1 Samuel 14:12 kjv
And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will show you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the LORD hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
1 Samuel 14:12 nkjv
Then the men of the garrison called to Jonathan and his armorbearer, and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you something." Jonathan said to his armorbearer, "Come up after me, for the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel."
1 Samuel 14:12 niv
The men of the outpost shouted to Jonathan and his armor-bearer, "Come up to us and we'll teach you a lesson." So Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Climb up after me; the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel."
1 Samuel 14:12 esv
And the men of the garrison hailed Jonathan and his armor-bearer and said, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing." And Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, "Come up after me, for the LORD has given them into the hand of Israel."
1 Samuel 14:12 nlt
Then the men from the outpost shouted to Jonathan, "Come on up here, and we'll teach you a lesson!" "Come on, climb right behind me," Jonathan said to his armor bearer, "for the LORD will help us defeat them!"
1 Samuel 14 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Judg 7:9 | That same night the LORD said to him, “Arise, go down... for I have given it into your hand.” | God assures victory to His servant. |
| Judg 7:15 | As soon as Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation... “Arise, for the LORD has given the host of Midian into your hand.” | Gideon's faith ignited by a specific sign. |
| 1 Sam 14:6 | Jonathan said to his armor-bearer, “Come, let us go over... For nothing restrains the LORD from saving by many or by few.” | Jonathan's core theological conviction for faith. |
| 1 Sam 14:10 | If they say, ‘Come up to us,’ then we will go up, for the LORD has given them into our hand.” | Jonathan's specific sign of divine leading. |
| 1 Sam 17:43 | The Philistine cursed David by his gods. | Enemies invoking their gods against God's people. |
| 1 Sam 17:46 | This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand... that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel. | God grants victory for His glory to be known. |
| Deut 20:3-4 | The LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory. | God fights on behalf of His people. |
| Deut 3:22 | Do not fear them, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you. | Encouragement that God actively participates in battles. |
| Josh 10:19 | Do not stay there but pursue your enemies... for the LORD your God has given them into your hand. | Divine instruction and promise of delivery. |
| Josh 23:10 | One man of you puts to flight a thousand, for it is the LORD your God who fights for you. | God empowers few to overcome many. |
| Judg 7:2 | The people with you are too many for me to give the Midianites into their hand. | God prefers to save through a few to highlight His power. |
| Ps 20:7 | Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God. | Contrasting human military power with divine trust. |
| Ps 33:16-17 | The king is not saved by his great army; a warrior is not delivered by his great strength. | God's deliverance independent of human strength. |
| Zech 4:6 | “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD of hosts. | God's work is accomplished through His Spirit, not human force. |
| Rom 8:31 | If God is for us, who can be against us? | God's active support renders opposition powerless. |
| Heb 11:32-34 | By faith ...subdued kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions. | Examples of faith leading to great victories. |
| 2 Chr 20:15 | Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. | Encouragement to trust God in overwhelming odds. |
| 2 Chr 20:17 | You will not need to fight in this battle. Take your position... see the salvation of the LORD. | God fighting for His people while they observe. |
| 1 Cor 1:27 | God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. | God uses unconventional means to demonstrate His power. |
| Isa 41:21-23 | Set forth your arguments, says the King of Jacob... Declare to us the things to come. | Challenge to pagan gods to demonstrate knowledge or power (re "show you a thing"). |
| 2 Kgs 18:28 | Then Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in Hebrew... to deter Hezekiah and Jerusalem from trusting the LORD. | Enemy taunting, designed to break morale. |
1 Samuel 14 verses
1 Samuel 14 12 Meaning
This verse details the Philistine garrison's response to Jonathan and his armor-bearer. It describes a pivotal moment where Jonathan's earlier requested sign from the LORD is fulfilled. The Philistines, from their fortified position, see Jonathan and his armor-bearer exposed as they climb. They issue a challenging taunt, inviting them to come up so they can "show them a thing," implying a defeat or severe lesson. Unbeknownst to them, this very challenge serves as the divine confirmation Jonathan sought, signaling that the LORD has delivered them into the hand of Israel.
