1 Samuel 11 · Verse 2

1 Samuel 11:2

And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
1 Samuel 11:2, King James Version

1 Samuel 11:2 in other translations

BSBBut Nahash the Ammonite replied, “I will make a treaty with you on one condition, that I may put out everyone’s right eye and bring reproach upon all Israel.”
WEBNahash the Ammonite said to them, “On this condition I will make it with you, that all your right eyes be gouged out. I will make this dishonor all Israel.”
ASVAnd Nahash the Ammonite said unto them, On this condition will I make it with you, that all your right eyes be put out; and I will lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
YLTAnd Nahash the Ammonite saith unto them, ‘For this I covenant with you, by picking out to you every right eye--and I have put it a reproach on all Israel.'
DARBYAnd Nahash the Ammonite said to them, On this condition will I treat with you, that I thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.
BBEAnd Nahash the Ammonite said to them, I will make an agreement with you on this condition, that all your right eyes are put out; so that I may make it a cause of shame to all Israel.
WebsterAnd Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

What does 1 Samuel 11:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. thrust out all your right eyes--literally, "scoop" or "hollow out" the ball. This barbarous mutilation is the usual punishment of usurpers in the East, inflicted on chiefs; sometimes, also, even in modern history, on the whole male population of a town. Nahash meant to keep the Jabeshites useful as tributaries, whence he did not wish to render them wholly blind, but only to deprive them of their right eye, which would disqualify them for war. Besides, his object was, through the people of Jabesh-gilead, to insult the Israelitish nation.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 I may thrust out all your right eves - This cruel condition would serve at once as a badge of their slavery, and a means of incapacitating them from being effective warriors. Theodoret observes, "He who opposes his shield to the enemy with his left hand, thereby hides his left eye, and looks at his enemy with his right eye; he therefore who plucks out that right eye makes men useless in war." Josephus gives the same reason.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 11:1-11

Chapter Outline Jabesh-gilead delivered. (1-11) Saul confirmed in his kingdom. (12-15) Verses 1-11 The first fruit of Saul's government was the rescue of Jabesh-gilead from the Ammonites. To save their lives, men will part with liberty, and even consent to have their eyes put out; is it then no wisdom to part with that sin which is as dear to us as our right eye, rather than to be cast into hell-fire? See the faith…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 11:1-11 →

1 Samuel 11:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם'a.lei.Hemto themH413
נָחָשׁ֙na.ChashNahashH5176
הָעַמּוֹנִ֔יha.'a.mo.Nithe AmmoniteH5984
בְּזֹאת֙be.zoTby thisH2063
אֶכְרֹ֣ת'ekh.RotI will makeH3772
לָכֶ֔םla.Khemto <the> you
בִּנְק֥וֹרbin.Korby gouging outH5365
לָכֶ֖םla.Khemof you
כָּל\־kol-everyH3605
עֵ֣ין'eineye ofH5869
יָמִ֑יןya.Min[the] right [side]H3225
וְשַׂמְתִּ֥יהָve.sam.Ti.haand I will make itH7760
חֶרְפָּ֖הcher.Paha reproachH2781
עַל\־'al-onH5921
כָּל\־kol-allH3605
יִשְׂרָאֵֽל\׃Yis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 11:2

  • 1 Samuel 17:26

    And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?

  • Genesis 34:14

    And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:

  • Numbers 16:14

    Moreover thou hast not brought us into a land that floweth with milk and honey, or given us inheritance of fields and vineyards: wilt thou put out the eyes of these men? we will not come up.

  • Exodus 3:6

    Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.

  • 2 Kings 18:31

    Hearken not to Hezekiah: for thus saith the king of Assyria, Make an agreement with me by a present, and come out to me, and then eat ye every man of his own vine, and every one of his fig tree, and drink ye every one the waters of his cistern:

  • Judges 16:21

    But the Philistines took him, and put out his eyes, and brought him down to Gaza, and bound him with fetters of brass; and he did grind in the prison house.

  • Jeremiah 39:7

    Moreover he put out Zedekiah’s eyes, and bound him with chains, to carry him to Babylon.

  • Proverbs 12:10

    A righteous man regardeth the life of his beast: but the tender mercies of the wicked are cruel.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
On this.
2Ki 18:31
thrust.
Jud 16:21; Ex 3:6; Pr 12:10; Jer 39:7
reproach.
17:26; Ge 34:14

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 11:1

    Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabesh–gilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.

  • 1 Samuel 11:2

    And Nahash the Ammonite answered them, On this condition will I make a covenant with you, that I may thrust out all your right eyes, and lay it for a reproach upon all Israel.

  • 1 Samuel 11:3

    And the elders of Jabesh said unto him, Give us seven days’ respite, that we may send messengers unto all the coasts of Israel: and then, if there be no man to save us, we will come out to thee.

Read all of 1 Samuel 11

1 Samuel 11:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y Naas Ammonita les respondió: Con esta condición haré alianza con vosotros, que á cada uno de todos vosotros saque el ojo derecho, y ponga esta afrenta sobre todo Israel.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et Nakhash, l’Ammonite, leur dit: Je traiterai avec vous, à la condition que je vous crève à tous l’œil droit et que j’en mette l’opprobre sur tout Israël.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber Nahas, der Ammoniter, sprach zu ihnen: Unter dieser Bedingung will ich einen Bund mit euch machen, daß ich euch allen das rechte Auge aussteche und damit eine Schmach auf ganz Israel lege.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et respondit ad eos Naas Ammonites: In hoc feriam vobiscum fœdus, ut eruam omnium vestrum oculos dextros, ponamque vos opprobrium in universo Israël.