King James Version
What Does 1 Samuel 14:46 Mean?
“Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.”
1 Samuel 14:46 · KJV
Context
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.
48
And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them. gathered: or, wrought mightily
Commentary
KJV Study CommentaryThen Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place.
The anticlimactic conclusion - 'Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place' - reveals the cost of the day's chaos. Despite God's great deliverance through Jonathan, the complete destruction of Philistine power that Jonathan envisioned (verse 30) never occurs. Saul's oath, the controversy over Jonathan, and the day's confusion allow the enemy to escape. Victory is incomplete because leadership failure limited what divine power initiated. The Philistines remain to fight another day.
The anticlimactic conclusion - 'Then Saul went up from following the Philistines: and the Philistines went to their own place' - reveals the cost of the day's chaos. Despite God's great deliverance through Jonathan, the complete destruction of Philistine power that Jonathan envisioned (verse 30) never occurs. Saul's oath, the controversy over Jonathan, and the day's confusion allow the enemy to escape. Victory is incomplete because leadership failure limited what divine power initiated. The Philistines remain to fight another day.
KJV Study — Public Domain
Historical & Cultural Context
The Philistines' survival meant continued military pressure throughout Saul's reign (verse 52). This battle, despite its miraculous beginning, did not achieve decisive victory. The Philistine threat would not be fully addressed until David's reign.
Reflection Questions
- How does leadership failure limit what God begins through faithful individuals?
- What victories remain incomplete because of human interference with divine work?
Original Language Analysis
Hebrew · 7 wordsוַיַּ֣עַל1 of 7
“went up”
H5927to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative
מֵאַֽחֲרֵ֖י3 of 7
“from following”
H310properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)
לִמְקוֹמָֽם׃7 of 7
“to their own place”
H4725properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)
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 14:46 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.