And he acted valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, and saved Israel from the hands of those who plundered them.
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.
- BSB He fought valiantly and defeated the Amalekites, delivering Israel from the hands of its plunderers.
- NKJV And he gathered an army and attacked the Amalekites, and delivered 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 17:14Yahweh said to Moses, “Write this for a memorial in a book, and rehearse it in the ears of Joshua: that I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky.”
- 1 Sam 15:3–7Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’”
- Deut 25:19Therefore it shall be, when Yahweh your God has given you rest from all your enemies all around, in the land which Yahweh your God gives you for an inheritance to possess it, that you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under the sky. You shall 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.