1 Samuel 14:25 kjv
And all they of the land came to a wood; and there was honey upon the ground.
1 Samuel 14:25 nkjv
Now all the people of the land came to a forest; and there was honey on the ground.
1 Samuel 14:25 niv
The entire army entered the woods, and there was honey on the ground.
1 Samuel 14:25 esv
Now when all the people came to the forest, behold, there was honey on the ground.
1 Samuel 14:25 nlt
even though they had all found honeycomb on the ground in the forest.
1 Samuel 14 25 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 23:21 | "When you make a vow to the LORD your God, you shall not delay to pay it..." | Importance of keeping vows, but also wisdom |
| Num 30:2 | "If a man makes a vow to the LORD or swears an oath to bind himself by a pledge..." | Binding nature of oaths |
| Prov 20:25 | "It is a snare to a man to devote a thing rashly..." | Danger of rash vows |
| Ecc 5:4-5 | "When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools...Better that you should | Caution against foolish or hasty vows |
| Psa 81:16 | "...I would feed you with the finest of the wheat, and with honey from the rock I would satisfy you." | God's provision of food and honey |
| Deut 8:8 | "...a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive trees and honey..." | Israel as a land of provision, including honey |
| Exod 3:8 | "...a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey..." | Canaan as a land of abundant provision |
| Lev 7:23 | "...you shall eat no fat from any ox or sheep or goat." | Dietary laws indicating permissible foods |
| Matt 3:4 | "Now John wore a garment of camel's hair...and his food was locusts and wild honey." | Example of wild honey as sustenance |
| Judg 14:8-9 | "...Samson turned aside to see the carcass...a swarm of bees and honey were in the carcass...ate it..." | Instance of wild honey discovery |
| 1 Sam 14:24 | "And the men of Israel were distressed that day, for Saul had laid an oath on the people..." | Direct immediate context: Saul's oath |
| 1 Sam 14:28 | "Then one of the people said, 'Your father strictly charged the people with an oath...'" | The oath's impact on the people |
| 1 Sam 14:31 | "They struck the Philistines that day from Michmash to Aijalon. And the people were very faint." | Consequences of hunger; battle aftermath |
| 1 Sam 14:43-44 | "Saul said to Jonathan, 'Tell me what you have done.' ...'You shall surely die, Jonathan,' said Saul." | Saul's willingness to execute over the vow |
| Psa 19:10 | "More to be desired are they than gold...sweeter also than honey and drippings of the honeycomb." | Honey as a symbol of sweetness, desirability |
| Eze 3:3 | "He said to me, 'Son of man, eat this scroll that I am giving you and fill your stomach with it.' Then I ate | Eating something that tastes sweet |
| Job 20:17 | "He will not look on the rivers, the streams flowing with honey and curds." | Imagery of prosperity including honey |
| Luke 24:41-42 | "While they still disbelieved for joy...they gave him a piece of broiled fish, and some of honey." | Honey as part of a meal |
| Isa 7:15 | "He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good." | Honey as part of simple sustenance for a child |
| Col 2:20-23 | "If with Christ you died to the elemental spirits...Why, as if you were still living in the world, do you su | Warning against man-made rules or asceticism |
1 Samuel 14 verses
1 Samuel 14 25 Meaning
1 Samuel 14:25 describes the fatigued Israelite army, weary from battle, entering a wooded area where they find wild honey easily accessible on the ground. This verse sets the stage for the next events, highlighting the physical exhaustion of the soldiers due to King Saul's impulsive and burdensome oath, which forbade them from eating until the evening, despite the pressing need for nourishment during an active battle.
1 Samuel 14 25 Context
1 Samuel 14 unfolds the ongoing war between Israel and the Philistines. The preceding verses (14:1-23) detail Jonathan's bold and faith-filled, though unauthorized, attack on the Philistine garrison, which God honors by creating panic and chaos among the enemy. This leads to a rout where the Israelites pursue their fleeing foes. However, at the onset of this crucial battle (14:24), King Saul, in a display of misplaced piety and questionable leadership, imposes a rash and harsh oath on his exhausted soldiers: "Cursed be the man who eats food until evening, before I am avenged on my enemies!" This oath severely limits the fighting men, already weary, from receiving necessary sustenance. Verse 25 then describes the army's deep fatigue and their arrival in a forested area, setting the scene for the discovery of honey, a natural source of quick energy, and the subsequent dilemma regarding Saul's oath. Historically, the period is marked by Israel's transition to monarchy, with Saul as their first king, yet he frequently acts independently of God's counsel, demonstrating a focus on outward rituals rather than genuine obedience or care for his people. The account may subtly polemicize against reliance on human leadership and self-imposed strictures that hinder God's will and the well-being of the people, contrasting Saul's impulsive piety with God's practical provision.
