1 Samuel 19 5

1 Samuel 19:5 kjv

For he did put his life in his hand, and slew the Philistine, and the LORD wrought a great salvation for all Israel: thou sawest it, and didst rejoice: wherefore then wilt thou sin against innocent blood, to slay David without a cause?

1 Samuel 19:5 nkjv

For he took his life in his hands and killed the Philistine, and the LORD brought about a great deliverance for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood, to kill David without a cause?"

1 Samuel 19:5 niv

He took his life in his hands when he killed the Philistine. The LORD won a great victory for all Israel, and you saw it and were glad. Why then would you do wrong to an innocent man like David by killing him for no reason?"

1 Samuel 19:5 esv

For he took his life in his hand and he struck down the Philistine, and the LORD worked a great salvation for all Israel. You saw it, and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?"

1 Samuel 19:5 nlt

Have you forgotten about the time he risked his life to kill the Philistine giant and how the LORD brought a great victory to all Israel as a result? You were certainly happy about it then. Why should you murder an innocent man like David? There is no reason for it at all!"

1 Samuel 19 verses

1 Samuel 19 5 Meaning

Jonathan reminds his father King Saul of David's extraordinary bravery in facing Goliath, an act where David risked his life and through which the Lord brought a mighty deliverance for all Israel. Jonathan emphasizes that Saul witnessed this great salvation and rejoiced in it, questioning why Saul would now sin by seeking to shed the innocent blood of David without any just cause.

1 Samuel 19 5 Context

1 Samuel chapter 19 describes the culmination of King Saul's jealousy towards David, leading him to directly command his son Jonathan and all his servants to kill David. Jonathan, who loved David dearly and had an covenant friendship with him (1 Sam 18:3), defies his father's command. This verse is part of Jonathan's passionate and rhetorical plea to Saul, reminding him of David's loyalty and immense service to Israel. The historical context involves Israel's constant struggles with the Philistines, Saul's own decline from God's favor, and David's growing popularity and anointing as the future king. Jonathan's words strategically appeal to Saul's sense of reason, his shared past experiences of national deliverance, and the moral boundaries established by God's law regarding the shedding of innocent blood. Jonathan seeks to pull Saul back from his irrational rage and unrighteous intent by presenting a clear, undeniable case for David's blamelessness and crucial role in Israel's welfare.

1 Samuel 19 5 Word analysis

• For he took his life in his hand:

  • This is an idiom (כַּאֲשֶׁר נָפְשׁוֹ בְכַפּוֹ, ka'asher naphsho bekhappo) meaning to expose oneself to extreme danger or to risk one's life. The word nephesh (נֶפֶשׁ) means "soul" or "life." It conveys the ultimate self-sacrifice and personal risk David undertook. It emphasizes the extraordinary courage and desperation of David's act, highlighting the immense odds against him in facing Goliath.

• and struck down the Philistine:

  • Refers directly to David's single-handed defeat of Goliath of Gath in 1 Samuel 17. The Hebrew verb is (נָכָה, nakah), meaning "to strike, smite, beat." It emphasizes the decisive, physical action that ended the threat. This was not a minor skirmish but a pivotal battle, turning the tide for Israel.

• and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel:

  • Yahweh asah teshu'ah gedolah (יְהוָה עָשָׂה תְּשׁוּעָה גְדוֹלָה). The key here is that "the Lord worked" (YHWH asah) this salvation (teshu'ah). Jonathan is shifting the focus from David's skill or might to God's ultimate power and intervention. This is a theological point, asserting divine sovereignty over human instrumentality. The word teshu'ah (תְּשׁוּעָה) denotes "deliverance, salvation, victory," implying a divine rescue from peril. This "great salvation" (gedolah) indicates the profound, nationwide impact of the victory over the Philistines, securing safety and stability for Israel.

