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1 Samuel 31:4

Saul
FearDeath and lossShame

2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi-shua, Saul’s sons.

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

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.

5 And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

6 So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

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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.

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BSB
Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run it through me, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through 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 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.
WEB
Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through 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 to his armorbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armorbearer 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 thrust me through, 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 ones come and thrust me through and torture me.” And the bearer of his armor was not willing, for he was greatly 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 gjennombore meg og fare ille med meg! Men våpenbæreren ville ikke; han var for redd. Så tok Saul sitt sverd og styrtet seg i det.
OTB
Da sa Saul til våpenbæreren sin, “Trekk sverdet ditt og stikk meg med det, ellers vil disse uomskårne mennene komme og stikke meg og mishandle meg.” Men våpenbæreren hans ville ikke, fordi han var veldig redd. Så Saul tok sverdet 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 gjennembore mig og fare ille med mig! Men våbensvennen vilde ikke; han var for redd. Så tok Saul sitt sverd og styrtet sig i det.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 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

  • 2 Samuel 1:6

    And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 17:23

    And when Ahithophel saw that his counsel was not followed, he saddled his ass, and arose, and gat him home to his house, to his city, and put his household in order, and hanged himself, and died, and was buried in the sepulchre of his father.

    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

  • 1 Kings 16:27

    Now the rest of the acts of Omri which he did, and his might that he shewed, are they not written in the book of the chronicles of the kings of Israel?

    Read in context

  • 1 Chronicles 10:4

    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.

    Read in context

  • 2 Samuel 1:14

    And David said unto him, How wast thou not afraid to stretch forth thine hand to destroy the LORD’s anointed?

    Read in context