1 Samuel 31 · Verse 3

1 Samuel 31:3

And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

1 Samuel 31:3, King James Version

1 Samuel 31:3 in other translations

BSB	When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically.
WEB	The battle went hard against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.
ASV	And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.
YLT	And the battle is hard against Saul, and the archers find him--men with bow--and he is pained greatly by the archers;
DARBY	And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers came up with him; and he was much terrified by the archers.
BBE	And the fight was going badly for Saul, and the archers came across him, and he was wounded by the archers.
Webster	And the battle was severe against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was severely wounded by the archers.

What does 1 Samuel 31:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 31:3-5

3-5. the battle went sore against Saul, &c.--He seems to have bravely maintained his ground for some time longer; but exhausted with fatigue and loss of blood, and dreading that if he fell alive into the enemy's hands, they would insolently maltreat him (Jos 8:29; 10:24; Jud 8:21), he requested his armor bearer to despatch him. However, that officer refused to do so. Saul then falling on the point of his sword killed himself; and the armor bearer, who, according to Jewish writers, was Doeg, following the example of his master, put an end to his life also. They died by one and the same sword--the very weapon with which they had massacred the Lord's servants at Nob.

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

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Verse 3 He was sore wounded of the archers - It is likely that Saul's sons were slain by the archers, and that Saul was now mortally wounded by the same. Houbigant translates, The archers rushed upon him, from whom he received a grievous wound. He farther remarks that had not Saul been grievously wounded, and beyond hope of recovery, he would not have wished his armor-bearer to despatch him; as he might have continued still to fight, or have made his escape from this most disastrous battle. Some of the versions render it, He Feared the archers greatly; but this is by no means likely.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 31:1-7

Saul's body rescued by the men of Jabesh-gilead. (8-13) Verses 1-7 We cannot judge of the spiritual or eternal state of any by the manner of their death; for in that, there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked. Saul, when sorely wounded, and unable to resist or to flee, expressed no concern about his never-dying soul; but only desired that the Philistines might not insult over him, or put him to pain, and…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 31:1-7 →

1 Samuel 31:3 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.

וַתִּכְבַּ֤דva.tikh.Badand it was heavyH3513

הַמִּלְחָמָה֙ha.mil.cha.Mahthe battleH4421

אֶל\־'el-againstH413

שָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586

וַיִּמְצָאֻ֥הוּvai.yim.tza.'U.huand they found himH4672

הַמּוֹרִ֖יםha.mo.Rimthe archersH3384

אֲנָשִׁ֣ים'a.na.ShimmenH582

בַּקָּ֑שֶׁתba.Ka.shetwith the bowH7198

וַיָּ֥חֶלvai.Ya.cheland he was in severe painH2342

מְאֹ֖דme.'OdexceedinglyH3966

מֵהַמּוֹרִֽים\׃me.ha.mo.Rimfrom the archersH3384

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

Cross references for 1 Samuel 31:3

2 Samuel 1:6
And the young man that told him said, As I happened by chance upon mount Gilboa, behold, Saul leaned upon his spear; and, lo, the chariots and horsemen followed hard after him.
Genesis 49:23
The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
2 Samuel 1:4
And David said unto him, How went the matter? I pray thee, tell me. And he answered, That the people are fled from the battle, and many of the people also are fallen and dead; and Saul and Jonathan his son are dead also.
Amos 2:14
Therefore the flight shall perish from the swift, and the strong shall not strengthen his force, neither shall the mighty deliver himself:
1 Kings 22:34
And a certain man drew a bow at a venture, and smote the king of Israel between the joints of the harness: wherefore he said unto the driver of his chariot, Turn thine hand, and carry me out of the host; for I am wounded.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

went sore.
2Sa 1:4; Am 2:14
archers hit him. Heb. shooters, men with bows, found him.
Ge 49:23; 1Ki 22:34

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

Context

1 Samuel 31:2
And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Malchi–shua, Saul’s sons.
1 Samuel 31:3
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
1 Samuel 31:4
Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.

Read all of 1 Samuel 31

1 Samuel 31:3 in other languages

Spanish Reina-Valera 1909	Y agravóse la batalla sobre Saúl, y le alcanzaron los flecheros; y tuvo gran temor de los flecheros.
French Bible J.N. Darby 1885	Et la bataille se renforça contre Saül, et les archers l’atteignirent; et il eut une très grande peur des archers.
German Elberfelder 1871	Und der Streit wurde heftig wider Saul, und es erreichten ihn die Schützen, Männer mit dem Bogen; und es wurde ihm sehr angst vor den Schützen.
Latin Clementine Vulgate	totumque pondus prælii versum est in Saul, et consecuti sunt eum viri sagittarii, et vulneratus est vehementer a sagittariis.