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Thursday, June 19th, 2025
the Week of Proper 6 / Ordinary 11
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Bible in Basic English

1 Samuel 14:6

And Jonathan said to his young servant who had his arms, Come, let us go over to the armies of these men who have no circumcision: it may be that the Lord will give us help, for there is no limit to his power; the Lord is able to give salvation by a great army or by a small band.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Armor-Bearer;   Faith;   God Continued...;   Jonathan;   Power;   Thompson Chain Reference - Ancient Heroes;   Battle of Life;   Co-Operation;   Courage;   Courage-Fear;   Example;   Faith;   Faith-Unbelief;   Heroes, Ancient;   Inspiration of Example;   Jonathan;   Uncircumcised, the;   Unity-Strife;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Circumcision;   Jews, the;   Philistines, the;   Power of God, the;   Servants;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Philistines;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Circumcision;   Courage;   Jonathan;   Philistia, philistines;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - War, Holy War;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Circumcision;   Garrison;   Philistines;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Asa;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Jonathan;   Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Gibeah;   Israel;   Jonathan;   Michmash;   Philistines;   Samuel, Books of;   Urim and Thummim;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Garrison;   Geba ;   Jonathan ;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Jonathan;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Jon'athan,;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Armies;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Army;   Samuel, Books of;   Young Men;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Circumcision;   Jonathan, Jehonathan;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Jonathan said to the attendant who carried his weapons, “Come on, let’s cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will help us. Nothing can keep the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.”
Hebrew Names Version
Yonatan said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us; for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
King James Version
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.
Lexham English Bible
So Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come, let us go over to the garrisons of these uncircumcised; perhaps Yahweh will act for us, for there is no hindrance for Yahweh to save by many or by few."
English Standard Version
Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few."
New Century Version
Jonathan said to his officer who carried his armor, "Come. Let's go to the camp of those men who are not circumcised. Maybe the Lord will help us. The Lord can give us victory if we have many people, or just a few."
New English Translation
Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come on, let's go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will intervene for us. Nothing can prevent the Lord from delivering, whether by many or by a few."
Amplified Bible
Jonathan said to his young armor bearer, "Come, let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For there is nothing to prevent the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."
New American Standard Bible
Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come, and let's cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised men; perhaps the LORD will work for us, because the LORD is not limited to saving by many or by few!"
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Ionathan saide to the yong man that bare his armour, Come, and let vs goe ouer vnto the garison of these vncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will worke with vs: for it is not hard to the Lord to saue with many, or with fewe.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps Yahweh will work for us, for Yahweh is not restrained to save by many or by few."
Contemporary English Version
Jonathan and the soldier who carried his weapons talked as they went toward the Philistine camp. "It's just the two of us against all those godless men," Jonathan said. "But the Lord can help a few soldiers win a battle just as easily as he can help a whole army. Maybe the Lord will help us win this battle."
Complete Jewish Bible
Y'honatan said to his armor-bearer, "Come on, let's go across to the garrison of these uncircumcised people. Maybe Adonai will do something for us, since Adonai can rescue with a few people as easily as with many."
Darby Translation
And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: perhaps Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.
Easy-to-Read Version
Jonathan said to his young helper who carried his weapons, "Come on, let's go to the camp of those foreigners. Maybe the Lord will use us to defeat them. Nothing can stop the Lord —it doesn't matter if we have many soldiers or just a few soldiers."
George Lamsa Translation
And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will help us; for nothing will prevent the LORD from saving by many or by few.
Good News Translation
Jonathan said to the young man, "Let's cross over to the camp of those heathen Philistines. Maybe the Lord will help us; if he does, nothing can keep him from giving us the victory, no matter how few of us there are."
Literal Translation
And Jonathan said to the young man bearing his weapons, Come, we shall cross over to the fort of these uncircumcised ones. It may be Jehovah will work for us, for there is no hindrance to Jehovah, to save by many or by few.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
And Ionathas sayde vnto his wapen bearer: Come, let vs go ouer to ye watch of these vncircumcised, peraduenture the LORDE shall worke with vs, For it is no harde matter for the LORDE to helpe by many or by fewe.
American Standard Version
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Ionathan sayd to the young man that bare his harnesse: Come, and let vs go ouer vnto the garison of these vncircumcised, it may be that the Lorde will worke with vs: for it is no hardnesse with the Lord to saue either in manie or in fewe.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour: 'Come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us; for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.'
King James Version (1611)
And Ionathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let vs goe ouer vnto the garison of these vncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will worke for vs: for there is no restraint to the Lord, to saue by many, or by few.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, let us go over to Messab of these uncircumcised, if peradventure the Lord may do something for us; for the Lord is not straitened to save by many or by few.
English Revised Version
And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
Berean Standard Bible
Jonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, "Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few."
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Jonathas seide to his yong squyer, Come thou, passe we to the stacioun of these vncircumcisid men, if in hap the Lord do for vs; for it is not hard to the Lord to saue, ethir in manye ethir in fewe.
Young's Literal Translation
And Jonathan saith unto the young man bearing his weapons, `Come, and we pass over unto the station of these uncircumcised; it may be Jehovah doth work for us, for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.'
Update Bible Version
And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Yahweh will work for us; for there is no restraint to Yahweh to save by many or by few.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for [there is] no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.
World English Bible
Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Yahweh will work for us; for there is no restraint to Yahweh to save by many or by few.
New King James Version
Then Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us. For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few."
New Living Translation
"Let's go across to the outpost of those pagans," Jonathan said to his armor bearer. "Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord . He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!"
New Life Bible
Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his battle-clothes, "Come, let us go over to the place where the soldiers are who have not gone through the religious act of the Jews. It may be that the Lord will work for us, for there is nothing to keep the Lord from saving by many or by few."
New Revised Standard
Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the Lord will act for us; for nothing can hinder the Lord from saving by many or by few."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So Jonathan said unto the young man bearing his armour - Come! and let us cross over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised, peradventure, Yahweh may work by us, - for there is no restraint with Yahweh, to save by many, or by few.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour: Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised, it may be the Lord will do for us: because it is easy for the Lord to save either by many, or by few.
Revised Standard Version
And Jonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, "Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; it may be that the LORD will work for us; for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few."
THE MESSAGE
Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "Come on now, let's go across to these uncircumcised pagans. Maybe God will work for us. There's no rule that says God can only deliver by using a big army. No one can stop God from saving when he sets his mind to it."
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Jonathan said to the young man who was carrying his armor, "Come and let us cross over to the garrison of these uncircumcised; perhaps the LORD will work for us, for the LORD is not restrained to save by many or by few."

