He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of its plunderers.
Parallel translations
- WEB He did valiantly, and struck the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of those who plundered them.
- KJV And he gathered an host, and smote the Amalekites, and delivered Israel out of the hands of them that spoiled them.
- NKJV And he gathered an army and attacked the Amalekites, and delivered Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
- NASB And he acted valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, and saved Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
- NLT He performed great deeds and conquered the Amalekites, saving Israel from all those who had plundered them.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Saul acts valiantly, defeating the Amalekites and delivering Israel from its plunderers.
Overview
This notice of Saul striking the Amalekites highlights a genuine accomplishment and anticipates the fuller test concerning Amalek in chapter 15. Saul's deliverance of Israel from its oppressors shows that God used him to protect his people. The mention of Amalek foreshadows the decisive trial of obedience that will soon seal Saul's rejection as king.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Exod 17:14Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.”
- 1 Sam 15:3–7Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’”
- Deut 25:19When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget!
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 14:48 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.