1 Samuel 11 · Verse 5

1 Samuel 11:5

And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.
1 Samuel 11:5, King James Version

1 Samuel 11:5 in other translations

BSBJust then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. “Why are they weeping?” And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh.
WEBBehold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, “What ails the people that they weep?” They told him the words of the men of Jabesh.
ASVAnd, behold, Saul came following the oxen out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the words of the men of Jabesh.
YLTand lo, Saul hath come after the herd out of the field, and Saul saith, ‘What--to the people, that they weep?' and they recount to him the words of the men of Jabesh.
DARBYAnd behold, Saul came after the oxen from the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they related to him the words of the men of Jabesh.
BBENow Saul came from the field, driving the oxen before him; and he said, Why are the people weeping? And they gave him word of what the men of Jabesh had said.
WebsterAnd behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

What does 1 Samuel 11:5 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 5 Saul came after the herd - He had been bred up to an agricultural life, and after his consecration he returned to it, waiting for a call of Divine providence, which he considered he had now received in the message from Jabesh-gilead. It has often been remarked, that mighty kings and accomplished generals have been chosen from among those who were engaged in agricultural concerns. In these observations one fact is lost sight of, viz., that in ancient times agriculture was the only employment. Trade and commerce were scarcely known; therefore all descriptions of official dignities must be chosen out of this class, there being no other to choose them from. We need not wonder at these words of the poet: - Jura dabat populis posito modo consul aratro; Pascebatque suas ipse senator oves. "The consul, having now laid aside his plough, gives laws to the people; And the senator himself feeds his own sheep." Ovid, Fast. lib. i., v. 204-207.

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 11:5 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.

וְהִנֵּ֣הve.hi.Nehand there!H2009
שָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
בָּ֣אba'[was] comingH935
אַחֲרֵ֤י'a.cha.ReiafterH310
הַבָּקָר֙ha.ba.Karthe cattleH1241
מִן\־min-fromH4480
הַשָּׂדֶ֔הha.sa.Dehthe fieldH7704
וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
שָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
מַה\־mah-what?H4100
לָּעָ֖םla.'Am[is] to the peopleH5971
כִּ֣יkithatH3588
יִבְכּ֑וּyiv.Kuthey are weepingH1058
וַיְסַ֨פְּרוּ\־vay.Sa.pe.ru-and they recountedH5608
ל֔וֹloto <the> him
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
דִּבְרֵ֖יdiv.Rei[the] words ofH1697
אַנְשֵׁ֥י'an.Shei[the] men ofH582
יָבֵֽישׁ\׃ya.VeishJabeshH3003

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

Cross references for 1 Samuel 11:5

  • 1 Kings 19:19

    So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.

  • 1 Samuel 9:1

    Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

  • Genesis 21:17

    And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.

  • Isaiah 22:1

    The burden of the valley of vision. What aileth thee now, that thou art wholly gone up to the housetops?

  • Judges 18:23

    And they cried unto the children of Dan. And they turned their faces, and said unto Micah, What aileth thee, that thou comest with such a company?

  • Psalms 78:71

    From following the ewes great with young he brought him to feed Jacob his people, and Israel his inheritance.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
after the herd.
9:1; 1Ki 19:19; Ps 78:71
What aileth.
Ge 21:17; Jud 18:23; Isa 22:1

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

Context

  • 1 Samuel 11:4

    Then came the messengers to Gibeah of Saul, and told the tidings in the ears of the people: and all the people lifted up their voices, and wept.

  • 1 Samuel 11:5

    And, behold, Saul came after the herd out of the field; and Saul said, What aileth the people that they weep? And they told him the tidings of the men of Jabesh.

  • 1 Samuel 11:6

    And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

Read all of 1 Samuel 11

1 Samuel 11:5 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y he aquí Saúl que venía del campo, tras los bueyes; y dijo Saúl: ¿Qué tiene el pueblo, que lloran? Y contáronle las palabras de los hombres de Jabes.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et voici, Saül venait des champs, derrière ses bœufs; et Saül dit: Qu’a donc le peuple, pour qu’ils pleurent? Et on lui raconta les paroles des hommes de Jabès.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und siehe, Saul kam hinter den Rindern her vom Felde, und Saul sprach: Was ist dem Volke, daß sie weinen? Und sie erzählten ihm die Worte der Männer von Jabes.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et ecce Saul veniebat, sequens boves de agro, et ait: Quid habet populus quod plorat? Et narraverunt ei verba virorum Jabes.