If they say to us, ‘Wait until we come to you’; then we will stand in our place and not go up to them.
Parallel translations
- WEB If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you!’ then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up to them.
- KJV If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
- BSB If they say, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stay where we are and will not go up to them.
- NKJV If they say thus to us, ‘Wait until we come to you,’ then we will stand still in our place and not go up to them.
- NLT If they say to us, ‘Stay where you are or we’ll kill you,’ then we will stop and not go up to 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
Jonathan sets the first half of his sign: if the Philistines tell them to wait, they will hold back from attacking.
Overview
Jonathan asks God to confirm his will through the enemy's own words, showing reverent dependence rather than presumption. His readiness to stand still if the sign is unfavorable reveals genuine submission to God's leading. This careful seeking of a sign reflects a heart that wants to act only as God directs.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 2
- Judg 6:36–40Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have spoken,
- Gen 24:13–14Behold, I am standing by the spring of water. The daughters of the men of the city are coming out to draw water.
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 14:9 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
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