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.

Bible > 1 Samuel > Chapter 14 > Verse 40

◄ 1 Samuel 14:40 ►

New International Version
Saul then said to all the Israelites, “You stand over there; I and Jonathan my son will stand over here.” “Do what seems best to you,” they replied.

New Living Translation
Then Saul said, “Jonathan and I will stand over here, and all of you stand over there.” And the people responded to Saul, “Whatever you think is best.”

English Standard Version
Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

Berean Standard Bible
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.

King James Bible
Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

New King James Version
Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

New American Standard Bible
Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

NASB 1995
Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

NASB 1977
Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” And the people said to Saul, “Do what seems good in your eyes.”

Amplified Bible
Then he said to all the Israelites, “You shall be on one side; I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

Christian Standard Bible
So he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the troops replied, “Do whatever you want.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So he said to all Israel, “You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” And the troops replied, “Do whatever you want.”

American Standard Version
Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

Contemporary English Version
Saul told his army, "You stand on that side of the priest, and Jonathan and I will stand on the other side." Everyone agreed.

English Revised Version
Then said he unto all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said unto Saul, Do what seemeth good unto thee.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Saul told all Israel, "You stand on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will stand on the other side." "Do whatever you think is best," the troops responded to Saul.

Good News Translation
Then Saul said to them, "All of you stand over there, and Jonathan and I will stand over here." "Do whatever you think best," they answered.

International Standard Version
Then he told all Israel, "You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side." The people told Saul, "Do what seems good to you."

Majority Standard Bible
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.

NET Bible
Then he said to all Israel, "You will be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side." The army replied to Saul, "Do whatever you think is best."

New Heart English Bible
Then he said to all Israel, "You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side." The people said to Saul, "Do what seems good to you."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said he to all Israel, Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do what seemeth good to thee.

World English Bible
Then he said to all Israel, “You be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And he says to all Israel, “You are on one side, and I and my son Jonathan are on another side”; and the people say to Saul, “Do that which is good in your eyes.”

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith unto all Israel, 'Ye -- ye are on one side, and I and Jonathan my son are on another side;' and the people say unto Saul, 'That which is good in thine eyes do.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say to all Israel, Ye shall be on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on one side. And the people will say to Saul, Do the good in thine eyes.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to all Israel: Be you on one side, and I with Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people answered Saul: Do what seemeth good in thy eyes.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And he said to all of Israel, “Separate yourselves on one side, and I, with my son Jonathan, will be on the other side.” And the people responded to Saul, “Do what seems good in your eyes.”

New American Bible
So he said to all Israel, “Stand on one side, and my son Jonathan and I will stand on the other.” The people responded, “Do what you think best.”

New Revised Standard Version
He said to all Israel, “You shall be on one side, and I and my son Jonathan will be on the other side.” The people said to Saul, “Do what seems good to you.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Then Saul said to all Israel, Be you on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do whatever seems good to you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And he said to all Israel: “You are on one side and I and Yonathan my son, we will be on one side.”And the people said to Shaul: “All that is good to do in your eyes, do!”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said he unto all Israel: 'Be ye on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side.' And the people said unto Saul: 'Do what seemeth good unto thee.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And he said to all the men of Israel, Ye shall be under subjection, and I an Jonathan my son will be under subjection: and the people said to Saul, Do that which is good in thy sight.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

The People Save Jonathan
…39As surely as the LORD who saves Israel lives, even if it is my son Jonathan, he must die!” But not one of the troops said a word. 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.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Joshua 7:16-18
So Joshua arose early the next morning and had Israel come forward tribe by tribe, and the tribe of Judah was selected. / He had the clans of Judah come forward, and the clan of the Zerahites was selected. He had the clan of the Zerahites come forward, and the family of Zabdi was selected. / And he had the family of Zabdi come forward man by man, and Achan son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, was selected.

1 Samuel 10:20-21
Thus Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. / Then he had the tribe of Benjamin come forward by its clans, and the clan of Matri was selected. Finally, Saul son of Kish was selected. But when they looked for him, they could not find him.

Numbers 27:21
He shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who will seek counsel for him before the LORD by the judgment of the Urim. At his command, he and all the Israelites with him—the entire congregation—will go out and come in.”

Judges 20:9-10
Now this is what we will do to Gibeah: We will go against it as the lot dictates. / We will take ten men out of every hundred from all the tribes of Israel, and a hundred out of every thousand, and a thousand out of every ten thousand, to supply provisions for the army when they go to Gibeah in Benjamin to punish them for the atrocity they have committed in Israel.”

1 Samuel 28:6
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

1 Samuel 14:41-42
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. / Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.

1 Samuel 13:14
But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”

1 Samuel 15:22-23
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. / For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

1 Kings 18:21
Then Elijah approached all the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the LORD is God, follow Him. But if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people did not answer a word.