• You saw it and rejoiced:

  • This is a direct and poignant appeal to Saul's own memory and initial emotional response. Jonathan reminds Saul that he himself was a witness to God's hand in David's victory and had celebrated it. This creates a powerful rhetorical contrast between Saul's past appropriate reaction and his current murderous rage, underscoring the irrationality and injustice of his present intent. It's an appeal to Saul's shared experience and conscience.

• Why then will you sin against innocent blood:

  • The phrase "innocent blood" (דָם נָקִי, dam naqi) refers to the shedding of a blameless person's life. This concept is deeply rooted in Mosaic law and biblical ethics, carrying grave implications for corporate and individual guilt (Deut 19:10, 21:8; Jer 7:6). Jonathan charges Saul with an act that is not merely personal injustice but a profound moral and theological offense against God's law.

• by killing David without cause?:

  • The term "without cause" (חִנָּם, chinnam) means "for nothing, gratuitously, unjustly, maliciously." It implies an act completely lacking justification, reason, or provocation from David's side. David has committed no crime worthy of death. This highlights the sheer unrighteousness and unprovoked nature of Saul's anger, exposing it as envy rather than justice.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "For he took his life in his hand and struck down the Philistine": This phrase establishes David's profound courage and past sacrifice for the nation. It recounts a deed of exceptional valor that directly benefited all of Israel, setting the stage for Jonathan's argument of David's worthiness.
  • "and the Lord worked a great salvation for all Israel": This phrase attributes the ultimate success of David's action to divine intervention, not merely human strength. Jonathan reframes the victory as God's work for His people, reminding Saul that David was merely an instrument in a divinely ordained deliverance, something for which Saul, as king, should be thankful and supportive.
  • "You saw it and rejoiced. Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?": This powerful rhetorical question brings the argument home to Saul. Jonathan directly appeals to Saul's memory and conscience, contrasting Saul's past joy and recognition of God's hand with his present sinful desire to kill David. It underscores the profound moral and religious transgression of intending to shed innocent blood without justification, appealing to universal ethical standards that even a king is bound by.

1 Samuel 19 5 Bonus section

The rhetorical effectiveness of Jonathan's plea is magnified by the shared understanding of what constitutes "innocent blood" within the Mosaic covenant. The idea of dam naqi (innocent blood) carried immense legal and theological weight in ancient Israel. To shed it brought not only individual guilt but potentially corporate guilt upon the land and its people, requiring propitiation. Jonathan's challenge thus places Saul in a severe position, contrasting his desire for murder with fundamental divine commands and societal well-being. Jonathan does not accuse Saul directly but subtly lays out the facts and asks Saul to judge himself based on his own past actions and the accepted moral code. This appeal highlights Jonathan's wisdom and his deep love and loyalty to both David and what is righteous in the eyes of the Lord. The initial positive response from Saul ("he listened to the voice of Jonathan, and Saul swore, 'As the LORD lives, he shall not be put to death'") showcases the power of a Spirit-led intercession rooted in truth and justice, even though Saul's heart would quickly turn again to murderous rage.

1 Samuel 19 5 Commentary

Jonathan's plea in 1 Samuel 19:5 is a masterclass in intercessory rhetoric, blending factual recall with theological depth and moral appeal. He strategically reminds Saul of David's extraordinary act against Goliath, framing it not just as David's heroism but as "the Lord working a great salvation for all Israel." By emphasizing God's role, Jonathan gently counters any residual envy Saul might harbor over David's individual achievement. He then makes a direct, personal appeal: "You saw it and rejoiced." This reminds Saul of their shared experience of deliverance and his own previous appropriate response, highlighting the inconsistency and sinfulness of his current murderous intent. The strongest appeal comes with "Why then will you sin against innocent blood by killing David without cause?" This challenges Saul on moral and spiritual grounds, evoking the severe consequences associated with unjust bloodshed under God's law. Jonathan implies that Saul, by seeking David's life, would be not only committing an act of grave injustice but also acting against God's previous intervention and blessings through David. Jonathan aims to awaken Saul's conscience and reason, demonstrating David's blamelessness and Saul's moral deviation.