1 Samuel

1 Samuel 14:25–30

²⁵Then all the troops entered the forest, and there was honey on the ground. ²⁶And when they entered the forest and saw the flowing honey, not one of them put his hand to his mouth, because they feared the oath.

²⁷Jonathan, however, had not heard that his father had bound the people with the oath. So he reached out the end of the staff in his hand, dipped it into the honeycomb, and put his hand to his mouth, and his eyes brightened.^f ²⁸Then one of the soldiers told him, “Your father bound the troops with a solemn oath, saying, ‘Cursed is the man who eats food today.’ That is why the people are faint.”

²⁹“My father has brought trouble to the land,” Jonathan replied. “Just look at how my eyes have brightened because I tasted a little of this honey. ³⁰How much better it would have been if the troops had eaten freely today from the plunder they took from their enemies! Would not the slaughter of the Philistines have been much greater?”

Footnotes

f 14:27 Or his strength was renewed; similarly in verse 29

Read all of 1 Samuel 14

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Samuel 14:25

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then all	וְכָל־	wə·ḵāl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
entered	בָּ֣אוּ	bā·’ū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
the forest	בַיָּ֑עַר	ḇay·yā·‘ar	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3293 wood, forest, thicket
and there was	וַיְהִ֥י	way·hî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
honey	דְבַ֖שׁ	ḏə·ḇaš	Noun - masculine singular	H1706 honey
on	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
the ground	פְּנֵ֥י	pə·nê	Noun - common plural construct	H6440 face, before

1 Samuel 14:26

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And when	הָעָם֙	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
entered	וַיָּבֹ֤א	way·yā·ḇō	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
the forest	הַיַּ֔עַר	hay·ya·‘ar	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3293 wood, forest, thicket
and saw	וְהִנֵּ֖ה	wə·hin·nêh	Conjunctive waw; Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
the flowing	הֵ֣לֶךְ	hê·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1982 traveller
honey	דְּבָ֑שׁ	də·ḇāš	Noun - masculine singular	H1706 honey
not one of them	וְאֵין־	wə·’ên-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H369 nothing, nought
put	מַשִּׂ֤יג	maś·śîḡ	Verb - Hifil - Participle - masculine singular	H5381 reach, overtake
his hand	יָדוֹ֙	yā·ḏōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3027 hand
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
his mouth	פִּ֔יו	pîw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H6310 mouth
because	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
feared	יָרֵ֥א	yā·rê	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3372 fear
the oath	הַשְּׁבֻעָֽה׃	haš·šə·ḇu·‘āh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H7621 oath, curse

1 Samuel 14:27

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Jonathan	וְיוֹנָתָ֣ן	wə·yō·w·nā·ṯān	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3129 Jonathan
however	וְיוֹנָתָ֣ן	wə·yō·w·nā·ṯān	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3129 Jonathan
had not	לֹֽא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
heard that	שָׁמַ֗ע	šā·ma‘	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H8085 hear
his father	אָבִיו֮	’ā·ḇîw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1 father
the people	הָעָם֒	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
with the oath	בְּהַשְׁבִּ֣יעַ	bə·haš·bî·a‘	Preposition-b; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct	H7650 swear
So he reached out	וַיִּשְׁלַ֗ח	way·yiš·laḥ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7971 send
the end	קְצֵ֤ה	qə·ṣêh	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7097 end, extremity
of the staff	הַמַּטֶּה֙	ham·maṭ·ṭeh	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4294 staff, rod, shaft
in his hand	בְּיָד֔וֹ	bə·yā·ḏōw	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3027 hand
dipped	וַיִּטְבֹּ֥ל	way·yiṭ·bōl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2881 dip
it into the honeycomb	בְּיַעְרַ֣ת	bə·ya‘·raṯ	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular construct	H3295 honeycomb
and put	וַיָּ֤שֶׁב	way·yā·šeḇ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7725 turn back, return
his hand	יָדוֹ֙	yā·ḏōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3027 hand
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
his mouth	פִּ֔יו	pîw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H6310 mouth
and his eyes	עֵינָֽיו׃	‘ê·nāw	Noun - cdc; third person masculine singular	H5869 eye
brightened	וַתָּרֹאנָה	wat·tå̄·rō·nå̄h	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural	H7200 see

