1 Samuel 14:12
New International Version
The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come up to us and we’ll teach you a lesson.” So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.”

New Living Translation
Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, “Come on up here, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” “Come on, climb right behind me,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “for the LORD will help us defeat them!”

English Standard Version
And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.” And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.”

Berean Standard Bible
So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!” “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”

King James Bible
And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

New King James Version
Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armorbearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”

New American Standard Bible
So the men of the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us and we will inform you of something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has handed them over to Israel.”

NASB 1995
So the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us and we will tell you something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hands of Israel.”

NASB 1977
So the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us and we will tell you something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hands of Israel.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor bearer and said, “Come up to us, and we will make you know something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for Yahweh has given them into the hands of Israel.”

Amplified Bible
So the men of the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armor bearer, “Come up to us and we will tell you something.” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Climb up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hands of Israel.”

Christian Standard Bible
The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson! ” they said. “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has handed them over to Israel.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come on up, and we’ll teach you a lesson!” they said. “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has handed them over to Israel.”

American Standard Version
And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armorbearer, Come up after me; for Jehovah hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

English Revised Version
And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Come up here," the men of the military post said to Jonathan and his armorbearer. "We have something to show you." Jonathan told his armorbearer, "Follow me up [to the military post] because the LORD has handed the troops over to Israel."

Good News Translation
Then they called out to Jonathan and the young man, "Come on up here! We have something to tell you!" Jonathan said to the young man, "Follow me. The LORD has given Israel victory over them."

International Standard Version
The men of the garrison responded to Jonathan and his armor bearer: "Come up and fight us, and we will show you something." Jonathan then told his armor bearer, "Follow me, for the LORD has given them into Israel's control."

Majority Standard Bible
So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!” “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”

NET Bible
Then the men of the garrison said to Jonathan and his armor bearer, "Come on up to us so we can teach you a thing or two!" Then Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up behind me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel!"

New Heart English Bible
The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come up after me; for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor-bearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.

World English Bible
The men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, “Come up to us, and we will show you something!” Jonathan said to his armor bearer, “Come up after me, for Yahweh has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the men of the station answer Jonathan, and the bearer of his weapons, and say, “Come up to us, and we cause you to know something.” And Jonathan says to the bearer of his weapons, “Come up after me, for YHWH has given them into the hand of Israel.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the men of the station answer Jonathan, and the bearer of his weapons, and say, 'Come up unto us, and we cause you to know something.' And Jonathan saith unto the bearer of his weapons, 'Come up after me, for Jehovah hath given them into the hand of Israel.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the men of the garrison will answer Jonathan and him lifting up his arms, and they will say, Come up to us, and we will make a word known to you. And Jonathan will say to him lifting up his arms, Come up after me: for Jehovah gave them into the hand of Israel.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the men of the garrison spoke to Jonathan, and to his armourbearer, and said: Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said to his armourbearer: Let us go up, follow me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hands of I srael.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the men of the garrison spoke to Jonathan and to his armor bearer, and they said, “Ascend to us, and we will show you something.” And Jonathan said to his armor bearer: “Let us ascend. Follow me. For the Lord has delivered them into the hands of Israel.”

New American Bible
The men of the outpost called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. “Come up here,” they said, “and we will teach you a lesson.” So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Climb up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.”

New Revised Standard Version
The men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer, saying, “Come up to us, and we will show you something.” Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come up after me; for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you something. And Jonathan said to his armorbearer, Come up after me; for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and the Bearer of his weapons, and they said: “Come up to us and we will tell you something!” And Jonathan said to the Bearer of his weapons, “Come up after me, because LORD JEHOVAH has delivered them into the hand of Israel!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the men of the garrison spoke to Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and said: 'Come up to us, and we will show you a thing.' And Jonathan said unto his armour-bearer: 'Come up after me; for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the men of Messab answered Jonathan and his armour-bearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing: and Jonathan said to his armour-bearer, Come up after me, for the Lord has delivered them into the hands of Israel.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Jonathan's Victory over the Philistines
11So the two of them showed themselves to the outpost of the Philistines, who exclaimed, “Look, the Hebrews are coming out of the holes in which they were hiding!” 12So the men of the outpost called out to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, “Come on up, and we will teach you a lesson!” “Follow me,” Jonathan told his armor-bearer, “for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.” 13So Jonathan climbed up on his hands and feet, with his armor-bearer behind him. And the Philistines fell before Jonathan, and his armor-bearer followed and finished them off.…

Cross References
Judges 7:9-15
That night the LORD said to Gideon, “Get up and go down against the camp, for I have delivered it into your hand. / But if you are afraid to do so, then go down to the camp with your servant Purah / and listen to what they are saying. Then your hands will be strengthened to attack the camp.” So he went with Purah his servant to the outposts where armed men were guarding the camp. ...

2 Samuel 5:24
As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

1 Samuel 17:44-47
“Come here,” he called to David, “and I will give your flesh to the birds of the air and the beasts of the field!” / But David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the LORD of Hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied. / This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand. This day I will strike you down, cut off your head, and give the carcasses of the Philistine army to the birds of the air and the creatures of the earth. Then the whole world will know that there is a God in Israel. ...

2 Kings 7:6-7
For the Lord had caused the Arameans to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army, so that they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and Egyptians to attack us.” / Thus the Arameans had arisen and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents and horses and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had run for their lives.

1 Chronicles 14:15
As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move out to battle, because this will mean that God has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

Isaiah 28:21
For the LORD will rise up as at Mount Perazim. He will rouse Himself as in the Valley of Gibeon, to do His work, His strange work, and to perform His task, His disturbing task.

