1 Samuel 14 50

1 Samuel 14:50 kjv

And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz: and the name of the captain of his host was Abner, the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

1 Samuel 14:50 nkjv

The name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

1 Samuel 14:50 niv

His wife's name was Ahinoam daughter of Ahimaaz. The name of the commander of Saul's army was Abner son of Ner, and Ner was Saul's uncle.

1 Samuel 14:50 esv

And the name of Saul's wife was Ahinoam the daughter of Ahimaaz. And the name of the commander of his army was Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle.

1 Samuel 14:50 nlt

Saul's wife was Ahinoam, the daughter of Ahimaaz. The commander of Saul's army was Abner, the son of Saul's uncle Ner.

1 Samuel 14 verses

1 Samuel 14 50 Meaning

This verse serves as a crucial administrative and genealogical interlude within the narrative of King Saul's reign, specifically following accounts of battle and significant events involving Jonathan. It provides key details about the two most important figures in Saul’s personal life and administration outside of his immediate children: his wife, Ahinoam, and his powerful military commander, Abner. The verse establishes their identities and, significantly, their familial connections to Saul, emphasizing the kinship-based structure of the early Israelite monarchy. It underscores the personal alliances and structures that underpin Saul's kingship.

1 Samuel 14 50 Context

1 Samuel 14:50 appears as an administrative summary following the dramatic account of Jonathan's bold actions, Saul's rash oath, and the people's rescue of Jonathan from Saul's misguided curse. After recounting Saul's further military victories against various enemies (verses 47-48), the narrative briefly pauses to enumerate Saul's sons, his wife, and the critical role of Abner, his chief military commander. This contextual placement is significant: it rounds out the depiction of Saul's initial period of consolidated power and administration. The preceding verses emphasize Saul's attempts to establish himself as a conventional king with military might. The genealogical details of verse 50 help define Saul's immediate support system and family network upon which his early monarchy was built. Historically and culturally, the establishment of early monarchies often relied heavily on strong familial ties, with key administrative and military positions being given to trusted relatives to ensure loyalty and consolidate power. This verse sets the stage for future events, especially given Abner's pivotal role in the subsequent struggle for the throne between the house of Saul and the house of David.

1 Samuel 14 50 Word analysis

• Now the name: Signifies an explanatory or descriptive interjection, drawing attention to the following details as important information.
• Saul’s wife: Identifies the key consort of the first king of Israel, central to his domestic life and potentially lineage. This is Achino'am (אֲחִינֹעַם). Her father's name, Ahimaaz, distinguishes her from David's wife also named Ahinoam (1 Sam 25:43), ensuring no confusion.
• Ahinoam: A common Israelite name, meaning "my brother is pleasant" or "brother of pleasantness." While her identity is given, she plays no active role in the narratives.
• the daughter of Ahimaaz: Establishes her lineage, providing a definitive marker for her identity and preventing confusion with others of the same name. Achima'atz (אֲחִימַעַץ) meaning "my brother is strong/swift," or "brother of anger/counsel." This father's identity does not seem to connect to any prominent biblical figure elsewhere, suggesting it simply provides necessary identification.
• And the name of the commander of his army: Hebrew sar-tsava (שַׂר-צָבָא). This title denotes the chief military leader, a position second only to the king in authority over the armed forces. It signifies immense power and influence. In monarchies, this was a most trusted role.
• Abner: Avner (אַבְנֵר), meaning "my father is a lamp" or "my father is light." Abner is a figure of considerable importance throughout Saul’s reign and into the early period of David's kingship. His inclusion here highlights his crucial status.
• the son of Ner: Establishes Abner’s direct paternal lineage.
• Saul’s uncle: Clarifies Abner’s precise familial relationship to King Saul. Ner (נֵר), meaning "lamp," was Kish’s (Saul’s father) brother (1 Chr 8:33, 9:39). This close familial tie underscores the personal loyalty expected and given in such a patriarchal society. Abner was not merely an appointee but a trusted family member.

1 Samuel 14 50 Bonus section

The genealogical information presented in this verse is highly typical of biblical narrative, which often provides crucial identity markers for key players. The explicit mention of familial relationships—wife, daughter of, son of, uncle—highlights the patrilineal and kinship-based nature of Israelite society, especially in the formation of its monarchy. Saul, being chosen by divine selection, nonetheless built his immediate support structure on conventional familial ties. This detail about Abner being "Saul's uncle" sets the emotional and relational weight of Abner's actions later on, whether it's his dedicated loyalty to Ish-Bosheth or his controversial shift of allegiance towards David, making his subsequent fate all the more impactful within the biblical story of leadership and loyalty.

1 Samuel 14 50 Commentary

1 Samuel 14:50 functions as a concise summary of the key supporting figures within Saul’s royal establishment. It immediately follows the record of Saul’s victories and administration, signaling a transition from battlefield exploits to the internal structure of his court. The inclusion of Saul's wife, Ahinoam, emphasizes his household, though she remains largely unmentioned in the narrative. Of greater narrative significance is Abner, identified as Saul's military commander and, critically, his uncle. This verse solidifies Abner’s status not merely as a military leader but as a very close blood relative. In the ancient Near East, such appointments were common, designed to ensure loyalty and consolidate power within the ruling family. Abner’s prominent role here foreshadows his continued loyalty to the house of Saul after Saul's death, leading the forces against David (2 Sam 2-3). The verse, while brief, is essential for understanding the power dynamics and relationships within Saul’s court, setting the stage for subsequent interactions and conflicts that define the narrative shift towards David's rise.