1 Samuel 14:41
New International Version
Then Saul prayed to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have you not answered your servant today? If the fault is in me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim, but if the men of Israel are at fault, respond with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot, and the men were cleared.

New Living Translation
Then Saul prayed, “O LORD, God of Israel, please show us who is guilty and who is innocent.” Then they cast sacred lots, and Jonathan and Saul were chosen as the guilty ones, and the people were declared innocent.

English Standard Version
Therefore Saul said, “O LORD God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this guilt is in me or in Jonathan my son, O LORD, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.

Berean Standard Bible
So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.

King James Bible
Therefore Saul said unto the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

New King James Version
Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” So Saul and Jonathan were taken, but the people escaped.

New American Standard Bible
Therefore, Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected by lot, but the people were exonerated.

NASB 1995
Therefore, Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.

NASB 1977
Therefore, Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.

Legacy Standard Bible
Therefore, Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot.” And Jonathan and Saul were taken, but the people escaped.

Amplified Bible
Therefore, Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Give a perfect lot [identifying the transgressor].” Then Saul and Jonathan were selected [by lot], but the other men went free.

Christian Standard Bible
So Saul said to the LORD, “God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If the unrighteousness is in me or in my son Jonathan, LORD God of Israel, give Urim; but if the fault is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared of the charge.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So Saul said to the LORD, “God of Israel, give us the right decision.” Jonathan and Saul were selected, and the troops were cleared of the charge.

American Standard Version
Therefore Saul said unto Jehovah, the God of Israel, Show the right. And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot; but the people escaped.

Aramaic Bible in Plain English
And Shaul said: “LORD JEHOVAH, God of Israel, give unanimous agreement.” And Shaul and Yonathan were taken, and the people went out

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul said, O Lord God of Israel, why hast thou not answered thy servant this day? is the iniquity in me, or in Jonathan my son? Lord God of Israel, give clear manifestations; and if the lot should declare this, give, I pray thee, to thy people of Israel, give, I pray, holiness. And Jonathan and Saul are taken, and the people escaped.

Contemporary English Version
Then Saul prayed, "Our LORD, God of Israel, why haven't you answered me today? Please show us who sinned. Was it my son Jonathan and I, or was it your people Israel?" The answer came back that Jonathan or Saul had sinned, not the army.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul said to the Lord: O Lord God of Israel, give a sign, by which we may know, what the meaning is, that thou answerest not thy servant to day. If this iniquity be in me, or in my son Jonathan, give a proof: or if this iniquity be in thy people, give holiness. And Jonathan and Saul were taken, and the people escaped.

English Revised Version
Therefore Saul said unto the LORD, the God of Israel, Shew the right. And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot: but the people escaped.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Saul said to the LORD, "O God of Israel, why didn't you answer me today? If this sin is mine or my son Jonathan's, LORD God of Israel, [let the priest] draw Urim. But if it is in your people Israel, [let him] draw Thummim." Jonathan and Saul were chosen, and the people were freed [from guilt].

Good News Translation
Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, "LORD, why have you not answered me today? LORD, God of Israel, answer me by the sacred stones. If the guilt is Jonathan's or mine, answer by the Urim; but if it belongs to your people Israel, answer by the Thummim." The answer indicated Jonathan and Saul; and the people were cleared.

International Standard Version
Then Saul told the LORD God of Israel, "Judge us properly." Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the army was cleared.

JPS Tanakh 1917
Therefore Saul said unto the LORD, the God of Israel: 'Declare the right.' And Jonathan and Saul were taken by lot; but the people escaped.

Literal Standard Version
And Saul says to YHWH, God of Israel, “Give perfection”; and Jonathan and Saul are captured, and the people went out.

Majority Standard Bible
So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge.

New American Bible
And Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel: “Why did you not answer your servant this time? If the blame for this resides in me or my son Jonathan, LORD, God of Israel, respond with Urim; but if this guilt is in your people Israel, respond with Thummim.” Jonathan and Saul were designated, and the people went free.

NET Bible
Then Saul said, "O LORD God of Israel! If this sin has been committed by me or by my son Jonathan, then, O LORD God of Israel, respond with Urim. But if this sin has been committed by your people Israel, respond with Thummim." Then Jonathan and Saul were indicated by lot, while the army was exonerated.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Saul said, “O LORD God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant today? If this guilt is in me or in my son Jonathan, O LORD God of Israel, give Urim; but if this guilt is in your people Israel, give Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were indicated by the lot, but the people were cleared.

