1st Samuel Chapter 31 verse 3 Holy Bible
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.
read chapter 31 in ASV
And the fight was going badly for Saul, and the archers came across him, and he was wounded by the archers.
read chapter 31 in BBE
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers came up with him; and he was much terrified by the archers.
read chapter 31 in DARBY
And the battle went sore against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was sore wounded of the archers.
read chapter 31 in KJV
And the battle was severe against Saul, and the archers hit him; and he was severely wounded by the archers.
read chapter 31 in WBT
The battle went sore against Saul, and the archers overtook him; and he was greatly distressed by reason of the archers.
read chapter 31 in WEB
And the battle is hard against Saul, and the archers find him -- men with bow -- and he is pained greatly by the archers;
read chapter 31 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerses 3, 4. - The archers. Literally, as in the margin, "shooters, men with bows." As the first word would equally apply to men who threw javelins, the explanation is added to make the meaning clear. Hit him. Literally, "found him, i.e. found out his position, and came up to where he was. He was sore wounded. Rather, "he was sore distressed." In Deuteronomy 2:25 the verb is rendered "be in anguish." The meaning is that Saul, finding himself surrounded by these archers, and that he could neither escape nor come to close quarters with them, and die fighting, ordered his armour bearer to kill him, that he might be spared the degradation of being slain by "uncircumcised" heathen. Abuse me. This verb is translated mock in Jeremiah 38:19. "Maltreat" would be a better rendering in both places, and also in Judges 19:25, where, too, the word occurs. Its exact meaning is to practise upon another all that passion, lust, anger, or malice dictate. Probably Saul thought that they would treat him as they had previously treated Samson (Judges 16:21-25).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(3) And the battle went sore against Saul.--That is, after the death of Jonathan and his brothers. The great warrior king no doubt fought like a lion, but one by one his brave defenders fell in harness by his side; and the enemy seems to have directed their principal attention, at this period of the fight, to killing or capturing the famous Saul.And the archers hit him.--It would seem as though, in that deadly combat, none could strike down that giant kingly form, so the archers--literally, as in the margin of our Version, shooters, men with bows, skilful shots--were told off, and these, aiming at the warrior towering above the other combatants, with the crown on his head (2Samuel 1:10), hit him.And he was sore wounded by the archers.--This is the usual rendering of the word, but the more accurate translation is, He was sore afraid (or was greatly alarmed at them): so Gesenius, Keil, Lange, &c. All seemed against him. His army was routed, his sons were dead, his faithful captains and companions were gone, and these bow-men were shooting at him from a distance where his strong arm could not reach them. Gradually weakened through loss of blood--perhaps with the words he had heard only a few hours before at En-dor from the dead prophet ringing in his ears, "To-morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me"--the great undaunted courage at last failed him, and he turned to his armourbearer, who was still by his side.
