1 Samuel 14:23 Meaning and Explanation
“So the LORD saved Israel that day: and the battle passed over unto Bethaven.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The narrator sums it up plainly: the Lord saved Israel that day, the fighting spreading on to Bethaven.
What Does 1 Samuel 14:23 Mean?
After all the climbing, panic, and pursuit, the writer gives the verdict in a single line: it was the Lord who saved Israel that day. The battle rolled onward past Bethaven as the enemy was driven from the land.
Every human actor recedes so that God may be named the Savior. Jonathan's faith and Israel's pursuit mattered, yet the salvation was His. This is the heartbeat of Scripture, pointing forward to the day when God would save His people not from one army but from sin and death through Jesus Christ.
1 Samuel 14:23 in the Original Language
yasha (יָשַׁע), 'saved' -- to deliver and rescue, the root behind the name Jesus, 'the LORD saves.'
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 14:23
What does 1 Samuel 14:23 mean?
The narrator sums it up plainly: the Lord saved Israel that day, the fighting spreading on to Bethaven.