1 Samuel 14:34
And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against the LORD in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
1 Samuel 14:34 · King James Version
Meaning
In this verse from the book of 1 Samuel, we see King Saul instructing his people to disperse and gather every man his ox and sheep to be slaughtered and eaten, but with a specific instruction not to sin against the Lord by consuming the blood of the animals. This command is in accordance with the Old Testament laws, where the blood of the animal was considered sacred and had to be poured out as an offering to God. The act of slaughtering the animals and eating them was a way for the people to come together in fellowship and celebration, but also to recognize and respect the holiness of God's commandments. This verse serves as a reminder of the importance of following God's instructions and honoring His laws in all aspects of life.
Theological Overview
One theological interpretation of this verse from 1 Samuel 14:34 focuses on the significance of obedience and respect for God's commandments. Saul instructs the people to bring their animals and slaughter them while adhering to the law of not consuming blood, as eating blood was strictly forbidden in the Old Testament. By following Saul's orders, the people demonstrated their willingness to obey God's laws and showed reverence for His commandments. This act can be seen as a symbol of faithfulness and the importance of obedience in carrying out God's will.
Furthermore, a word study of the term "sin not against the LORD," emphasizes the sense of wrongdoing or transgression that comes from disobedience to God's instructions. The phrase underscores the idea that violating God's laws is not just an action against social norms but a direct offense against the divine. By abstaining from consuming blood, as commanded by Saul, the people avoided committing a sin and honored their relationship with the Lord. This serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting and following God's commandments to maintain a close and righteous relationship with Him.
1 Samuel 14:34 in other translations
American Standard Version
And Saul said, Disperse yourselves among the people, and say unto them, Bring me hither every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and slay them here, and eat; and sin not against Jehovah in eating with the blood. And all the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and slew them there.
World English Bible
Saul said, “Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them, ‘Bring me here every man his ox, and every man his sheep, and kill them here, and eat; and don’t sin against Yahweh in eating meat with the blood.’” All the people brought every man his ox with him that night, and killed them there.
Douay-Rheims
And Saul said: Disperse yourselves among the people, and tell them to bring me every man his ox and his ram and slay them upon this stone, and eat, and you shall not sin against the Lord, in eating with the blood. So all the people brought every man his ox with him till the night: and slew them there.
Geneva Bible (1599)
Againe Saul said, Goe abroade among the people, and bid them bring me euery man his oxe, and euery man his sheepe, and slay them here, and eate and sinne not against the Lord in eating with the blood. And ye people brought euery man his oxe in his hand that night, and slew them there.