Bible Strands
1 Samuel 14:38
Therefore Saul said, “Come here, all you leaders of the troops, and let us investigate how this sin has occurred today.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul addresses the leaders of the troops after receiving no answer from God, calling them to investigate a sin that occurred that day.
The words — The Hebrew פִּנּוֹת (pi.Not) literally denotes "corners" or "extremities," while דְּעוּ (de.U) issues a command to "know" or "investigate" the situation.
The thread — This appeal to identify communal guilt echoes Joshua 7:11-14, where Israel must present itself tribe by tribe to uncover transgression against God’s covenant.
Why it lands — The text records Saul’s procedural response to divine silence, framing his later oath to execute Jonathan without prior resolution.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Saul said, Draw ye near hither, all the chief of the people: and know and see wherein this sin hath been this day.
Cross-references
- Numbers 24:17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.
- Joshua 7:11 Israel has sinned; they have transgressed My covenant that I commanded them, and they have taken some of what was devoted to destruction. Indeed, they have stolen and lied, and they have put these things with their own possessions.
- Joshua 7:14 In the morning you must present yourselves tribe by tribe. The tribe that the LORD selects shall come forward clan by clan, and the clan that the LORD selects shall come forward family by family, and the family that the LORD selects shall come forward man by man.
- Judges 20:2 The leaders of all the people and all the tribes of Israel presented themselves in the assembly of God’s people: 400,000 men on foot, armed with swords.
- 1 Samuel 10:19 But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”
- 2 Samuel 18:3 But the people pleaded, “You must not go out! For if we have to flee, they will not care about us. Even if half of us die, they will not care. But you are worth ten thousand of us. It is better now if you support us from the city.”
- Psalms 47:9 The nobles of the nations have assembled as the people of the God of Abraham; for the shields of the earth belong to God; He is highly exalted.
- Zechariah 10:4 The cornerstone will come from Judah, the tent peg from him, as well as the battle bow and every ruler together.
- Matthew 21:42 Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures: ‘The stone the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This is from the Lord, and it is marvelous in our eyes’?
- Ephesians 2:20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the cornerstone.