2 Samuel 21:1
During the reign of David there was a famine for three successive years, and David sought the face of the LORD. And the LORD said, “It is because of the blood shed by Saul and his family, because he killed the Gibeonites.”

Acts 1:24-26
And they prayed, “Lord, You know everyone’s heart. Show us which of these two You have chosen / to take up this ministry and apostleship, which Judas abandoned to go to his rightful place.” / Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias. So he was added to the eleven apostles.

Proverbs 16:33
The lot is cast into the lap, but its every decision is from the LORD.

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.

1 Chronicles 24:31
As their brothers the descendants of Aaron did, they also cast lots in the presence of King David and of Zadok, Ahimelech, and the heads of the families of the priests and Levites—the family heads and their younger brothers alike.

1 Chronicles 25:8
They cast lots for their duties, young and old alike, teacher as well as pupil.

Treasury of Scripture

Then said he to all Israel, Be you on one side, and I and Jonathan my son will be on the other side. And the people said to Saul, Do what seems good to you.

Do what seemeth

1 Samuel 14:7,36
And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart…

2 Samuel 15:15
And the king's servants said unto the king, Behold, thy servants are ready to do whatsoever my lord the king shall appoint.

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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

Berean Study Bible

Then he said to all Israel
This phrase indicates a moment of significant decision-making and leadership. Saul, as the king, addresses the entire nation, highlighting the gravity of the situation. The Hebrew root for "Israel" is "Yisra'el," meaning "God prevails." This name is a constant reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His chosen people. Saul's address to "all Israel" underscores the collective identity and unity of the nation under God's sovereignty, even amidst internal conflict.

You stand on one side
Saul's directive to the people to "stand on one side" is symbolic of a call for discernment and judgment. In the Hebrew context, standing often signifies readiness and decision. This separation is not just physical but also represents a moral and spiritual division, as Saul seeks to identify the cause of God's silence. The act of standing apart is reminiscent of moments in Israel's history where choices had to be made, such as Joshua's call to choose whom to serve (Joshua 24:15).

and I and my son Jonathan will stand on the other side
Saul's decision to stand with Jonathan highlights the familial bond and the trust he places in his son. Jonathan, whose name means "Yahweh has given," is a figure of faith and courage, previously seen in his bold attack on the Philistines. This separation also foreshadows the testing of loyalty and righteousness. The Hebrew culture places great emphasis on family and lineage, and Saul's alignment with Jonathan signifies a test of integrity within his own house.

And the people replied, 'Do what seems good to you.'
The people's response reflects their deference to Saul's authority as king. This phrase, "Do what seems good to you," is an expression of trust and submission, common in theocratic leadership where the king is seen as God's appointed ruler. However, it also suggests a passive acceptance, which can be seen as a lack of discernment or spiritual insight. In the broader biblical narrative, such responses often precede significant divine interventions or revelations, reminding the reader of the importance of seeking God's will above human judgment.

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 40, 41. - As God also condemned Saul by his silence, the Urim and Thummim giving no answer, he places himself and Jonathan on one side, and the people on the other, and determines to cast lots. He then prays, Give a perfect lot, or, as in the margin, "Show" (literally, give) "the innocent." This is undoubtedly the meaning of the Hebrew, while the rendering of the text is taken from Kimchi. There are few mistranslations of the A.V. which have not some good Jewish authority for them, as King James's translators were singularly well versed in Jewish literature, while they seem strangely to have neglected the still higher authority of the ancient versions. These generally translate "Give holiness," a phrase equivalent to "Show the truth." The Septuagint and Vulgate add explanations, which, however, throw no light upon the passage.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

Then Saul 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

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

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

“You
אַתֶּם֙ (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

stand
תִּֽהְיוּ֙ (tih·yū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

on one
אֶחָ֔ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

side,
לְעֵ֣בֶר (lə·‘ê·ḇer)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5676: A region across, on the opposite side

and I
וַֽאֲנִי֙ (wa·’ă·nî)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - first person common singular
Strong's 589: I

and my son
בְּנִ֔י (bə·nî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1121: A son

Jonathan
וְיוֹנָתָ֣ן (wə·yō·w·nā·ṯān)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3129: Jonathan

will stand
נִהְיֶ֖ה (nih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

on the other
אֶחָ֑ד (’e·ḥāḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

side.”
לְעֵ֣בֶר (lə·‘ê·ḇer)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5676: A region across, on the opposite side

And the troops
הָעָם֙ (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

replied,
וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Do
עֲשֵֽׂה׃ (‘ă·śêh)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

what seems good
הַטּ֥וֹב (haṭ·ṭō·wḇ)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 2896: Pleasant, agreeable, good

to you.”
בְּעֵינֶ֖יךָ (bə·‘ê·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

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OT History: 1 Samuel 14:40 Then said he to all Israel Be (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)