1 Samuel 14 12 Context
Chapter 14 opens with Jonathan initiating a daring solo mission against a Philistine outpost at Michmash, unbeknownst to his father Saul or the rest of the Israelite army. The Philistines had superior weaponry (iron) and occupied strategic positions, effectively keeping Israel subjugated. Saul's army was demoralized, disarmed, and few in number. Jonathan, fueled by faith in the LORD's ability to save "by many or by few" (1 Sam 14:6), decided to act. He presented a specific test: if the Philistines told them to "stay there," they would retreat, but if they challenged them to "come up," it would be a divine sign of victory (1 Sam 14:10). This verse, 1 Samuel 14:12, records the Philistines providing the latter, affirming Jonathan's conviction and serving as God's go-ahead for the impending battle. It is a critical juncture where the human act of taunting is divinely reinterpreted as a sign of imminent victory.
1 Samuel 14 12 Word analysis
- And the men: The Hebrew vayya’anu (וַיַּעֲנוּ) often introduces a direct speech or response, here connecting the Philistine action as a reaction to Jonathan revealing himself.
- of the garrison: Hebrew hammatstsāḇ (הַמַּצָּב). Refers to the Philistine outpost, a standing military position or a fort. This signifies a group of stationed, prepared soldiers in a fortified location, highlighting their strategic advantage.
- answered: Hebrew vayya’anu (וַיַּעֲנוּ). Same verb as "and the men answered," meaning to respond or reply. It confirms the Philistines were aware of Jonathan's presence and were reacting to it.
- Jonathan and his armor-bearer: This pairing emphasizes their shared, isolated, and faith-driven endeavor. The armor-bearer's loyal presence underscores Jonathan's leadership and the incredible risk they both took.
- and said: Hebrew vayyomerū (וַיֹּאמְרוּ). Introduces their direct verbal challenge, which is the crux of the divine sign for Jonathan.
- 'Come up to us,': Hebrew ‘alū ’ēlēnū (עֲלוּ אֵלֵינוּ). The verb ‘alāh (עלה) means "to go up, ascend." This implies a steep, difficult climb, typical of the terrain at Michmash. It's an invitation but steeped in confidence and contempt from those holding the higher, safer ground.
- 'and we will show you a thing.': Hebrew wənoḏī‘āh ’eṯḵem dāḇār (וְנוֹדִיעָה אֶתְכֶם דָּבָר).
- wənoḏī‘āh: "and we will make known" or "cause to know" from the root yada' (ידע - to know). The causative Hiphil form suggests they will forcefully teach Jonathan a lesson or inflict harm upon him.
- ’eṯḵem: "you" (plural, referring to Jonathan and his armor-bearer).
- dāḇār: (דָּבָר). A highly versatile Hebrew word meaning "word," "thing," "matter," "deed," or "affair." Here, in context of a military taunt, it most likely implies an unwelcome event or a severe defeat. The Philistines intend to demonstrate their military superiority.
1 Samuel 14 12 Bonus section
The passage highlights the stark contrast between human wisdom and divine strategy. Saul's army was paralyzed by fear and Philistine dominance, while Jonathan acted on an unconventional divine impulse. The "passage of Michmash" itself was extremely difficult, almost vertical, turning the Philistines' "come up to us" into an even greater display of contempt and overconfidence. This detail underscores their expectation of an easy win against two men climbing such a treacherous path. Their statement functions as a double entendre: a literal invitation up the steep ascent and a figurative promise of a crushing defeat awaiting them. This fulfills Jonathan's test for a divine sign of 'given into our hand,' shifting the psychological advantage from the taunting Philistines to the God-empowered Jonathan.
1 Samuel 14 12 Commentary
1 Samuel 14:12 is a moment of divine irony and profound faith. The Philistine garrison's challenge to Jonathan, "Come up to us, and we will show you a thing," was intended as a boastful taunt from their militarily superior position. They viewed it as an easy way to deal with the audacious Israelites climbing towards them, expecting to "teach them a lesson" in combat. However, Jonathan had previously established this very declaration as the divine sign (1 Sam 14:10) confirming that the LORD would deliver the Philistines into the hand of Israel. Thus, what was a verbal act of Philistine hubris became God's precise green light for Jonathan. It perfectly illustrates how God orchestrates events, even the contempt of enemies, to fulfill His purposes and demonstrate His power, often through the "weak things" or "few" to shame the strong and many (1 Cor 1:27). Jonathan's faith was not blind but was predicated on God providing a specific, discernible confirmation for action.