Contextual Overview

1 Now one day Jonathan, the son of Saul, said to the young man who was with him, looking after his arms, Come, let us go over to the Philistine force over there. But he said nothing to his father. 2 And Saul was still waiting in the farthest part of Geba, under the fruit-tree in Migron: there were about six hundred men with him; 3 And Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, brother of Ichabod, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of the Lord in Shiloh, who had the ephod. And the people had no idea that Jonathan had gone. 4 Now between the narrow roads over the mountains by which Jonathan was making his way to the Philistines' forces, there was a sharp overhanging rock on one side, and a sharp rock on the other side: one was named Bozez and the other Seneh. 5 The one rock went up on the north in front of Michmash and the other on the south in front of Geba. 6 And Jonathan said to his young servant who had his arms, Come, let us go over to the armies of these men who have no circumcision: it may be that the Lord will give us help, for there is no limit to his power; the Lord is able to give salvation by a great army or by a small band. 7 And his servant said to him, Do whatever is in your mind: see, I am with you in every impulse of your heart. 8 Then Jonathan said, Now we will go over to these men and let them see us. 9 If they say to us, Keep quiet where you are till we come to you; then we will keep our places and not go up to them. 10 But if they say, Come up to us; then we will go up, for the Lord has given them into our hands: and this will be the sign to us.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Come: This action of Jonathan's was totally contrary to the laws of war; no military operation should be undertaken without the knowledge and command of the general. But it is highly probable, that this gallant man was led to undertake the hazardous enterprise by an immediate divine impulse; and by the same influence was kept from informing the soldiers, and even from consulting his father, who might have opposed his design.

