1 Samuel 31:3 kjva — And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.

King James Version with Apocrypha

"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 with Apocrypha

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1 Samuel 31:3 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 31 — Context

1

Now the Philistines fought against Israel: and the men of Israel fled from before the Philistines, and fell down slain in mount Gilboa.

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.

3

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

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.

5

And when his armourbearer saw that Saul was dead, he fell likewise upon his sword, and died with him.

6

So Saul died, and his three sons, and his armourbearer, and all his men, that same day together.

1 Samuel 31:3 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 31:3 say?
1 Samuel 31:3 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.”
Where is 1 Samuel 31:3 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 31:3 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 31, verse 3.
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 31:3.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 31:3 in?
1 Samuel 31:3 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 31:3?
1 Samuel 31:3 reads (KJVA): “And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.” 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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