1 Samuel 14:28

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then	וַיַּעַן֩	way·ya·‘an	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6030 answer, respond
one	אִ֨ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
of the soldiers	מֵֽהָעָ֜ם	mê·hā·‘ām	Preposition-m, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
told him	וַיֹּ֗אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Your father	אָבִ֤יךָ	’ā·ḇî·ḵā	Noun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine singular	H1 father
the troops	הָעָם֙	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
with a solemn oath	הַשְׁבֵּעַ֩	haš·bê·a‘	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H7650 swear
saying	הִשְׁבִּ֨יעַ	hiš·bî·a‘	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H7650 swear
Cursed is	אָר֥וּר	’ā·rūr	Verb - Qal - QalPassParticiple - masculine singular	H779 curse
the man	הָאִ֛ישׁ	hā·’îš	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
who	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
eats	יֹ֥אכַל	yō·ḵal	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H398 eat
food	לֶ֖חֶם	le·ḥem	Noun - masculine singular	H3899 bread, food
today	הַיּ֑וֹם	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
That is why the people	הָעָֽם׃	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
are faint	וַיָּ֖עַף	way·yā·‘ap̄	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5888 be faint

1 Samuel 14:29

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
My father	אָבִ֖י	’ā·ḇî	Noun - masculine singular construct; first person common singular	H1 father
has brought trouble	עָכַ֥ר	‘ā·ḵar	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5916 stir up, disturb, trouble
to the land	הָאָ֑רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
Jonathan	יֽוֹנָתָ֔ן	yō·w·nā·ṯān	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3129 Jonathan
replied	וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Just look	רְאוּ־	rə·’ū-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H7200 see
at how	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
my eyes	עֵינַ֔י	‘ê·nay	Noun - cdc; first person common singular	H5869 eye
have brightened	אֹ֣רוּ	’ō·rū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H215 be or become light
because	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
I tasted	טָעַ֔מְתִּי	ṭā·‘am·tî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H2938 taste, perceive
a little	מְעַ֖ט	mə·‘aṭ	Adjective - masculine singular construct	H4592 a little, fewness, a few
of this	הַזֶּֽה׃	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
honey	דְּבַ֥שׁ	də·ḇaš	Noun - masculine singular	H1706 honey

1 Samuel 14:30

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
How much better it would have been	אַ֗ף	’ap̄	Conjunction	H637 also, yea
if	לוּא֩	lū	Preposition	H3863 if
the troops	הָעָ֔ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
had eaten freely	אָכֹ֨ל	’ā·ḵōl	Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H398 eat
today	הַיּוֹם֙	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
from the plunder	מִשְּׁלַ֥ל	miš·šə·lal	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H7998 prey, spoil, plunder, booty
they took	מָצָ֑א	mā·ṣā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H4672 attain to, find
from their enemies	אֹיְבָ֖יו	’ō·yə·ḇāw	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H341 be hostile to
Would not	עַתָּ֛ה	‘at·tāh	Adverb	H6258 now
the slaughter	מַכָּ֖ה	mak·kāh	Noun - feminine singular	H4347 blow, wound, slaughter
of the Philistines	בַּפְּלִשְׁתִּֽים׃	bap·pə·liš·tîm	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
have been much greater	רָבְתָ֥ה	rā·ḇə·ṯāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H7235 be, or become, much, many, great

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Samuel 14:27 1 Samuel 14:29 · 1 Samuel 30:12 · Proverbs 25:26 · 1 Samuel 14:43

1 Samuel 14:29 1 Kings 18:18

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.