King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 31:8 Mean?

1 Samuel 31:8 in the King James Version says “And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 31 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.”

1 Samuel 31:8 · KJV

Context

6

So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer , and all his men, that same day together.

7

And when the men of Israel that were on the other side of the valley, and they that were on the other side Jordan, saw that the men of Israel fled, and that Saul and his sons were dead, they forsook the cities, and fled; and the Philistines came and dwelt in them.

8

And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his three sons fallen in mount Gilboa.

9

And they cut off his head, and stripped off his armour, and sent into the land of the Philistines round about, to publish it in the house of their idols, and among the people.

10

And they put his armour in the house of Ashtaroth : and they fastened his body to the wall of Bethshan.

Read 1 Samuel 31 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The Philistine discovery of the royal corpses the day after the battle enables their desecration. The Hebrew 'lepashet' (to strip) indicates removal of valuable armor and weapons. Finding Saul and his sons 'fallen in mount Gilboa' completes the geographic note: they died where the battle raged, not fleeing. The exposure of their bodies to enemy discovery sets the stage for the humiliations to follow.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Stripping the dead was standard practice after ancient battles. Armor, weapons, and jewelry were valuable spoils. The delay of a day before Philistine looting suggests they secured the battlefield before searching corpses.

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the exposure of the dead to enemy discovery reveal about the completeness of defeat?
  2. How do the honored become dishonored when they fall outside God's protection?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 16 words
וַֽיְהִי֙1 of 16
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

מִֽמָּחֳרָ֔ת2 of 16

“And it came to pass on the morrow”

H4283

the morrow or (adverbially) tomorrow

וַיָּבֹ֣אוּ3 of 16

“came”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים4 of 16

“when the Philistines”

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

לְפַשֵּׁ֖ט5 of 16

“to strip”

H6584

to spread out (i.e., deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e., unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.)

אֶת6 of 16
H853

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

הַֽחֲלָלִ֑ים7 of 16

“the slain”

H2491

pierced (especially to death); figuratively, polluted

וַֽיִּמְצְא֤וּ8 of 16

“that they found”

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

אֶת9 of 16
H853

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

שָׁאוּל֙10 of 16

“Saul”

H7586

shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites

וְאֶת11 of 16
H853

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

שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת12 of 16

“and his three”

H7969

three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice

בָּנָ֔יו13 of 16

“sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

נֹֽפְלִ֖ים14 of 16

“fallen”

H5307

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

בְּהַ֥ר15 of 16

“in mount”

H2022

a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively)

הַגִּלְבֹּֽעַ׃16 of 16

“Gilboa”

H1533

gilboa, a mountain of palestine

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 31:8 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 31:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

2 Chronicles 20:251 Chronicles 10:8

Places in This Verse

Mount GilboaMountain · Modern: Mount Gilboa · 32.43°N, 35.41°E8 verses across 3 books
View all places in 1 Samuel 31 →

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