1 Samuel 31:6
So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.
Original Language Analysis
וַיָּ֣מָת
died
H4191
וַיָּ֣מָת
died
Strong's:
H4191
Word #:
1 of 12
to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת
and his three
H7969
וּשְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת
and his three
Strong's:
H7969
Word #:
3 of 12
three; occasionally (ordinal) third, or (multiple) thrice
בָּנָיו֩
sons
H1121
בָּנָיו֩
sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
4 of 12
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
וְנֹשֵׂ֨א
and his armourbearer
H5375
וְנֹשֵׂ֨א
and his armourbearer
Strong's:
H5375
Word #:
5 of 12
to lift, in a great variety of applications, literal and figurative, absolute and relative
כֵלָ֜יו
H3627
כֵלָ֜יו
Strong's:
H3627
Word #:
6 of 12
something prepared, i.e., any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon)
גַּ֧ם
H1571
גַּ֧ם
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
7 of 12
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
8 of 12
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
אֲנָשָׁ֛יו
H376
אֲנָשָׁ֛יו
Strong's:
H376
Word #:
9 of 12
a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)
בַּיּ֥וֹם
that same day
H3117
בַּיּ֥וֹם
that same day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
10 of 12
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
Historical Context
The concentration of royal casualties in one day decapitated Saul's government. While some army survived to fight another day, the command structure was destroyed, enabling Philistine territorial expansion.
Questions for Reflection
- How quickly can established structures collapse when judgment comes?
- What does the completeness of this disaster reveal about God's decisive action in history?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The summary statement 'So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together' emphasizes completeness of destruction. The phrase 'all his men' may refer to his immediate retinue rather than the entire army. The Hebrew 'yacdaw' (together) stresses their common fate. One day ends the house of Saul as a ruling force, though one son survives to briefly contest David's succession.