Joshua 10:8-10
The LORD said to Joshua, “Do not be afraid of them, for I have delivered them into your hand. Not one of them shall stand against you.” / After marching all night from Gilgal, Joshua caught them by surprise. / And the LORD threw them into confusion before Israel, who defeated them in a great slaughter at Gibeon, pursued them along the ascent to Beth-horon, and struck them down as far as Azekah and Makkedah.

2 Chronicles 20:17
You need not fight this battle. Take up your positions, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD on your behalf, O Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out and face them tomorrow, for the LORD is with you.’”

Exodus 14:14
The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Deuteronomy 20:4
For the LORD your God goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”

Matthew 10:19-20
But when they hand you over, do not worry about how to respond or what to say. In that hour you will be given what to say. / For it will not be you speaking, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you.

Romans 8:31
What then shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

2 Corinthians 12:9-10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me. / That is why, for the sake of Christ, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

Hebrews 11:32-34
And what more shall I say? Time will not allow me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, / who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, / quenched the raging fire, and escaped the edge of the sword; who gained strength from weakness, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight.


Treasury of Scripture

And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armor bearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said to his armor bearer, Come up after me: for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.

1 Samuel 14:10
But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the LORD hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.

1 Samuel 17:43,44
And the Philistine said unto David, Am I a dog, that thou comest to me with staves? And the Philistine cursed David by his gods…

2 Samuel 2:14-17
And Abner said to Joab, Let the young men now arise, and play before us. And Joab said, Let them arise…

Come up after me

Genesis 24:26,27,42,48
And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the LORD…

Judges 4:14
And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.

Judges 7:15
And it was so, when Gideon heard the telling of the dream, and the interpretation thereof, that he worshipped, and returned into the host of Israel, and said, Arise; for the LORD hath delivered into your hand the host of Midian.

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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














The men of the outpost
This phrase refers to the Philistine soldiers stationed at a strategic position. In the historical context, outposts were crucial for military surveillance and defense. The Philistines, known for their military prowess and iron weaponry, often established such positions to maintain control over the Israelites. The Hebrew term for "outpost" can imply a place of watch or guard, emphasizing the vigilance and readiness of these soldiers.

called to Jonathan and his armor-bearer
The act of calling out was a challenge, a common practice in ancient warfare to intimidate or provoke the enemy. Jonathan, the son of King Saul, and his armor-bearer were on a covert mission, and this call was both a taunt and a test of their resolve. The armor-bearer, a young man tasked with carrying and maintaining the weapons, played a crucial role in supporting the warrior, highlighting the importance of loyalty and teamwork.

Come up to us
This invitation was likely sarcastic, as the Philistines underestimated Jonathan and his companion. The phrase suggests a sense of superiority and confidence from the Philistines, who believed their elevated position gave them an advantage. In the spiritual sense, this can be seen as a challenge to faith, where believers are called to rise above obstacles with courage.

and we will teach you a lesson!
The Philistines intended to humiliate and defeat Jonathan, using this phrase to convey their intent to overpower and subdue him. The Hebrew root of "teach" here implies discipline or correction, reflecting the Philistines' arrogance and their belief in their own strength. This mirrors the spiritual battles believers face, where the enemy seeks to discourage and defeat through intimidation.

So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer
Jonathan's response is immediate and decisive, showcasing his leadership and faith. His communication with his armor-bearer reflects trust and unity, essential qualities in both physical and spiritual battles. Jonathan's reliance on God rather than human strength is a testament to his character and faith.

Climb up after me
This command demonstrates Jonathan's courage and initiative. The act of climbing, especially in a military context, signifies effort, determination, and the willingness to face danger head-on. Jonathan leads by example, embodying the principle of faith in action, encouraging his armor-bearer to follow his lead in trust and obedience.

for the LORD has delivered them
Jonathan's declaration of faith is central to this verse. The Hebrew word for "delivered" implies a completed action, indicating Jonathan's confidence in God's promise and power. This reflects a deep trust in divine providence, where victory is assured not by human might but by God's intervention.

into the hand of Israel
The phrase signifies the transfer of power and victory from the Philistines to the Israelites. "Hand" in Hebrew often symbolizes strength and control, and here it denotes God's sovereignty in granting success to His people. This victory is not just for Jonathan but for all of Israel, emphasizing the communal aspect of God's deliverance and the fulfillment of His covenant promises.

Verse 12. - Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. The Philistines thus give Jonathan the very omen he had desired. The last clause is a popular phrase, and expresses a sort of amused contempt for the two adventurers. Raillery of this sort is not at all uncommon between the outposts of two armies.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So the men
אַנְשֵׁ֨י (’an·šê)
Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

of the outpost
הַמַּצָּבָ֜ה (ham·maṣ·ṣā·ḇāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 4675: Perhaps a guard, watch

called out
וַיַּעֲנוּ֩ (way·ya·‘ă·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

to Jonathan
יוֹנָתָ֣ן ׀ (yō·w·nā·ṯān)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3129: Jonathan

and his armor-bearer,
נֹשֵׂ֣א (nō·śê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

“Come on up,
עֲל֣וּ (‘ă·lū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

and we will teach
וְנוֹדִ֥יעָה (wə·nō·w·ḏî·‘āh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common plural
Strong's 3045: To know

you a lesson!”
דָּבָ֑ר (dā·ḇār)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

“Follow
עֲלֵ֣ה (‘ă·lêh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

me,”
אַחֲרַ֔י (’a·ḥă·ray)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

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

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

his armor-bearer,
נֹשֵׂ֤א (nō·śê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular construct
Strong's 5375: To lift, carry, take

“for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

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

has delivered them
נְתָנָ֥ם (nə·ṯā·nām)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | third person masculine plural
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

into the hand
בְּיַ֥ד (bə·yaḏ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

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


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OT History: 1 Samuel 14:12 The men of the garrison answered Jonathan (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 14:11
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