1 Samuel 14:51 kjv
And Kish was the father of Saul; and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
1 Samuel 14:51 nkjv
Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
1 Samuel 14:51 niv
Saul's father Kish and Abner's father Ner were sons of Abiel.
1 Samuel 14:51 esv
Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel.
1 Samuel 14:51 nlt
Saul's father, Kish, and Abner's father, Ner, were both sons of Abiel.
1 Samuel 14 51 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:1 | "There was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish... the father of Saul." | Identifies Saul's father, Kish. |
| 1 Sam 14:50 | "And Ner, the father of Abner, was the son of Abiel." | Contextualizes Ner's lineage directly before. |
| 1 Sam 17:55 | "When Saul saw David go out against the Philistine... he said to Abner..." | Abner as chief aide to Saul in major events. |
| 1 Sam 26:7 | "So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul..." | Abner’s role guarding Saul's sleep. |
| 2 Sam 2:8 | "But Abner the son of Ner, commander of Saul's army..." | Abner's continued loyalty to Saul's house. |
| 2 Sam 2:9 | "And he made him king over Gilead, over the Ashurites..." | Abner installing Ish-bosheth as king. |
| 2 Sam 3:6 | "While there was war between the house of Saul and the house of David..." | Abner's leading role in ongoing conflict. |
| 2 Sam 3:20 | "So Abner came to David at Hebron with twenty men..." | Abner's overture to David for peace. |
| 2 Sam 3:27 | "And when Abner returned to Hebron, Joab took him aside... and struck him..." | Abner's ultimate fate and Joab's betrayal. |
| 1 Chr 8:33 | "Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul, Saul was the father of Jonathan..." | Ner as father of Kish, differing account. |
| 1 Chr 9:39 | "Ner was the father of Kish, Kish was the father of Saul..." | Reiterates Ner-Kish-Saul lineage. |
| Num 2:3 | "Those camping on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah..." | Military organization by tribe in Israel. |
| Deut 17:15 | "you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God chooses..." | Principles of kingship, though family often held sway. |
| Josh 14:7 | "I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the Lord sent me from Kadesh-barnea to spy out the land..." | Military leaders and age for service. |
| Jdg 4:2 | "And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan... and the commander of his army was Sisera." | Role of military commanders in different eras. |
| 1 Sam 13:2 | "Saul chose three thousand men of Israel. Two thousand were with Saul in Michmash..." | Organization of Saul's early army. |
| 1 Sam 18:2 | "Saul took him that day and would not let him return to his father’s house." | David brought into Saul's immediate court/army. |
| Esth 1:3 | "In the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and his servants, the army chiefs of Persia..." | Structure of royal court including army chiefs. |
| Prov 24:6 | "For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and victory is won through many advisers." | Importance of military leadership and counsel. |
| Rom 13:1 | "Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God..." | Divine establishment of governing structures. |
| 1 Tim 2:1-2 | "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers... be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions..." | Praying for those in positions of authority, including military leaders. |
1 Samuel 14 verses
1 Samuel 14 51 Meaning
This verse identifies Abner as the son of Ner, who was Saul's uncle, thus making Abner Saul's cousin. It clarifies Abner's crucial role as the commander of King Saul's army, establishing his high-ranking military and familial position within the nascent Israelite monarchy.
1 Samuel 14 51 Context
1 Samuel 14:51 concludes a passage that elaborates on King Saul's family and his military struggles. The chapter highlights Saul's faltering leadership, contrasted with the impulsive courage of his son Jonathan. After a victory against the Philistines, the text pauses to give details about Saul's key figures and persistent conflicts. Verses 49-50 briefly list Saul's family members (sons, daughters, wife, father of his wife), and then verse 51 focuses specifically on Abner. This provides vital background for understanding Abner's subsequent powerful and often decisive role in the remainder of Saul's reign and during the transition to David's kingship, especially regarding the house of Saul.
