King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 14:34 Mean?

1 Samuel 14:34 in the King James Version says “And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man ... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. with him: Heb. in his hand

1 Samuel 14:34 · KJV


Context

32

And the people flew upon the spoil, and took sheep, and oxen, and calves, and slew them on the ground: and the people did eat them with the blood.

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. transgressed: or, dealt treacherously

34

And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there. with him: Heb. in his hand

35

And Saul built an altar unto the LORD: the same was the first altar that he built unto the LORD. the same: Heb. that altar he began to build unto the LORD

36

And Saul said, Let us go down after the Philistines by night, and spoil them until the morning light, and let us not leave a man of them. And they said, Do whatsoever seemeth good unto thee. Then said the priest, Let us draw near hither unto God.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.

Saul's instruction to 'Disperse yourselves among the people' and ensure proper slaughter demonstrates administrative competence. He solves the immediate problem: animals would now be killed properly. Yet the deeper issue - his oath's role in creating this crisis - goes unaddressed. Saul manages situations without examining himself. 'And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night' shows compliance with the king's corrective orders. Surface order is restored.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The dispersal of royal representatives throughout the camp to supervise proper slaughter shows organizational capability. Each person bringing their own animal for supervised slaughter prevented further violations. The administrative solution, however, did not address the oath that caused the problem.

Reflection Questions

  1. When do administrative solutions mask spiritual failures?
  2. How can competent management coexist with deficient spiritual leadership?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 30 words
וַֽאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם1 of 30

and say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

שָׁא֣וּל2 of 30

And Saul

H7586

shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites

פֻּ֣צוּ3 of 30

Disperse

H6327

to dash in pieces, literally or figuratively (especially to disperse)

הָעָ֜ם4 of 30

And all the people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

וַֽאֲמַרְתֶּ֣ם5 of 30

and say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לָהֶ֡ם6 of 30
H0
וַיַּגִּ֨שׁוּ7 of 30

brought

H5066

to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causati

אֵלַי֩8 of 30
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

אִ֣ישׁ9 of 30

and every man

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)

שׁוֹר֧וֹ10 of 30

his ox

H7794

a bullock (as a traveller)

אִ֣ישׁ11 of 30

and every man

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)

שְׂיֵ֗הוּ12 of 30

his sheep

H7716

a member of a flock, i.e., a sheep or goat

וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ13 of 30

and slay

H7819

to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre)

בָּזֶה֙14 of 30
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

לֶֽאֱכֹ֣ל15 of 30

in eating

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

וְלֹֽא16 of 30
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

תֶחֶטְא֥וּ17 of 30

and sin

H2398

properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn

לַֽיהוָ֖ה18 of 30

not against the LORD

H3068

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

לֶֽאֱכֹ֣ל19 of 30

in eating

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

אֶל20 of 30
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַדָּ֑ם21 of 30

with the blood

H1818

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) bloodshe

וַיַּגִּ֨שׁוּ22 of 30

brought

H5066

to be or come (causatively, bring) near (for any purpose); euphemistically, to lie with a woman; as an enemy, to attack; religious to worship; causati

כָל23 of 30
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הָעָ֜ם24 of 30

And all the people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

אִ֣ישׁ25 of 30

and every man

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)

שׁוֹר֧וֹ26 of 30

his ox

H7794

a bullock (as a traveller)

בְיָ֛דוֹ27 of 30

with him

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

הַלַּ֖יְלָה28 of 30

that night

H3915

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

וַיִּשְׁחֲטוּ29 of 30

and slay

H7819

to slaughter (in sacrifice or massacre)

שָֽׁם׃30 of 30
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence


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 14:34 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

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