1 Samuel 14 · Verse 6

1 Samuel 14:6

And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.
1 Samuel 14:6, King James Version

1 Samuel 14:6 in other translations

BSBJonathan said to the young man bearing his armor, “Come, let us cross over to the outpost of these uncircumcised men. Perhaps the LORD will work on our behalf. Nothing can hinder the LORD from saving, whether by many or by few.”
WEBJonathan said to the young man who bore his armor, “Come! Let’s go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for there is no restraint on the LORD to save by many or by few.”
ASVAnd Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armor, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.
YLTAnd Jonathan saith unto the young man bearing his weapons, ‘Come, and we pass over unto the station of these uncircumcised; it may be Jehovah doth work for us, for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.'
DARBYAnd Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armour, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: perhaps Jehovah will work for us; for there is no restraint to Jehovah to save by many or by few.
BBEAnd Jonathan said to his young servant who had his arms, Come, let us go over to the armies of these men who have no circumcision: it may be that the Lord will give us help, for there is no limit to his power; the Lord is able to give salvation by a great army or by a small band.
WebsterAnd Jonathan said to the young man that bore his armor, Come, and let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the LORD will work for us: for there is no restraint to the LORD to save by many or by few.

What does 1 Samuel 14:6 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
6. it may be that the Lord will work for us--This expression did not imply a doubt; it signified simply that the object he aimed at was not in his own power--but it depended upon God--and that he expected success neither from his own strength nor his own merit.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 6 Let us go over - Moved, doubtless, by a Divine impulse. There is no restraint to the Lord - This is a fine sentiment; and where there is a promise of defense and support, the weakest, in the face of the strongest enemy, may rely on it with the utmost confidence.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 14:1-15

Saul seems to have been quite at a loss, and unable to help himself. Those can never think themselves safe who see themselves out of God's protection. Now he sent for a priest and the ark. He hopes to make up matters with the Almighty by a partial reformation, as many do whose hearts are unhumbled and unchanged. Many love to have ministers who prophesy smooth things to them. Jonathan felt a Divine impulse and…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 14:1-15 →

1 Samuel 14:6 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.

וַיֹּ֨אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
יְהוֹנָתָ֜ןye.ho.na.TanJonathanH3083
אֶל\־'el-toH413
הַנַּ֣עַר\׀ha.Na.'arthe young manH5288
נֹשֵׂ֣אno.Se'[the] bearer ofH5375
כֵלָ֗יוkhe.Lavarmor<s> hisH3627
לְכָה֙le.Khahcome !H1980
וְנַעְבְּרָ֗הve.na'.be.Rahso let us pass overH5674
אֶל\־'el-toH413
מַצַּב֙ma.Tzav[the] garrison ofH4673
הָעֲרֵלִ֣יםha.'a.re.Limthe uncircumcised [men]H6189
הָאֵ֔לֶּהha.'E.leh<the> theseH428
אוּלַ֛י'u.LaiperhapsH194
יַעֲשֶׂ֥הya.'a.Sehhe will actH6213
יְהוָ֖הYah.wehYahwehH3068
לָ֑נוּLa.nufor <the> us
כִּ֣יkiforH3588
אֵ֤ין'einnotH369
לַֽיהוָה֙la.Yah.weh[belongs] to YahwehH3068
מַעְצ֔וֹרma'.Tzora limitationH4622
לְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַle.ho.Shi.a'to saveH3467
בְּרַ֖בbe.Ravby manyH7227
א֥וֹ'oorH176
בִמְעָֽט\׃vim.'Atby fewH4592

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

Cross references for 1 Samuel 14:6

  • Matthew 19:26

    But Jesus beheld them, and said unto them, With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible.

  • Romans 8:31

    What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

  • Zechariah 4:6

    Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.

  • 2 Chronicles 14:11

    And Asa cried unto the Lord his God, and said, Lord, it is nothing with thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power: help us, O Lord our God; for we rest on thee, and in thy name we go against this multitude. O Lord, thou art our God; let not man prevail against thee.

  • Deuteronomy 32:30

    How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight, except their Rock had sold them, and the Lord had shut them up?

