1 Chronicles 10:4

2 And the Philistines followed hard after Saul, and after his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul.

3 And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him, and he was wounded of the archers.

Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise on the sword, and died.

6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and all his house died together.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
KJV
Then said Saul to his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. So Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.
WEB
Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me.” But his armor bearer would not, for he was terrified. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell on it.
ASV
Then said Saul unto his armor-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armor-bearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword, and fell upon it.
DARBY
Then said Saul to his armour-bearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through with it; lest these uncircumcised come and abuse me. But his armour-bearer would not; for he was much afraid. So Saul took the sword and fell on it.
BLB
And Saul said to the bearer of his armor, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised men come and abuse me.” And the bearer of his armor was not willing, for he was exceedingly afraid. And Saul took a sword and fell on it.
ÅB
Da sa Saul til sin våpenbærer: Dra ditt sverd og gjennombor meg med det, så ikke disse uomskårne skal komme og fare ille med meg! Men våpenbæreren ville ikke; han var for redd. Da tok Saul sitt sverd og styrtet seg i det.
OTB
Da sa Saul til våpenbæreren sin,
«Trekk sverdet ditt og gjennombor meg med det,
ellers vil disse uomskårne komme og mishandle meg.»
Men våpenbæreren hans ville ikke, for han var svært redd.
Så tok Saul sverdet sitt og kastet seg på det.
B1930
Da sa Saul til sin våbensvenn: Dra ditt sverd og gjennembor mig med det, så ikke disse uomskårne skal komme og fare ille med mig! Men våbensvennen vilde ikke; han var for redd. Da tok Saul sitt sverd og styrtet sig i det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 31:4

    Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

    Read in context
  • Acts 1:18

    Now this man purchased a field with the reward of iniquity; and falling headlong, he burst asunder in the midst, and all his bowels gushed out.

    Read in context
  • 1 Samuel 17:36

    Thy servant slew both the lion and the bear: and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be as one of them, seeing he hath defied the armies of the living God.

    Read in context
  • Judges 16:23–25

    Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 1:20

    Tell it not in Gath, publish it not in the streets of Askelon; lest the daughters of the Philistines rejoice, lest the daughters of the uncircumcised triumph.

    Read in context
  • Judges 9:54

    Then he called hastily unto the young man his armourbearer, and said unto him, Draw thy sword, and slay me, that men say not of me, A woman slew him. And his young man thrust him through, and he died.

    Read in context
  • 2 Samuel 1:9–10

    He said unto me again, Stand, I pray thee, upon me, and slay me: for anguish is come upon me, because my life is yet whole in me.

    Read in context
  • Matthew 27:4–5

    Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.

    Read in context