1 Samuel 14:38
1 Samuel 14:38 in Multiple Translations
Therefore Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the troops, and let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.
And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
And Saul said, Draw nigh hither, all ye chiefs of the people; and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
And Saul said, Come near, all you chiefs of the people, and let us get word from God and see in whom is this sin today.
So Saul gave the order, “All you army commanders, come here so we can investigate what sin has happened today.
And Saul said, All ye chiefe of the people, come ye hither, and knowe, and see by whom this sinne is done this day.
And Saul saith, 'Draw ye nigh hither all, the chiefs of the people, and know and see in what this sin hath been to-day;
Saul said, “Draw near here, all you chiefs of the people, and know and see in whom this sin has been today.
And Saul said, Draw ye near hither all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
And Saul said: Bring hither all the corners of the people: and know, and see by whom this sin hath happened today.
Then Saul summoned all the leaders of his army. He said to them, “I am sure that God has not answered me because someone has sinned. We must find out what sin someone has committed.
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Samuel 14:38
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1 Samuel 14:38 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Samuel 14:38
Study Notes — 1 Samuel 14:38
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Samuel 14:38 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 14:38
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 14:38
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:38
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:38
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:38
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 14:38
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:38
- Sermons on 1 Samuel 14:38
Context — The People Save Jonathan
38Therefore Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the troops, and let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.
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.Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Judges 20:2 | The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords. |
| 2 | Joshua 7:14–26 | In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD selects shall come forward clan by clan, and the clan that the LORD selects shall come forward family by family, and the family that the LORD selects shall come forward man by man. The one who is caught with the things devoted to destruction must be burned, along with all that belongs to him, because he has transgressed the covenant of the LORD and committed an outrage in Israel.’” 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. So Joshua said to Achan, “My son, give glory to the LORD, the God of Israel, and make a confession to Him. I urge you to tell me what you have done; do not hide it from me.” “It is true,” Achan replied, “I have sinned against the LORD, the God of Israel. This is what I did: When I saw among the spoils a beautiful cloak from Shinar, two hundred shekels of silver, and a bar of gold weighing fifty shekels, I coveted them and took them. They are hidden in the ground inside my tent, with the silver underneath.” So Joshua sent messengers who ran to the tent, and there it all was, hidden in his tent, with the silver underneath. They took the things from inside the tent, brought them to Joshua and all the Israelites, and spread them out before the LORD. Then Joshua, together with all Israel, took Achan son of Zerah, the silver, the cloak, the bar of gold, his sons and daughters, his oxen and donkeys and sheep, his tent, and everything else he owned, and brought them to the Valley of Achor. “Why have you brought this trouble upon us?” said Joshua. “Today the LORD will bring trouble upon you!” And all Israel stoned him to death. Then they stoned the others and burned their bodies. And they heaped over Achan a large pile of rocks that remains to this day. So the LORD turned from His burning anger. Therefore that place is called the Valley of Achor to this day. |
| 3 | Numbers 24:17 | I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth. |
| 4 | 2 Samuel 18:3 | But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will pay no attention to us. Even if half of us die, they will not care; but you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better for now if you support us from the city.” |
| 5 | Joshua 7:11 | Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions. |
| 6 | 1 Samuel 10:19–20 | But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.” Thus Samuel had all the tribes of Israel come forward, and the tribe of Benjamin was selected. |
| 7 | Zechariah 10:4 | The cornerstone will come from Judah, the tent peg from him, as well as the battle bow and every ruler together. |
| 8 | Psalms 47:9 | The nobles of the nations have assembled as the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted. |
| 9 | Ephesians 2:20 | built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone. |
| 10 | Matthew 21:42 | Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’ ? |
1 Samuel 14:38 Summary
In this verse, Saul is trying to figure out why God is not answering him, and he thinks that someone has sinned. He wants to find out who it is and deal with the problem, just like we see in Numbers 32:23 where God says that our sins will find us out. This shows us that sin can get in the way of our relationship with God, as we see in Isaiah 59:2, and that we need to take it seriously and seek to address it in our lives. By looking at Saul's example, we can learn the importance of seeking God's guidance and taking responsibility for our actions, as seen in Proverbs 28:13 and 1 John 1:9.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Saul want to investigate the sin that occurred that day?
Saul wanted to investigate the sin because he knew that God was not answering him, and he believed that there was unconfessed sin among the people, as we see in 1 Samuel 14:37 where God did not answer him that day, similar to the situation in Isaiah 59:2 where sin separates us from God.
What was the nature of the sin that Saul was trying to identify?
The specific sin is not mentioned in 1 Samuel 14:38, but based on the context of 1 Samuel 14:24-30 and 1 Samuel 14:43-46, it appears to be related to Jonathan's actions and possibly the people's disobedience to the oath Saul had made.
How does this verse relate to the concept of accountability in leadership?
This verse shows that leaders, like Saul, are responsible for ensuring that their people are following God's commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 29:10-13, and that they must take action when sin is present, as seen in Leviticus 4:13-14 and Numbers 5:5-7.
What can we learn from Saul's approach to dealing with sin in this verse?
We can learn that leaders should take sin seriously and seek to identify and address it, as Saul does in 1 Samuel 14:38, but also that they should do so in a way that is guided by God's Word and characterized by humility and a willingness to listen, as seen in Proverbs 11:2 and James 1:19-20.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways that I can be more intentional about seeking God's guidance and direction in my life, just like Saul attempted to do in 1 Samuel 14:37?
- How can I balance the need to address sin in my own life and in the lives of those around me with the need to show grace and compassion, as seen in Matthew 18:15 and Galatians 6:1?
- In what ways can I, like Saul, take responsibility for my actions and the actions of those under my care, whether that is in a family, a church, or a community setting?
- What are some potential consequences of not addressing sin in our lives, as seen in the story of Saul and the Israelites in 1 Samuel 14?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 14:38
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 14:38
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:38
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:38
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:38
Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 14:38
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:38
Sermons on 1 Samuel 14:38
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
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(Genesis) Genesis 49:8-10 by J. Vernon McGee | In this sermon, the preacher focuses on the prophecy of Balaam in Numbers 24:17, which refers to a star. The preacher connects this prophecy to the coming of Christ, who is describ |
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God Gives Us a Heads Up by Shane Idleman | This sermon emphasizes the importance of God giving us a heads up about His plans, focusing on the need for practical application of spiritual principles in our daily lives. It hig |
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A Faithful Ministry by Robert Murray M'Cheyne | Robert Murray M'Cheyne reflects on his five years of ministry, emphasizing that faithful ministers preach Christ Jesus the Lord rather than themselves. He stresses the importance o |
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Shewing the Several Circumstances Which Attend the Messiah's Birth. by John Gill | John Gill preaches on the various prophecies surrounding the birth of the Messiah, emphasizing how these prophecies were fulfilled in Jesus. He discusses the significance of the st |
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The Day of Jehovah by Arno Clemens Gaebelein | Arno Clemens Gaebelein preaches about the consistent prophecy throughout the Bible regarding the future day of Jehovah, a day of wrath, judgment, and the manifestation of God's glo |
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The Wise-Men Follow the Star by F.B. Meyer | F.B. Meyer emphasizes the widespread expectation of a great king's advent during the Nativity, rooted in prophecies and the cultural climate of the time. He illustrates how God rea |
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Truths From Israel's History, Part 4 - Defeat and Victory at Ai by Ed Miller | In this sermon, the speaker focuses on Joshua chapters 7 and 8, specifically the defeat and subsequent victory at AI. The speaker emphasizes the importance of recognizing and addre |