1 Samuel 14 25 Word analysis
And all the people of the land (
וְכָל-הָעָם הָאָרֶץ, ve-khol ha-ʿam ha-aretz):- all the people: Emphasizes the entire body of soldiers involved in the pursuit.
- of the land: (
הָאָרֶץ, ha-aretz) In this military context,ha'aretzrefers to the people of the land or nation, specifically the men conscripted for battle, the fighting force of Israel. It implies common folk, soldiers, not necessarily tribal or official leaders.
went into the forest (
בָּאוּ בַיָּעַר, ba'u ba-ya'ar):- went into: Simple verb of motion, indicating their path as they pursued the Philistines.
- the forest: (
בַיָּעַר, ba-ya'ar) A dense, wild wooded area. The presence of a forest in this region suggests natural abundance and a suitable environment for wild bees, implying a wild and rugged terrain conducive to a skirmish rather than open warfare.
and there was honey on the ground. (
וְהִנֵּה דְבַשׁ מִסֻּכַּת הַשָּׂדֶה, ve-hinneh devash misukkah ha-sadeh - This literal translation refers to honeycomb dripping or honey spread).- and there was: An interjection of "behold" or "lo," indicating an unexpected or notable sight.
- honey: (
דְּבַשׁ, devash) Refers to wild honey, typically produced by wild bees in rock crevices or tree hollows. In the Bible, honey often symbolizes pleasantness, sweetness, abundance, and divine provision (Psa 19:10, Deut 8:8). The immediate discovery signifies readily available, natural energy. - on the ground (or "dripping," "spread on the face of the field/surface"): (
מִסֻּכַּת הַשָּׂדֶה, misukkah ha-sadeh or simply "spread out on the face of the ground"). This phrase specifically indicates honey that was oozing or dripping from a source (like a honeycomb in a tree or rock) and collecting on the surface of the earth. This implies it was not in hives or collected, but immediately accessible, representing a quick, spontaneous source of nourishment and a test of the oath. The termsadehcan mean "field" or "open country/ground," so "spread over the open ground" fits well, showing it was not hidden.
Words-group analysis:
- "all the people of the land went into the forest": This phrase emphasizes the unity of the fighting force, but also their physical movement into an area that surprisingly holds a source of natural sustenance. Their movement through the natural environment directly leads them to this unexpected find, which later causes a major problem due to Saul's oath.
- "and there was honey on the ground": This climactic observation directly introduces the crucial element of the narrative—a rich source of readily available, energy-giving food for a starved army. The immediate and visible presence of the honey serves as both a providential gift for the famished soldiers and a severe challenge to the unwise command of King Saul. The ease of access (“on the ground” / "spread out") is key; it’s not something they need to actively search for or work to acquire, highlighting its temptation given their hunger.
1 Samuel 14 25 Bonus section
The "honey on the ground" might imply honey that had dripped from a honeycomb broken by battle, or perhaps simply a very active swarm producing an abundance, signifying God's direct, opportune, and visible provision precisely when His people were weak and suffering from poor human leadership. The Philistine retreat through this very area means the honey was also accessible to them, yet for Israel it became a source of ethical and physical dilemma because of the king's word. This small detail implicitly critiques Saul's leadership, which through its misguided actions, made a blessing (God's provision of food) into a snare for his own army, leading to their extreme exhaustion and later, their sin of eating meat with blood (1 Sam 14:31-32).
1 Samuel 14 25 Commentary
1 Samuel 14:25 is a seemingly simple observation that carries profound narrative weight within the larger context of Saul's reign and Israel's spiritual state. The verse follows Jonathan's heroic acts and precedes the near-disastrous consequences of Saul's impulsive and ill-advised oath, which forbade the army from eating until evening. The description of "all the people... went into the forest" emphasizes the extensive nature of the pursuit and the collective fatigue of the entire army. The subsequent discovery of "honey on the ground" highlights God's ongoing provision in creation, offering immediate relief and strength to the famished soldiers. Wild honey, a known source of quick energy in ancient times, lay openly available, presenting a stark contrast to Saul's decree. This moment reveals the tension between natural necessity and a religiously motivated, but humanly misguided, command. While God had given victory to His people through Jonathan, Saul's legalistic vow was preventing the army from capitalizing fully on the victory due to their weakening strength. This small detail underscores a crucial thematic conflict: God’s abundant grace and practical care (honey) vs. human rigid legalism and poor leadership (Saul’s oath). It is a foreshadowing of Saul's later rejections, often rooted in a misinterpretation of God's will or a self-serving piety rather than true obedience and love for His people.