New Heart English Bible
Therefore Saul said, "LORD, God of Israel, why have you not answered your servant this day? If this sin is mine or in Jonathan my son, LORD, God of Israel, give Urim. But if this sin is in your people Israel, give Thummim." And Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people were cleared.

Webster's Bible Translation
Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

World English Bible
Therefore Saul said to Yahweh, the God of Israel, “Show the right.” Jonathan and Saul were chosen, but the people escaped.

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul saith unto Jehovah, God of Israel, 'Give perfection;' and Jonathan and Saul are captured, and the people went out.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People Save Jonathan
40Then Saul said to all Israel, “You stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side.” “Do what seems good to you,” the troops replied. 41So Saul said to the LORD, the God of Israel, “Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if the fault is with the men of Israel, respond with Thummim.” And Jonathan and Saul were selected, but the people were cleared of the charge. 42Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.…

Cross References
Acts 1:24
And they prayed, "Lord, You know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen

Acts 1:26
Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.

1 Samuel 14:40
Then Saul said to all Israel, "You stand on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side." "Do what seems good to you," the troops replied.

1 Samuel 14:42
Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan." And Jonathan was selected.

Jonah 1:7
"Come!" said the sailors to one another. "Let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity that is upon us." So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.


Treasury of Scripture

Therefore Saul said to the LORD God of Israel, Give a perfect lot. And Saul and Jonathan were taken: but the people escaped.

give a perfect lot.

Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.

Acts 1:24
And they prayed, and said, Thou, Lord, which knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen,

And Saul

1 Samuel 10:20,21
And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken…

Joshua 7:16-18
So Joshua rose up early in the morning, and brought Israel by their tribes; and the tribe of Judah was taken: …

Jonah 1:7
And they said every one to his fellow, Come, and let us cast lots, that we may know for whose cause this evil is upon us. So they cast lots, and the lot fell upon Jonah.

escaped.

Jump to Previous
Captured Declare Escaped Israel Jonathan Lot Marked Perfect Perfection Prayed Right Saul Servant Show Testimony Thummim Today Urim
Jump to Next
Captured Declare Escaped Israel Jonathan Lot Marked Perfect Perfection Prayed Right Saul Servant Show Testimony Thummim Today Urim
1 Samuel 14
1. Jonathan goes and miraculously smites the Philistine's garrison
15. A divine terror makes them beat themselves
17. Saul, not staying the priest's answer, sets on them
21. The captivated Hebrews, and the hidden Israelites, join against them.
24. Saul's unadvised adjuration hinders the victory
31. He restrains the people from eating blood
35. He builds an altar
37. Jonathan, taken by lot, is save by the people
47. Saul's victories, strength, and family














(41) Give a perfect lot.--The rendering in the margin, "show the innocent," is a better and more accurate rendering of the Hebrew. "Give a perfect lot" is the translation given by Rabbi D. Kimchi. Dean Payne Smith observes that "there are few mistakes of the English Version which have not some good authority for them, as King James' translators were singularly well versed in Jewish literature, while they seem strangely to have neglected the still higher authority of the ancient versions."

In the forty-first and in the following verse the LXX. version is lengthened out with a long paraphrase, which, however, contains no fact of additional interest.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So Saul
שָׁא֗וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

said
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD,
יְהוָ֛ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

the God
אֱלֹהֵ֥י (’ĕ·lō·hê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

of Israel,
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

“[Why have You not answered Your servant this day? If the fault is with me or my son Jonathan, respond with Urim; but if the fault is with the men of Israel,] respond
הָ֣בָה (hā·ḇāh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 3051: To give, to put, imperatively, come

with Thummim.”
תָמִ֑ים (ṯā·mîm)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 8549: Entire, integrity, truth

And Jonathan
יוֹנָתָ֛ן (yō·w·nā·ṯān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3129: Jonathan

and Saul
וְשָׁא֖וּל (wə·šā·’ūl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

were selected,
וַיִּלָּכֵ֧ד (way·yil·lā·ḵêḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3920: To catch, to capture, occupy, to choose, to cohere

but the people
וְהָעָ֥ם (wə·hā·‘ām)
Conjunctive waw, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

were cleared of the charge.
יָצָֽאוּ׃ (yā·ṣā·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 3318: To go, bring, out, direct and proxim


Links
1 Samuel 14:41 NIV
1 Samuel 14:41 NLT
1 Samuel 14:41 ESV
1 Samuel 14:41 NASB
1 Samuel 14:41 KJV

1 Samuel 14:41 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 14:41 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 14:41 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 14:41 French Bible
1 Samuel 14:41 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 14:41 Therefore Saul said to Yahweh the God (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 14:40
Top of Page
Top of Page