1 Samuel 14:15 kjv
And there was trembling in the host, in the field, and among all the people: the garrison, and the spoilers, they also trembled, and the earth quaked: so it was a very great trembling.
1 Samuel 14:15 nkjv
And there was trembling in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and the raiders also trembled; and the earth quaked, so that it was a very great trembling.
1 Samuel 14:15 niv
Then panic struck the whole army?those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties?and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God.
1 Samuel 14:15 esv
And there was a panic in the camp, in the field, and among all the people. The garrison and even the raiders trembled, the earth quaked, and it became a very great panic.
1 Samuel 14:15 nlt
Suddenly, panic broke out in the Philistine army, both in the camp and in the field, including even the outposts and raiding parties. And just then an earthquake struck, and everyone was terrified.
1 Samuel 14 15 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 23:27 | "I will send My terror before you, and will throw into confusion all..." | God sends terror to enemies |
| Deut 2:25 | "This day I will begin to put the dread and fear of you on the peoples..." | God puts dread upon enemies |
| Deut 3:22 | "You shall not fear them, for the LORD your God Himself is fighting..." | God fights for His people |
| Josh 2:9 | "...for the dread of you has fallen on us, and all the inhabitants of..." | Fear of Israel divinely induced |
| Josh 10:10 | "...the LORD threw them into a panic before Israel, who struck them..." | God causes panic in battle |
| Judg 7:22 | "...every man's sword was against his fellow and against all the army." | Friendly fire in panic |
| 2 Sam 22:8 | "Then the earth quaked and shook; The foundations of heaven trembled..." | Earthquakes as divine manifestation |
| Ps 18:7 | "Then the earth shook and trembled; The foundations of the mountains..." | God's power seen in creation |
| Ps 48:6 | "Trembling seized them there, anguish as of a woman in childbirth." | Sudden terror upon enemies |
| Ps 53:5 | "There they are in great dread where no dread had been..." | Terror without cause |
| Isa 24:18 | "...the windows from on high are opened, and the foundations of the earth..." | Earthquakes as divine judgment |
| Jer 49:24 | "Damascus has become helpless; she has turned to flee, and panic has..." | Nations struck with panic |
| Amos 8:8 | "Will not the land tremble on this account, And everyone mourn who lives..." | Earth trembling as divine sign |
| Nah 1:5 | "The mountains quake before Him, and the hills dissolve..." | Creation quakes before God's presence |
| Hab 3:6 | "...the everlasting mountains were scattered, the perpetual hills bowed..." | Mountains affected by God's power |
| Matt 27:51 | "And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two...and the earth shook..." | Earthquake at significant spiritual event |
| Matt 28:2 | "And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord..." | Earthquake at divine intervention (resurrection) |
| Acts 4:31 | "And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together..." | Quaking signifying divine presence/filling |
| 2 Chr 14:14 | "They struck all the cities around Gerar, for the dread of the LORD..." | God's terror enabling victory |
| 2 Chr 20:29 | "And the dread of God was on all the kingdoms of the lands..." | God's dread on enemy nations |
| Zech 4:6 | "...'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,' says the LORD..." | God's work is spiritual, not purely physical |
1 Samuel 14 verses
1 Samuel 14 15 Meaning
This verse describes a supernatural event of divine terror and an earthquake that afflicted the Philistine camp and its allies, immediately following Jonathan's courageous initiative against them. It signifies God's direct and overwhelming intervention, instilling a profound, God-ordained panic among Israel's enemies, ensuring their defeat even without a full Israelite army engagement.
1 Samuel 14 15 Context
The Philistines had oppressed Israel, disarming them and maintaining a strong military presence. King Saul had shown incompetence and a lack of faith, evidenced by his impatient, unlawful sacrifice in 1 Samuel 13. Amidst this despair, Jonathan, Saul's son, acted boldly by faith. He, accompanied only by his armor-bearer, launched a surprise attack on a Philistine outpost. His faith was rooted in the conviction that "nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few" (1 Sam 14:6). Verses 12-14 describe Jonathan's initial victory, slaying about twenty Philistine soldiers in a small area. This verse (14:15) then details the miraculous escalation of this small skirmish into a widespread divine terror and a physical shaking of the earth, leading to utter disarray among the Philistine forces. This chaotic scene sets the stage for Israel to pursue their scattered and terrified enemies.
