King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 14:12 Mean?

1 Samuel 14:12 in the King James Version says “And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer , and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thi... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer , and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer , Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

1 Samuel 14:12 · KJV


Context

10

But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.

11

And both of them discovered themselves unto the garrison of the Philistines: and the Philistines said, Behold, the Hebrews come forth out of the holes where they had hid themselves.

12

And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer , and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer , Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

13

And Jonathan climbed up upon his hands and upon his feet, and his armourbearer after him: and they fell before Jonathan; and his armourbearer slew after him.

14

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. an: or, half a furrow of an acre of land


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

The garrison's mocking invitation - 'Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing' - provides the exact sign Jonathan sought. Their words drip with sarcasm, anticipating easy slaughter of the climbing Israelites. Jonathan's response - 'Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel' - transforms enemy mockery into prophetic confirmation. The Hebrew natan ('delivered' or 'given') treats the victory as already accomplished. Past tense faith claims future triumph.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The Philistine phrase 'we will shew you a thing' likely meant 'we will teach you a lesson' - a threat of violence. Ancient Near Eastern warriors commonly exchanged taunts before combat. Jonathan hears divine confirmation where the enemy intended intimidation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can we hear God's voice even through hostile mockery?
  2. What does speaking of future deliverance in past tense reveal about the nature of faith?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 26 words
וַיַּֽעֲנוּ֩1 of 26

answered

H6030

properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,

אַנְשֵׁ֨י2 of 26
H376

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)

הַמַּצָּבָ֜ה3 of 26

of the garrison

H4675

a military guard

אֶת4 of 26
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יֽוֹנָתָ֜ן5 of 26

And Jonathan

H3129

jonathan, the name of ten israelites

וְאֶת6 of 26
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

נֹשֵׂ֤א7 of 26

and his armourbearer

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

כֵלָ֗יו8 of 26
H3627

something prepared, i.e., any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר9 of 26

and said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

עֲלֵ֣ה10 of 26

Come up

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

אֵלֵ֔ינוּ11 of 26
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

וְנוֹדִ֥יעָה12 of 26

to us and we will shew

H3045

to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses, figuratively, literally, euphemistically and inferentially (including o

אֶתְכֶ֖ם13 of 26
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

דָּבָ֑ר14 of 26

you a thing

H1697

a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר15 of 26

and said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יֽוֹנָתָ֜ן16 of 26

And Jonathan

H3129

jonathan, the name of ten israelites

אֶל17 of 26
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

נֹשֵׂ֤א18 of 26

and his armourbearer

H5375

to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative

כֵלָיו֙19 of 26
H3627

something prepared, i.e., any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)

עֲלֵ֣ה20 of 26

Come up

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

אַֽחֲרַ֔י21 of 26

after

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

כִּֽי22 of 26
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

נְתָנָ֥ם23 of 26

hath delivered

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

יְהוָ֖ה24 of 26

me for the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

בְּיַ֥ד25 of 26

them into the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃26 of 26

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 14:12 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 14:12 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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