1 Samuel 14:10
in 1 Samuel 14But if they say, ‘Come on up,’ then we will go up, because this will be our sign that the LORD has delivered them into our hands.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up; for Jehovah hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be the sign unto us.
KJV
But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
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This verse in 1 Samuel 14
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
Though it is not expressly said, as in the case of Gideon Jdg 6:34, Othniel Jdg 3:10, and others, that the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, yet the whole course of the narrative, especially 1Sa 14:13-16, indicates an extraordinary divine interposition.
This site's exposition
we will cross over toward these men and show ourselves to them
on 1 Samuel 14:8-10
Jonathan sets a sign to test whether the LORD has delivered the outpost to him, and the terms are his own: if the Philistines say "Come on up," he will go. It is a private test of providence agreed between two men, apart from the priest's ephod or a cast lot. Saul asks God at verse 37 and receives silence, while Jonathan's sign is answered before he climbs.
This site's exposition
this will be our sign
Albert Barnes reads the events of verses 13 to 16 as the LORD's own hand in the battle, as plain as when the Spirit came on Gideon at Judges 6:34. The Philistines' words, come on up, gave Jonathan his sign. The earth quaked at verse 15.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistCommentary on 1 Kings, Book 5, Chapter 4 · Written before 604.
proposed
It is the certain and undoubted judgment of the holy Church that chosen preachers must consider not only what, how much, and when they speak, but also to whom they speak. Hence the Lord too, concealing the word from the knowledge of certain people, forbids the disciples, saying: "Do not cast your pearls before swine" (Matt. 7:6). Likewise Scripture forbids the word to be poured out uselessly, and says: "Where there is no hearing, do not pour out speech" (Ecclus. 32:6).
The Puritans and the Awakening4 voices
Saul had once offended by offering sacrifice himself, ch. xiii. Now he resolves never to fall into that error again, and therefore sends for a priest, and hopes to compromise the matter with God Almighty by a particular reformation, as many do whose hearts are unhumbled and unchanged.
), and, upon their acceptance of the challenge, charged them with such fury, or rather such faith, that he put them to flight, and set them one against another (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — leading-punctuation
But if they say unto us, come up unto us,....
Jonathan knew God could discover his mind to him if he pleased, and would do it, since he depended upon him, as surely by the mouth of a Philistine as by the mouth of a priest.
1 more voice on this verse
Modern Voices1 voice
A commentator
GK ChestertonTime's Abstract and Brief Chronicle (1904-1905) · Written before 1936.
proposed
The one perfectly divine thing, the one glimpse of God's paradise given on earth, is to fight a losing battle - and not lose it.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
But if they say [to us], 'Come up to us.' A fear inspired by the Holy One, Blessed is He, is in their heart and they are afraid to move from their place.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
But if they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up; for the LORD has handed them over into our hand.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 5 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וְאִם־ | veim- | and if | H518 → | 1069 times |
| כֹּ֨ה | koh | thus | H3541 → | 577 times |
| יֹאמְר֜וּ | yomeru | they will say | H559 → | 5305 times |
| עֲל֤וּ | ʾalu | come up | H5927 → | 890 times |
| עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙ | ʾaleinu | to us | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| וְעָלִ֔ינוּ | vealinu | and we will go up | H5927 → | 890 times |
| כִּֽי־ | ki- | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| נְתָנָ֥ם | netanam | he has given them | H5414 → | 2011 times |
| יְהוָ֖ה | yahweh | Yahweh | H3068 → | 6520 times |
| בְּיָדֵ֑נוּ | beyadenu | in hand our | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| וְזֶה־ | vezeh- | and this | H2088 → | 1180 times |
| לָּ֖נוּ | lanu | for <the> us | ||
| הָאֽוֹת׃ | haot | [will be] the sign | H226 → | 80 times |
וְאִם־and if
veim-H518 →1069 times
כֹּ֨הthus
kohH3541 →577 times
יֹאמְר֜וּthey will say
yomeruH559 →5305 times
עֲל֤וּcome up
ʾaluH5927 →890 times
עָלֵ֙ינוּ֙to us
ʾaleinuH5921 →5755 times
וְעָלִ֔ינוּand we will go up
vealinuH5927 →890 times
כִּֽי־for
ki-H3588 →4482 times
נְתָנָ֥םhe has given them
netanamH5414 →2011 times
יְהוָ֖הYahweh
yahwehH3068 →6520 times
בְּיָדֵ֑נוּin hand our
beyadenuH3027 →1618 times
וְזֶה־and this
vezeh-H2088 →1180 times
לָּ֖נוּfor <the> us
lanu
הָאֽוֹת׃[will be] the sign
haotH226 →80 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Genesis 24:14Now may it happen that the girl to whom I say, ‘Please let down your jar that I may drink,’ and who responds, ‘Drink, and I will water your camels as well’—let her be…
it leads to
- Judges 6:37
then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are…
- Judges 6:17
Gideon answered, “If I have found favor in Your sight, give me a sign that it is You speaking with me.
- Judges 6:37
Through
Judges 6:36Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said,
it leads to
- Judges 6:14
The LORD turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel from the hand of Midian. Am I not sending you?”
- Matthew 16:1
Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came and tested Jesus by asking Him to show them a sign from heaven.
- Judges 6:14
Through
1 Samuel 10:7When these signs have come, do as the occasion demands, for God is with you.
it leads to
- Judges 6:12
And the angel of the LORD appeared to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, O mighty man of valor.”
- Joshua 1:5
No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
- Judges 6:12
Through
Judges 7:11and listen to what they are saying. Then your hands will be strengthened to attack the camp.” So he went with Purah his servant to the outposts where armed men were guarding the camp.
it leads to
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
- Philippians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 1 Samuel
This page draws on Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments; GK Chesterton, Time's Abstract and Brief Chronicle (1904-1905); Gregory the Dialogist, Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 5, Chapter 4; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Books of Samuel and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.