1 Samuel 14 15 Word analysis
- And there was a trembling: Hebrew: וַתְּהִי חֲרָדָה (va-tə-hī ḥǎrāḏâ). The word "חֲרָדָה" (kharadah) signifies a deep, overwhelming dread, fear, or panic, often implying a divine origin. It's more than just physical shaking; it encompasses a psychological terror that causes disarray and incapacitation.
- in the camp: Hebrew: בַּמַּחֲנֶה (ba-mmaḥaneh). Refers specifically to the Philistine military encampment, indicating the epicenter of the divine disturbance.
- in the field: Hebrew: בַּשָּׂדֶה (ba-śśāḏeh). Denotes the broader open areas and cultivated land where Philistine troops might have been deployed or scattering, indicating the widespread nature of the panic.
- and among all the people: Hebrew: וּבְכָל הָעָם (ū-və-ḵāl hā-‘ām). This emphasizes that the panic was universal among the Philistine host, affecting not just the combatants but potentially even civilians or support personnel present.
- the garrison: Hebrew: הַמַּצָּב (ham-maṣṣāv). Refers to the specific Philistine outpost or detachment that Jonathan initially attacked. Their trembling confirms that even hardened, stationed troops were affected.
- and the spoilers also trembled: Hebrew: וְהַמַּשְׁחִית (wə-ham-mašḥīṯ) literally "the destroyers" or "ravagers." These were Philistine raiding parties known for plundering Israelite territory. That even these experienced, formidable units succumbed to the fear highlights the magnitude of the divine intervention. The same term "חֲרָדָה" (kharadah) is implied for their trembling, linking it to the divine panic.
- and the earth quaked: Hebrew: וַתִּרְגַּז הָאָרֶץ (wa-ttīrəgaʹz hā-’āreṣ). "רָגַז" (rāgaz) means "to be agitated, to tremble, to quake, to be furious." This specifies a literal earthquake, a natural phenomenon used supernaturally by God. Earthquakes in the Bible often signify God's presence, power, or judgment.
- so it was a very great trembling: Hebrew: לְחֶרְדַּת אֱלֹהִים הָיָתָה (lə-ḥerədaṯ ’ĕlōhîm hāyāṯâ). This is a crucial phrase. Literally, "it was a trembling of God." The construction "X of God" is a Hebrew idiom to express the superlative or divine origin of X. Thus, it wasn't merely a "very great trembling" in human terms, but a panic and terror divinely initiated and magnified by God Himself. This directly attributes the entire chaotic event—the psychological panic and the physical earthquake—to Yahweh's action, a powerful statement against Philistine deities like Dagon.
- Words-group Analysis: The repetition of "trembling" ("kharadah") underscores the overwhelming and pervasive nature of the fear. The sequence "in the camp, in the field, and among all the people" illustrates the total spread of the panic across the enemy's deployment. The inclusion of "garrison" and "spoilers" highlights that all facets of the Philistine military, from entrenched forces to mobile raiders, were affected. Finally, linking the earthquake with "a trembling of God" confirms that this was not a random coincidence or psychological breakdown, but a targeted, powerful, supernatural act of divine intervention from the God of Israel.
1 Samuel 14 15 Bonus section
The "trembling of God" (חֶרְדַּת אֱלֹהִים - kherdat Elohim) concept aligns with other biblical instances where God directly inflicts panic on enemies, rendering them ineffective or turning them against each other (e.g., Gen 35:5; 2 Chr 20:23). This directly contrasts the Philistines' reliance on their gods (like Dagon) and military might, showcasing the singular power of Yahweh. This polemic against pagan deities, common in Israelite narratives of war, demonstrates God's supremacy over all false gods and their perceived strengths. The event served as both an encouragement for Israel, assuring them of God's presence, and a clear demonstration to the Philistines of the true power of Israel's God.
1 Samuel 14 15 Commentary
This verse powerfully conveys that the overwhelming rout of the Philistines was not merely the result of Jonathan's bravery, but fundamentally a divine act. The "trembling of God" signifies a supernatural panic infused into the enemy, far exceeding normal battle fear. This fear, coupled with an actual earthquake, disoriented and scattered them, even causing friendly fire as stated in later verses. This event highlights God's sovereignty over nature and human hearts, His readiness to fight for His people, and His ability to turn a desperate situation into victory through unusual and powerful means. It serves as a reminder that divine intervention can dramatically alter circumstances, often through surprising methods, particularly when a faithful remnant takes initiative.