1 Samuel 14:45

Authorized King James Version

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And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

Original Language Analysis

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר said H559
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר said
Strong's: H559
Word #: 1 of 32
to say (used with great latitude)
הָעָ֛ם And the people H5971
הָעָ֛ם And the people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 2 of 32
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֶל H413
אֶל
Strong's: H413
Word #: 3 of 32
near, with or among; often in general, to
שָׁא֗וּל unto Saul H7586
שָׁא֗וּל unto Saul
Strong's: H7586
Word #: 4 of 32
shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites
יֽוֹנָתָ֖ן Jonathan H3129
יֽוֹנָתָ֖ן Jonathan
Strong's: H3129
Word #: 5 of 32
jonathan, the name of ten israelites
מֵֽת׃ die H4191
מֵֽת׃ die
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 6 of 32
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
אֲשֶׁ֣ר H834
אֲשֶׁ֣ר
Strong's: H834
Word #: 7 of 32
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
עָשָׂ֖ה for he hath wrought H6213
עָשָׂ֖ה for he hath wrought
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 8 of 32
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
הַיְשׁוּעָ֨ה salvation H3444
הַיְשׁוּעָ֨ה salvation
Strong's: H3444
Word #: 9 of 32
something saved, i.e., (abstractly) deliverance; hence, aid, victory, prosperity
הַגְּדוֹלָ֣ה this great H1419
הַגְּדוֹלָ֣ה this great
Strong's: H1419
Word #: 10 of 32
great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent
הַזֹּאת֮ H2063
הַזֹּאת֮
Strong's: H2063
Word #: 11 of 32
this (often used adverb)
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל֒ in Israel H3478
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל֒ in Israel
Strong's: H3478
Word #: 12 of 32
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
חָלִ֗ילָה God forbid H2486
חָלִ֗ילָה God forbid
Strong's: H2486
Word #: 13 of 32
literal for a profaned thing; used (interj.) far be it!
חַי liveth H2416
חַי liveth
Strong's: H2416
Word #: 14 of 32
alive; hence, raw (flesh); fresh (plant, water, year), strong; also (as noun, especially in the feminine singular and masculine plural) life (or livin
יְהוָה֙ as the LORD H3068
יְהוָה֙ as the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 15 of 32
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
אִם H518
אִם
Strong's: H518
Word #: 16 of 32
used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if, although; also oh that!, when; hence, as a negative, not
יִפֹּ֞ל fall H5307
יִפֹּ֞ל fall
Strong's: H5307
Word #: 17 of 32
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
מִשַּֽׂעֲרַ֤ת there shall not one hair H8185
מִשַּֽׂעֲרַ֤ת there shall not one hair
Strong's: H8185
Word #: 18 of 32
hairiness
רֹאשׁוֹ֙ of his head H7218
רֹאשׁוֹ֙ of his head
Strong's: H7218
Word #: 19 of 32
the head (as most easily shaken), whether literal or figurative (in many applications, of place, time, rank, itc.)
אַ֔רְצָה to the ground H776
אַ֔רְצָה to the ground
Strong's: H776
Word #: 20 of 32
the earth (at large, or partitively a land)
כִּֽי H3588
כִּֽי
Strong's: H3588
Word #: 21 of 32
(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed
עִם H5973
עִם
Strong's: H5973
Word #: 22 of 32
adverb or preposition, with (i.e., in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then
אֱלֹהִ֥ים with God H430
אֱלֹהִ֥ים with God
Strong's: H430
Word #: 23 of 32
gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of
עָשָׂ֖ה for he hath wrought H6213
עָשָׂ֖ה for he hath wrought
Strong's: H6213
Word #: 24 of 32
to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application
הַיּ֣וֹם this day H3117
הַיּ֣וֹם this day
Strong's: H3117
Word #: 25 of 32
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַזֶּ֑ה H2088
הַזֶּ֑ה
Strong's: H2088
Word #: 26 of 32
the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that
וַיִּפְדּ֥וּ rescued H6299
וַיִּפְדּ֥וּ rescued
Strong's: H6299
Word #: 27 of 32
to sever, i.e., ransom; generally to release, preserve
הָעָ֛ם And the people H5971
הָעָ֛ם And the people
Strong's: H5971
Word #: 28 of 32
a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 29 of 32
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
יֽוֹנָתָ֖ן Jonathan H3129
יֽוֹנָתָ֖ן Jonathan
Strong's: H3129
Word #: 30 of 32
jonathan, the name of ten israelites
וְלֹא H3808
וְלֹא
Strong's: H3808
Word #: 31 of 32
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
מֵֽת׃ die H4191
מֵֽת׃ die
Strong's: H4191
Word #: 32 of 32
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

Analysis & Commentary

And the people said unto Saul, Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel? God forbid: as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground; for he hath wrought with God this day. So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.

The people's intervention - 'Shall Jonathan die, who hath wrought this great salvation in Israel?' - saves Jonathan through corporate resistance to royal folly. Their oath 'as the LORD liveth, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground' opposes Saul's oath with counterforce. Their reasoning is theological: 'he hath wrought with God this day.' The people recognize what Saul cannot: God worked through Jonathan to save Israel. Executing him would fight against God. 'So the people rescued Jonathan, that he died not.'

Historical Context

Popular intervention in royal justice occurred elsewhere in the ancient Near East. The people's oath creates an impasse resolved in Jonathan's favor. Saul's inability to enforce his verdict demonstrates the limits of his authority when opposed by united public opinion.

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