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1 Samuel 31:2-4
Modern English Version
1 Samuel 31:2-4
Modern English Version
2 The Philistines overtook Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed his sons, Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malki-Shua, Saul’s sons. 3 The battle was heavy against Saul. The archers found him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.
4 Then Saul said to his armor bearer, “Draw your sword and thrust me through with it, lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through and abuse me.”
But his armor bearer would not, for he was very afraid. Therefore Saul took his sword and fell upon it.
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1 Samuel 31:2-4
New International Version
1 Samuel 31:2-4
New International Version
2 The Philistines were in hot pursuit of Saul and his sons,(A) and they killed his sons Jonathan,(B) Abinadab and Malki-Shua.(C) 3 The fighting grew fierce around Saul, and when the archers overtook him, they wounded(D) him critically.
4 Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through,(E) or these uncircumcised(F) fellows will come and run me through and abuse me.”
But his armor-bearer was terrified and would not do it; so Saul took his own sword and fell on it.
1 Samuel 31:2-4
English Standard Version
1 Samuel 31:2-4
English Standard Version
2 And the Philistines overtook Saul and his sons, and the Philistines struck down (A)Jonathan and (B)Abinadab and Malchi-shua, the sons of Saul. 3 (C)The battle pressed hard against Saul, and the archers found him, and he was badly wounded by the archers. 4 (D)Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest these (E)uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and mistreat me.” But his armor-bearer would not, (F)for he feared greatly. Therefore Saul took his own sword (G)and fell upon it.
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1 Samuel 31:2-4
King James Version
1 Samuel 31:2-4
King James Version
2 And the Philistines followed hard upon Saul and upon his sons; and the Philistines slew Jonathan, and Abinadab, and Melchishua, 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.
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1 Samuel 31:2-4
New King James Version
1 Samuel 31:2-4
New King James Version
2 Then the Philistines followed hard after Saul and his sons. And the Philistines killed (A)Jonathan, Abinadab, and Malchishua, Saul’s sons. 3 (B)The battle became fierce against Saul. The archers [a]hit him, and he was severely wounded by the archers.
4 (C)Then Saul said to his armorbearer, “Draw your sword, and thrust me through with it, lest (D)these uncircumcised men come and thrust me through and [b]abuse me.”
But his armorbearer would not, (E)for he was greatly afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword and (F)fell on it.
Read full chapterFootnotes
- 1 Samuel 31:3 Lit. found him
- 1 Samuel 31:4 torture
Modern English Version (MEV)
The Holy Bible, Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Published and distributed by Charisma House.
New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.