1 Samuel 14:26 net — When the army entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, for the army was afraid of the…

NET Bible

"When the army entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, for the army was afraid of the oath."

— 1 Samuel 14:26, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 14:26 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 14 — Context

23

So the LORD delivered Israel that day, and the battle shifted over to Beth Aven.

24

Jonathan Violates Saul’s Oath Now the men of Israel were hard pressed that day, for Saul had made the army agree to this oath:“Cursed be the man who eats food before evening! I will get my vengeance on my enemies!” So no one in the army ate anything.

25

Now the whole army entered the forest and there was honey on the ground.

26

When the army entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, for the army was afraid of the oath.

27

But Jonathan had not heard about the oath his father had made the army take. He extended the end of his staff that was in his hand and dipped it in the honeycomb. When he ate it, his eyes gleamed.

28

Then someone from the army informed him,“Your father put the army under a strict oath saying,‘Cursed be the man who eats food today!’ That is why the army is tired.”

29

Then Jonathan said,“My father has caused trouble for the land. See how my eyes gleamed when I tasted just a little of this honey.

1 Samuel 14:26 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 14:26 say?
1 Samuel 14:26 in the NET Bible reads: “When the army entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, for the army was afraid of the oath.”
Where is 1 Samuel 14:26 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 14:26 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 14, verse 26.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 14:26.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 14:26 in?
1 Samuel 14:26 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 14:26?
1 Samuel 14:26 reads (NET): “When the army entered the forest, they saw the honey flowing, but no one ate any of it, for the army was afraid of the oath.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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