1 Samuel 14:44
 1 Samuel 14:44 
New International Version (©2011)
Saul said, "May God deal with me, be it ever so severely, if you do not die, Jonathan."

New Living Translation (©2007)
"Yes, Jonathan," Saul said, "you must die! May God strike me and even kill me if you do not die for this."

English Standard Version (©2001)
And Saul said, “God do so to me and more also; you shall surely die, Jonathan.”

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
Saul said, "May God do this to me and more also, for you shall surely die, Jonathan."

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
Saul declared to him, "May God punish me and do so severely if you do not die, Jonathan!"

International Standard Version (©2012)
Saul said, "May God do this to me and even more, if you don't surely die, Jonathan!"

NET Bible (©2006)
Saul said, "God will punish me severely if Jonathan doesn't die!"

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
Saul said, "May God do worse things to me than are in this curse if you do not die, Jonathan!"

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for you shall surely die, Jonathan.

American King James Version
And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for you shall surely die, Jonathan.

American Standard Version
And Saul said, God do so and more also; for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul said: May God do so and so to me, and add still more: for dying thou shalt die, O Jonathan.

Darby Bible Translation
And Saul said, God do so to me and more also; thou shalt certainly die, Jonathan.

English Revised Version
And Saul said, God do so and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul answered, God do so, and more also: for thou shalt surely die, Jonathan.

World English Bible
Saul said, "God do so and more also; for you shall surely die, Jonathan."

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul saith, 'Thus doth God do, and thus doth He add, for thou dost certainly die, Jonathan.'

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

14:36-46 If God turns away our prayer, we have reason to suspect it is for some sin harboured in our hearts, which we should find out, that we may put it away, and put it to death. We should always first suspect and examine ourselves; but an unhumbled heart suspects every other person, and looks every where but at home for the sinful cause of calamity. Jonathan was discovered to be the offender. Those most indulgent to their own sins are most severe upon others; those who most disregard God's authority, are most impatient when their own commands are slighted. Such as cast abroad curses, endanger themselves and their families. What do we observe in the whole of Saul's behaviour on this occasion, but an impetuous, proud, malignant, impious disposition? And do we not in every instance perceive that man, left to himself, betrays the depravity of his nature, and is enslaved to the basest tempers.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 44. - God do so, etc. Again Saul takes an oath to put Jonathan to death, supposing himself bound by his former words. But he must have been pained beyond measure at the miserable consequences of his rashness, and have bitterly reproached himself for thus twice marring the happiness of the day by unhallowed oaths. Jonathan's trespass, committed unwittingly, required nothing more than a trespass offering for its expiation, nor did the silence of the Urim and Thummim imply any fault in him. The fault lay in Saul having imposed an oath upon the army; that oath had been broken, and a formal expiation must be made. But Saul was by nature a despot, and could endure nothing that seemed even for the moment to stand in his way.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And Saul answered, God do so and more also,.... A form of an oath imprecating evils upon him more and greater than he chose to mention, see the like form in Ruth 1:17, though Abarbinel thinks this is not the form of an oath, but an asseveration of a curse that would befall him; as that God would not answer him when he inquired of him, and that he would add to do so again and again, if he died not:

for thou shall surely die, Jonathan; such words from a father must be very striking to a son, and argue a want of paternal affection in Saul, that could call his son by his name, and deliver such a speech unto him in so strong a manner.


1 Samuel 14:44 Parallel Commentaries

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The People Save Jonathan
43Then Saul said to Jonathan, Tell me what you have done. And Jonathan told him, and said, I did but taste a little honey with the end of the rod that was in my hand, and, see, I must die. 44And Saul answered, God do so and more also: for you shall surely die, Jonathan. 45And the people said to Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he has worked with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

Ruth 1:17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if even death separates you and me."
1 Samuel 14:39 As surely as the LORD who rescues Israel lives, even if the guilt lies with my son Jonathan, he must die." But not one of them said a word.
1 Samuel 25:22 May God deal with David, be it ever so severely, if by morning I leave alive one male of all who belong to him!"