King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 14:45 Mean?

1 Samuel 14:45 in the King James Version says “And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the L... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 14 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

1 Samuel 14:45 · KJV


Context

43

Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what thou hast done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in mine hand, and, lo, I must die.

44

And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

45

And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

46

Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.

47

So Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side, against Moab, and against the children of Ammon, and against Edom, and against the kings of Zobah, and against the Philistines: and whithersoever he turned himself, he vexed them.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

The people's intervention - 'Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel?' - saves Jonathan through corporate resistance to royal folly. Their oath 'as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground' opposes Saul's oath with counterforce. Their reasoning is theological: 'he hath wrought with God this day.' The people recognize what Saul cannot: God worked through Jonathan to save Israel. Executing him would fight against God. 'So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.'

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Popular intervention in royal justice occurred elsewhere in the ancient Near East. The people's oath creates an impasse resolved in Jonathan's favor. Saul's inability to enforce his verdict demonstrates the limits of his authority when opposed by united public opinion.

Reflection Questions

  1. When should community resist unjust leadership decisions?
  2. How do the people's theological reasoning ('he hath wrought with God') guide their intervention?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 32 words
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר1 of 32

said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הָעָ֛ם2 of 32

And the people

H5971

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

אֶל3 of 32
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

שָׁא֗וּל4 of 32

unto Saul

H7586

shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites

יֽוֹנָתָ֖ן5 of 32

Jonathan

H3129

jonathan, the name of ten israelites

מֵֽת׃6 of 32

die

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

אֲשֶׁ֣ר7 of 32
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

עָשָׂ֖ה8 of 32

for he hath wrought

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

הַיְשׁוּעָ֨ה9 of 32

salvation

H3444

something saved, i.e., (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity

הַגְּדוֹלָ֣ה10 of 32

this great

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

הַזֹּאת֮11 of 32
H2063

this (often used adverb)

בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל֒12 of 32

in Israel

H3478

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

חָלִ֗ילָה13 of 32

God forbid

H2486

literal for a profaned thing; used (interj.) far be it!

חַי14 of 32

liveth

H2416

alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin

יְהוָה֙15 of 32

as the LORD

H3068

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

אִם16 of 32
H518

used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not

יִפֹּ֞ל17 of 32

fall

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

מִשַּֽׂעֲרַ֤ת18 of 32

there shall not one hair

H8185

hairiness

רֹאשׁוֹ֙19 of 32

of his head

H7218

the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)

אַ֔רְצָה20 of 32

to the ground

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

כִּֽי21 of 32
H3588

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

עִם22 of 32
H5973

adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then

אֱלֹהִ֥ים23 of 32

with God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

עָשָׂ֖ה24 of 32

for he hath wrought

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

הַיּ֣וֹם25 of 32

this day

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַזֶּ֑ה26 of 32
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

וַיִּפְדּ֥וּ27 of 32

rescued

H6299

to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve

הָעָ֛ם28 of 32

And the people

H5971

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

אֶת29 of 32
H853

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

יֽוֹנָתָ֖ן30 of 32

Jonathan

H3129

jonathan, the name of ten israelites

וְלֹא31 of 32
H3808

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

מֵֽת׃32 of 32

die

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill


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 14:45 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 14:45 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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