Hebrew: ma'al) implies a serious act of unfaithfulness or trespass against God's covenant, often involving a violation of sacred things or duties.

Theological Significance & Cross-References

The prohibition against eating blood is one of the oldest and most consistently repeated commands in the Bible, first given to Noah after the flood (Genesis 9:4). It is reiterated numerous times in the Mosaic Law, notably in Leviticus 3:17, Leviticus 7:26, Leviticus 17:10-14, and Deuteronomy 12:23. This repeated emphasis underscores its fundamental importance in Israelite faith and ritual purity. The blood was considered sacred because it was the means of atonement for sin on the altar, foreshadowing the ultimate sacrifice of Christ, whose blood provides remission of sins.

Practical Application

This passage serves as a powerful reminder for believers today about the importance of adhering to God's commands, even when circumstances are difficult or inconvenient. It teaches that spiritual principles should not be compromised for physical needs or immediate gratification. It also highlights the crucial role of leadership in recognizing and correcting sin, providing the necessary means and guidance for people to return to righteous practices. For individuals, it encourages introspection regarding areas where convenience might lead to compromise on spiritual principles.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Romans 2:1

    ¶ Therefore thou art inexcusable, O man, whosoever thou art that judgest: for wherein thou judgest another, thou condemnest thyself; for thou that judgest doest the same things.

  • Matthew 7:5

    Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.
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