1 Samuel 14 51 Word analysis
- And: A conjunction linking this statement to the preceding description of Saul's family, signaling a continued elaboration on his household and its key figures.
- Abner: Hebrew: ʾAb̄nēr (אַבְנֵר). Meaning "my father is a lamp" or "father of light." A prominent name signifying a figure of guidance or illumination, often fitting for a military leader. His character later illuminates complexities of loyalty and power.
- the son: Indicates a direct lineage, crucial for identity and status in ancient Israel.
- of Ner: Hebrew: Nēr (נֵר). Meaning "lamp" or "light." This establishes the family line. The relationship between Ner and Kish (Saul's father) is vital for understanding Abner's connection to Saul; according to 1 Sam 14:50 and 1 Chr 8:33, Ner was Kish's brother, making Ner Saul's uncle and Abner his cousin. However, 1 Chr 8:33 states Ner was Kish's father, presenting a textual complexity usually resolved by understanding "father" here as progenitor in a broader sense, with the immediate context of 1 Sam clarifying the direct relationship.
- Saul's: Directly links the individual to the king, showing his familial ties to the royal house.
- uncle: This translation confirms Ner's fraternal relationship to Saul's father, Kish. The term dôd (דּוֹד) usually means "uncle," or can mean "kinsman," or specifically "father's brother" as is contextually applied here.
- was commander: Establishes Abner's specific, significant role in Saul's court. His position was one of high authority and direct command over the armed forces.
- of the army: Hebrew: śar-haṣṣābāʾ (שַׂר הַצָּבָא). Śar means "chief," "prince," or "commander," denoting a leader. Haṣṣābāʾ means "the army," "the host," or "the warfare." This title signifies his top military position, directly under the king, highlighting his strategic importance and direct command over all military forces. This position carried immense power and responsibility, influencing national security and foreign policy.
Words-group by words-group analysis
- Abner the son of Ner, Saul's uncle: This phrase highlights Abner's identity through both direct parentage (son of Ner) and familial proximity to the king (Saul's uncle), emphasizing that Saul and Abner are cousins. This relationship, combined with their shared Benjaminite tribal origin, forms the foundation of Abner's inherent loyalty and prominent position within Saul's government and army.
- was commander of the army: This establishes Abner's formal and significant occupational role. In ancient monarchies, the commander of the army was second only to the king in power, often dictating military campaigns, defense strategies, and maintaining order. This specific title reveals the centralized military structure taking shape under Israel's first king. It sets the stage for Abner's prominent role in all future military engagements, including his significant involvement in the conflict between the house of Saul and David's rise.
1 Samuel 14 51 Bonus section
The distinction between Saul and Abner's lineage found in different biblical books (1 Sam 14:51 vs. 1 Chr 8:33, 9:39) points to the flexibility in ancient Israelite genealogies, where "father" could sometimes denote a direct ancestor and at other times a broader familial progenitor, or perhaps reflects different archival traditions. The crucial takeaway remains Abner's strong blood-kinship with Saul, validating his trusted position. Abner's character embodies the dual nature of loyalty and self-interest that often permeated leadership during this transitional period in Israel's history, moving from a loose tribal confederation to a centralized monarchy.
1 Samuel 14 51 Commentary
1 Samuel 14:51 succinctly yet powerfully defines the critical relationship and position of Abner within King Saul's administration. By identifying Abner as Saul's cousin (through Ner being Saul's uncle), the verse underscores the strong tribal and family loyalties that characterized the early Israelite monarchy. Leadership positions, especially within the military, were often held by close relatives of the king, ensuring trust and consolidating power. Abner, as "commander of the army," held the most influential post besides Saul himself, making him indispensable to Saul's reign and setting him up as a key player in the unfolding drama between Saul and David. This verse subtly highlights the structure of the fledgling kingdom and hints at the dynastic struggles to come, where Abner would play a central, even king-making, role in upholding the lineage of Saul against David.