  • Judges 7:4-7

    And the Lord said unto Gideon, The people are yet too many; bring them down unto the water, and I will try them for thee there: and it shall be, that of whom I say unto thee, This shall go with thee, the same shall go with thee; and of whomsoever I say unto thee, This shall not go with thee, the same shall not go. So he brought down the people unto the water: and the Lord said unto Gideon, Every one that lappeth of the water with his tongue, as a dog lappeth, him shalt thou set by himself; likewise every one that boweth down upon his knees to drink. And the number of them that lapped, putting their hand to their mouth, were three hundred men: but all the rest of the people bowed down upon their knees to drink water. And the Lord said unto Gideon, By the three hundred men that lapped will I save you, and deliver the Midianites into thine hand: and let all the other people go every man unto his place.

  • Psalms 115:1-3

    Not unto us, O Lord, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth’s sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God? But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

  • 2 Kings 19:4

    It may be the Lord thy God will hear all the words of Rab–shakeh, whom the king of Assyria his master hath sent to reproach the living God; and will reprove the words which the Lord thy God hath heard: wherefore lift up thy prayer for the remnant that are left.

  • Jeremiah 9:26

    Egypt, and Judah, and Edom, and the children of Ammon, and Moab, and all that are in the utmost corners, that dwell in the wilderness: for all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.

  • 2 Samuel 16:12

    It may be that the Lord will look on mine affliction, and that the Lord will requite me good for his cursing this day.

  • 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 17:7-11

    And I will establish my covenant between me and thee and thy seed after thee in their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be a God unto thee, and to thy seed after thee. And I will give unto thee, and to thy seed after thee, the land wherein thou art a stranger, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God. And God said unto Abraham, Thou shalt keep my covenant therefore, thou, and thy seed after thee in their generations. This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. …

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Come.This action of Jonathan's was totally contrary to the laws of war; no military operation should be undertaken without the knowledge and command of the general. But it is highly probable, that this gallant man was led to undertake the hazardous enterprise by an immediate divine impulse; and by the same influence was kept from informing the soldiers, and even from consulting his father, who might have opposed his design.
uncircumcised.
17:26,36; Ge 17:7-11; Jud 15:18; 2Sa 1:20; Jer 9:23,26
Eph 2:11,12; Php 3:3
it may be.
2Sa 16:12; 2Ki 19:4; Am 5:15; Zep 2:3
for there is no restraint.Where there is a promise of defense and support, the weakest, in the face of the strongest enemy, may rely upon it with the utmost confidence.
De 32:30; Jud 7:4-7; 2Ch 14:11; Ps 115:1-3; Zec 4:6; Mt 19:26
Ro 8:31

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

Context

  • 1 Samuel 14:5

    The forefront of the one was situate northward over against Michmash, and the other southward over against Gibeah.

  • 1 Samuel 14:6

    And Jonathan said to the young man that bare his armour, Come, and let us go over unto the garrison of these uncircumcised: it may be that the Lord will work for us: for there is no restraint to the Lord to save by many or by few.

  • 1 Samuel 14:7

    And his armourbearer said unto him, Do all that is in thine heart: turn thee; behold, I am with thee according to thy heart.

Read all of 1 Samuel 14

1 Samuel 14:6 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Dijo pues Jonathán á su criado que le traía las armas: Ven, pasemos á la guarnición de estos incircuncisos: quizá hará Jehová por nosotros; que no es difícil á Jehová salvar con multitud ó con poco número.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et Jonathan dit au jeune homme qui portait ses armes: Viens, et passons jusqu’au poste de ces incirconcis; peut-être que l’ Éternel opérera pour nous, car rien n’empêche l’ Éternel de sauver, avec beaucoup ou avec peu de gens.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und Jonathan sprach zu dem Knaben, der seine Waffen trug: Komm und laß uns hinübergehen zu der Aufstellung dieser Unbeschnittenen; vielleicht wird Jehova für uns wirken, denn für Jehova gibt es kein Hindernis, durch viele zu retten oder durch wenige.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Dixit autem Jonathas ad adolescentem armigerum suum: Veni, transeamus ad stationem incircumcisorum horum, si forte faciat Dominus pro nobis: quia non est Domino difficile salvare, vel in multis, vel in paucis.