1 Samuel 31 6

1 Samuel 31:6 kjv

So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

1 Samuel 31:6 nkjv

So Saul, his three sons, his armorbearer, and all his men died together that same day.

1 Samuel 31:6 niv

So Saul and his three sons and his armor-bearer and all his men died together that same day.

1 Samuel 31:6 esv

Thus Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men, on the same day together.

1 Samuel 31:6 nlt

So Saul, his three sons, his armor bearer, and his troops all died together that same day.

1 Samuel 31 verses

1 Samuel 31 6 Meaning

This verse declares the immediate and complete annihilation of King Saul's immediate circle during the fateful Battle of Gilboa. It marks the tragic end of Israel's first king, his three royal sons (including Jonathan), his devoted armor-bearer, and all his accompanying men, signifying a catastrophic military defeat and the closure of an era for the kingdom of Israel.

1 Samuel 31 6 Context

The immediate context of 1 Samuel 31:6 is the devastating Battle of Gilboa, a decisive clash between the Philistines and Israel. The preceding verses (31:1-5) detail how Saul's army was routed, his sons killed, and Saul himself severely wounded by Philistine archers. Desperate to avoid capture and humiliation, Saul commanded his armor-bearer to kill him, but the armor-bearer refused. In his final act, Saul fell on his own sword, taking his own life. Following this, the armor-bearer, in a display of ultimate loyalty and shared fate, also committed suicide. This catastrophic scene of death sets the stage for the definitive declaration of 1 Samuel 31:6, emphasizing the complete destruction of Saul's personal retinue on that day.In the broader historical narrative, this event culminates Saul's troubled reign, marked by disobedience to God, paranoia, and the constant pursuit of David. His death marks the end of Israel's first monarchy, which began with God's choosing of Saul but ultimately failed due to Saul's spiritual compromises and lack of faith. It clears the path for David's ascendance to the throne, as foretold by the prophet Samuel, ushering in a new chapter in Israel's history.

1 Samuel 31 6 Word analysis

• So: (Hebrew: וַיָּמָת - vayiyamot). Connects this outcome directly to the preceding events of battle, defeat, and Saul's suicide. It indicates a clear consequence.

• Saul: (Hebrew: שָׁאוּל - Sha'ul). The first king of Israel. His personal demise symbolizes the end of the flawed, early phase of Israelite monarchy chosen by human desire, contrasting with God's perfect choice.

• died: (Hebrew: וַיָּמָת - vayiyamot - from mut, "to die"). Emphasizes the definitive finality of his life and reign. This is a common Hebrew verb, highlighting the absolute cessation of life.

• and his three sons: (Hebrew: וּשְׁלֹשֶׁת בָּנָיו - ushloshet banaw). These are Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua (listed in 1 Sam 31:2). Their simultaneous deaths represent a sweeping calamity, extinguishing the royal line from Saul's direct descendants, making the path for David's kingship complete. Jonathan's death is particularly poignant, ending his covenant relationship with David.

• and his armor-bearer: (Hebrew: וְנֹשֵׂא כֵלָיו - v'nose' khelyaw). An intimate, trusted personal attendant responsible for carrying and protecting the king's weapons. His death signifies not just loyalty but also the extent of the disaster—the closest retinue of the king utterly destroyed. His act of suicide after Saul's reflects profound despair or ultimate devotion, unwilling to live beyond his master's demise or face enemy capture.

• and all his men: (Hebrew: וְכָל אֲנָשָׁיו - v'chol anashaw). Refers to the royal guard, personal retinue, or fighting force directly accompanying the king. This phrase emphasizes the scale of the devastation, a complete routing that left no one close to him alive. It was a comprehensive defeat.

• that same day: (Hebrew: בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - bayom hahu). Stresses the immediate, sudden, and singular nature of this widespread death. It highlights the decisive, irreversible shift in the power dynamic.

• together: (Hebrew: יַחְדָּו - yachdaw). Reinforces the collective fate, implying simultaneous action or outcome. They shared the same devastating end, united in their fall, which emphasizes the complete unraveling of Saul's kingdom on the battlefield.

• So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armor-bearer, and all his men: This sequence describes the swift and complete destruction of Saul's lineage and closest personal force, leaving no immediate survivors from his side. It highlights the abrupt and dramatic end to his kingship and the full consequences of the military defeat.

• that same day together: This phrase underscores the immediacy and totality of the calamity. It was not a lingering process but a decisive, sudden obliteration of Saul's authority and immediate family/forces in one fatal event. This synchronicity heightens the sense of divine judgment or fate sealing their doom.

1 Samuel 31 6 Bonus section

The immediate fate of Saul and his close circle contrasts sharply with the eventual anointing and rise of David. Despite David's grief over Saul and Jonathan, their deaths paved the undisputed way for God's chosen king. The defeat highlights the vulnerability of even a divinely appointed leader when trust is shifted from God to self and other worldly resources (like the medium of Endor). This collective destruction is sometimes seen as divine judgment for Saul's ultimate unfaithfulness and seeking guidance apart from the Lord (1 Chr 10:13-14), providing a crucial turning point in Israel's theological and political development towards the Davidic covenant.

1 Samuel 31 6 Commentary

1 Samuel 31:6 concisely summarizes the tragic culmination of King Saul's reign, marking not just his personal death but the wholesale destruction of his immediate power structure. The detailed description of who perished—Saul, his three sons, his armor-bearer, and all his accompanying men—underscores the devastating scale of the defeat on Mount Gilboa. This immediate, collective demise "that same day together" is a potent symbol of a kingdom's rapid fall due to disobedience to God and reliance on human strength.

Theologically, this verse functions as a powerful testament to the consequences of divine rejection. Saul's ultimate failure to heed God's commands (e.g., in 1 Sam 13 and 15) led to God removing His blessing, which culminated in this overwhelming defeat. The death of Jonathan, David's covenant friend, while tragic, also providentially cleared the way for the unified reign of David, solidifying God's promise to establish a king after His own heart (1 Sam 13:14). Thus, while a human tragedy, it simultaneously highlights God's sovereign hand in orchestrating history and fulfilling His purposes for Israel. It serves as a stark reminder that true security and power lie not in human armies or earthly kings, but in faithful obedience to the Lord.