What Does 1 Samuel 14:8 Mean in the King James?
Then said Jonathan, Behold, we will pass over unto these men, and we will discover ourselves unto them.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
Jonathan does not merely plan to approach the men; he plans to cross into their sight and let himself be revealed.
THE MEANING
You are at the threshold where approach turns into exposure. The verse holds two movements together: crossing toward the other side and becoming visible to those there. Being seen is part of the encounter, not an afterthought.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that being seen is always passive: here, visibility is chosen.
THE ROOT
וְנִגְלִינוּ
wə-niglinû
GROWS FROM
גלה
g-l-h
To uncover, disclose, or bring what is hidden into view.
“discover ourselves” in this verse is wə-niglinû. The verb says more than simply arriving or appearing: Jonathan says they will be revealed to the men. The root makes the plan a deliberate unveiling, their crossing brings them into view and begins the encounter.
ALSO GROWS
niglah: Revealed, uncovered
נִגְלָה
This form shares the root’s sense of what was hidden becoming visible, as Jonathan describes happening to them.
gilluy: Disclosure, revelation
גִּלּוּי
This noun names the act of uncovering that Jonathan makes part of his plan.
THE PATTERN
The hidden becomes part of the encounter when it is brought into view.
Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren.But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad.THE THREAD
The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children for ever, that we may do all the words of this law.The Hebrew word translated “revealed” comes from the same root as Jonathan’s “discover ourselves.” Deuteronomy sets the hidden beside the disclosed; Jonathan makes that disclosure his next move.
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