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 14:34KJV
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1 Samuel 14:34 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 14:34 mean?

1 Samuel 14:34 shows Saul telling his people to spread out and tell everyone to bring their oxen and sheep to a specific place to be properly slaughtered and eaten, warning them not to eat meat with blood in it, which would be a sin against the LORD. The people obey and bring their animals that night to be killed and eaten as Saul instructed.

In this scene, Saul is speaking to the Israelite soldiers after a battle. He notices that some people are so hungry they are eating meat without properly draining the blood, which was forbidden by Israelite law. Saul responds by organizing a way for everyone to eat without breaking this command, showing concern for following God's law even in difficult circumstances.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 14:34

  • "Sin" — חָטָא (chata’): This word means to miss the mark or to do wrong, and here it refers specifically to violating God's law about eating blood.
  • "Blood" — דָּם (dam): The Hebrew law (Leviticus 17:10–14) strictly forbade eating blood, as blood was seen as the life of the animal and belonged to God.
  • "Slay" — שָׁחַט (shachat): This word means to slaughter or kill for sacrifice or food, and its use here emphasizes that the animals were to be killed in a proper, lawful way.

Why 1 Samuel 14:34 matters

  • This verse clears up that Saul was trying to correct a serious problem—people breaking God’s law out of desperation—by giving them a practical solution.
  • It highlights the importance placed on obeying God’s commands about food, even in times of hunger or stress.
  • The verse connects to the wider passage by showing Saul’s leadership style and his concern for ritual purity, which is a recurring theme in his reign.

Where else these words appear

“sheep” Hebrew H7716 · used in 39 verses

  • Genesis 22:7 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
  • Exodus 34:20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty.
  • 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.

“Disperse” Hebrew H6327 · used in 66 verses

  • Genesis 10:18 And the Arvadite, and the Zemarite, and the Hamathite: and afterward were the families of the Canaanites spread abroad.
  • Job 37:11 Also by watering he wearieth the thick cloud: he scattereth his bright cloud:
  • Ezekiel 12:15 And they shall know that I am the LORD, when I shall scatter them among the nations, and disperse them in the countries.

“ox” Hebrew H7794 · used in 69 verses

  • Genesis 32:5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
  • Leviticus 17:3 What man soever there be of the house of Israel, that killeth an ox, or lamb, or goat, in the camp, or that killeth it out of the camp,
  • Judges 6:4 And they encamped against them, and destroyed the increase of the earth, till thou come unto Gaza, and left no sustenance for Israel, neither sheep, nor ox, nor ass.

“slay” Hebrew H7819 · used in 70 verses

  • Genesis 22:10 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
  • Leviticus 9:8 Aaron therefore went unto the altar, and slew the calf of the sin offering, which was for himself.
  • 2 Kings 10:14 And he said, Take them alive. And they took them alive, and slew them at the pit of the shearing house, even two and forty men; neither left he any of them.