1 Samuel 14:42
New International Version
Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.

New Living Translation
Then Saul said, “Now cast lots again and choose between me and Jonathan.” And Jonathan was shown to be the guilty one.

English Standard Version
Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.

Berean Standard Bible
Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.

King James Bible
And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

New King James Version
And Saul said, “Cast lots between my son Jonathan and me.” So Jonathan was taken.

New American Standard Bible
Then Saul said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected by lot.

NASB 1995
Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.

NASB 1977
And Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.

Legacy Standard Bible
And Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken.

Amplified Bible
Saul said, “Cast [lots] between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.

Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,” and Jonathan was selected.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan,” and Jonathan was selected.

American Standard Version
And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

Contemporary English Version
Saul told Ahijah, "Now ask the LORD to decide between Jonathan and me." The answer came back that Jonathan had sinned.

English Revised Version
And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Choose between me and my son Jonathan," Saul said. Then Jonathan was chosen.

Good News Translation
Then Saul said, "Decide between my son Jonathan and me." And Jonathan was indicated.

International Standard Version
Saul said, "Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan," and Jonathan was selected.

Majority Standard Bible
Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was selected.

NET Bible
Then Saul said, "Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan!" Jonathan was indicated by lot.

New Heart English Bible
And Saul said, "Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. Whomever the LORD shall indicate to be taken by lot, let him die." And the people said to Saul, "This thing is not to be." And Saul prevailed over the people, and they cast lots between him and Jonathan his son. And Jonathan was selected.

Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

World English Bible
Saul said, “Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.” Jonathan was selected.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul says, “Cast between me and my son Jonathan”; and Jonathan is captured.

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul saith, 'Cast between me and Jonathan my son;' and Jonathan is captured.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will say, Cast between me and between Jonathan my son. And Jonathan will be taken.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul said: Cast lots between me, and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul said, “Cast lots between myself and Jonathan, my son.” And Jonathan was caught.

New American Bible
Saul then said, “Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was designated.

New Revised Standard Version
Then Saul said, “Cast the lot between me and my son Jonathan.” And Jonathan was taken.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul said: “Cast between me and Jonathan my son.” And Jonathan was taken
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And Saul said: 'Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son.' And Jonathan was taken.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul said, Cast lots between me and my son Jonathan: whomsoever the Lord shall cause to be taken by lot, let him die: and the people said to Saul, This thing is not to be done: and Saul prevailed against the people, and they cast lots between him and Jonathan his son, and Jonathan is taken by lot.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The People Save Jonathan
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. 43“Tell me what you have done,” Saul commanded him. So Jonathan told him, “I only tasted a little honey with the end of the staff that was in my hand. And now I must die?”…

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.

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.

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.

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.”

Leviticus 16:8-10
After Aaron casts lots for the two goats, one for the LORD and the other for the scapegoat, / he shall present the goat chosen by lot for the LORD and sacrifice it as a sin offering. / But the goat chosen by lot as the scapegoat shall be presented alive before the LORD to make atonement by sending it into the wilderness as the scapegoat.

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.

1 Chronicles 26:13-14
They cast lots for each gate, according to their families, young and old alike. / The lot for the East Gate fell to Shelemiah. Then lots were cast for his son Zechariah, a wise counselor, and the lot for the North Gate fell to him.

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 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.

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

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.”

Nehemiah 11:1
Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem, and the rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of ten to live in the holy city of Jerusalem, while the remaining nine were to dwell in their own towns.

Ezekiel 21:21-22
For the king of Babylon stands at the fork in the road, at the junction of the two roads, to seek an omen: He shakes the arrows, he consults the idols, he examines the liver. / In his right hand appears the portent for Jerusalem, where he is to set up battering rams, to call for the slaughter, to lift a battle cry, to direct the battering rams against the gates, to build a ramp, and to erect a siege wall.


Treasury of Scripture

And Saul said, Cast lots between me and Jonathan my son. And Jonathan was taken.

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Captured Cast Decision Jonathan Lots Saul
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Captured Cast Decision Jonathan Lots Saul
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














Then Saul said
This phrase introduces the action of King Saul, who is taking a decisive step in a moment of crisis. Saul, as the first king of Israel, often found himself in situations requiring leadership and decision-making. The Hebrew root for "said" (אָמַר, 'amar) implies a declaration or command, highlighting Saul's authoritative role. Historically, Saul's reign was marked by both military success and personal failings, and this moment reflects his struggle to maintain control and seek divine guidance.

Cast the lot
The practice of casting lots was a common method in ancient Israel for discerning God's will, often used to make decisions or reveal hidden truths. The Hebrew word for "lot" (גּוֹרָל, goral) suggests a small object, like a stone or piece of wood, used in this divinatory process. Archaeological findings have confirmed the use of lots in various ancient cultures, underscoring its significance as a tool for seeking divine intervention. In this context, casting lots reflects Saul's reliance on divine providence to resolve the tension between him and Jonathan.

between me and my son Jonathan
This phrase highlights the personal and familial nature of the conflict. Saul and Jonathan, as father and son, shared a complex relationship marked by both love and tension. Jonathan, known for his bravery and faithfulness, often found himself at odds with his father's decisions. The Hebrew preposition "between" (בֵּין, beyn) indicates a division or distinction, emphasizing the gravity of the situation where familial bonds are tested by the need for justice and truth.

And Jonathan was selected
The outcome of the lot-casting reveals Jonathan as the chosen one, bringing the narrative to a pivotal moment. The Hebrew verb "was selected" (לָקַח, laqach) conveys the idea of being taken or chosen, often with divine implication. This selection underscores the theme of divine sovereignty and the mysterious ways in which God directs human affairs. Jonathan's selection, despite his innocence, sets the stage for further developments in the story, illustrating the tension between human understanding and divine purpose.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Then Saul
שָׁא֔וּל (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

“Cast [the lot]
הַפִּ֕ילוּ (hap·pî·lū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

between me
בֵּינִ֕י (bê·nî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

and
וּבֵ֖ין (ū·ḇên)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

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

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

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

was selected.
וַיִּלָּכֵ֖ד (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


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OT History: 1 Samuel 14:42 Saul said Cast lots between me (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
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