uncircumcised: 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36, Genesis 17:7-11, Judges 15:18, 2 Samuel 1:20, Jeremiah 9:23, Jeremiah 9:26, Ephesians 2:11, Ephesians 2:12, Philippians 3:3

it may be: 2 Samuel 16:12, 2 Kings 19:4, Amos 5:15, Zephaniah 2:3

for there is no restraint: Where there is a promise of defense and support, the weakest, in the face of the strongest enemy, may rely upon it with the utmost confidence. Deuteronomy 32:30, Judges 7:4-7, 2 Chronicles 14:11, Psalms 115:1-3, Zechariah 4:6, Matthew 19:26, Romans 8:31

Reciprocal: Genesis 18:14 - Is Genesis 34:14 - uncircumcised Leviticus 26:8 - General Numbers 31:4 - a thousand Joshua 5:9 - I rolled away Joshua 14:12 - if so be Joshua 23:10 - One man Judges 1:4 - Lord Judges 7:2 - too many Judges 7:7 - General Judges 14:3 - uncircumcised Judges 15:15 - slew 1 Samuel 7:13 - against 1 Samuel 17:32 - thy 1 Samuel 17:47 - the battle 1 Samuel 26:6 - Who will go 1 Samuel 31:4 - uncircumcised 2 Samuel 1:22 - the bow 2 Samuel 8:6 - garrisons 2 Samuel 10:12 - Be of good 2 Samuel 23:10 - the Lord 2 Samuel 23:14 - garrison 1 Kings 20:11 - Let not him 1 Kings 20:15 - two hundred 1 Chronicles 10:2 - Jonathan 1 Chronicles 10:4 - uncircumcised 1 Chronicles 19:13 - of good 2 Chronicles 20:12 - we have 2 Chronicles 25:8 - God hath power Psalms 44:7 - But Isaiah 37:4 - It may Jeremiah 21:2 - according Acts 10:7 - two

Cross-References

Genesis 14:20
And let the Most High God be praised, who has given into your hands those who were against you. Then Abram gave him a tenth of all the goods he had taken.
Genesis 16:7
And an angel of the Lord came to her by a fountain of water in the waste land, by the fountain on the way to Shur.
Genesis 21:21
And while he was in the waste land of Paran, his mother got him a wife from the land of Egypt.
Genesis 36:8
So Esau made his living-place in the hill-country of Seir (Esau is Edom).
Numbers 10:12
And the children of Israel went on their journey out of the waste land of Sinai; and the cloud came to rest in the waste land of Paran.
Numbers 12:16
After that, the people went on from Hazeroth and put up their tents in the waste land of Paran.
Numbers 13:3
And Moses sent them from the waste land of Paran as the Lord gave orders, all of them men who were heads of the children of Israel.
Deuteronomy 2:12
And the Horites in earlier times were living in Seir, but the children of Esau took their place; they sent destruction on them and took their land for themselves, as Israel did to the land of his heritage which the Lord gave them.)
Habakkuk 3:3
God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah. The heavens were covered with his glory, and the earth was full of his praise.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour,.... A second time, as Abarbinel thinks; the young man giving no answer to him the first time, perhaps through fear, he repeats it, and enlarges upon it for his encouragement:

come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised; as these Philistines were, whereas several of the other nations, though Heathen, were circumcised; as the Edomites, Arabians, and others; and this Jonathan observes to the young man, in hope that they being such the Lord would deliver them into their hand:

it may be that the Lord will work for us; a sign, as the Targum, a miracle, as indeed he did; and of which Jonathan was persuaded in his own mind, though he did not choose to express himself in a confident way; not knowing in what manner, and whether at this time the Lord would appear, and work salvation and deliverance; and yet had a strong impulse upon his mind it would be wrought, and therefore was encouraged to try this expedient:

for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few; he is not limited to numbers, and can easily work salvation by a few as by many. It is no difficult thing to him to save by few, nor can anything hinder him, let the difficulties be what they will, when he has determined to deliver his people.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It is remarkable that the epithet “uncircumcised,” used as a term of reproach, is confined almost exclusively to the Philistines. (Compare 1 Samuel 17:26, 1 Samuel 17:36; Judges 14:3; Judges 15:18, etc.) This is probably an indication of the long oppression of the Israelites by the Philistines and of their frequent wars.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 14:6. Let us go over — Moved, doubtless, by a Divine impulse.

There is no restraint to the Lord — This is a fine sentiment; and where there is a promise of defense and support, the weakest, in the face of the strongest enemy, may rely on it with the utmost confidence.


 
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