1 Samuel 11:1 Meaning and Explanation
“Then Nahash the Ammonite came up, and encamped against Jabeshgilead: and all the men of Jabesh said unto Nahash, Make a covenant with us, and we will serve thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Nahash, king of Ammon, besieges Jabeshgilead, and its desperate citizens offer to surrender and serve him in exchange for a treaty.
What Does 1 Samuel 11:1 Mean?
The newly chosen king Saul has gone back to his fields, and at once a crisis arises across the Jordan. Nahash the Ammonite marches against Jabeshgilead, a town of Israel exposed on the eastern frontier. With no army to relieve them, the men of Jabesh sue for peace, asking only to live as Nahash's servants.
Their plea shows how vulnerable God's people had become when each tribe stood alone. Yet even surrender to a cruel king cannot finally undo them, for the Lord watches over His own. The scene sets the stage for a deliverance that will come not from human strength but as a gift, reminding us that those who feel utterly cornered are never beyond the reach of God's help.
1 Samuel 11:1 in the Original Language
Nahash (נָחָשׁ), 'serpent' -- the Ammonite king's name carries the sense of a snake, an enemy that coils around the helpless.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 11:1
What does 1 Samuel 11:1 mean?
Nahash, king of Ammon, besieges Jabeshgilead, and its desperate citizens offer to surrender and serve him in exchange for a treaty.