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1 Samuel 10:11

in 1 Samuel 10

All those who had formerly known Saul and saw him prophesying with the prophets asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”

BSB

The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾

ASV

And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

KJV

And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?

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This verse in 1 Samuel 10

Commentary

8 notes on this verse

A commentator

Tertullian

ON THE SOUL 11.5-6 · Written before 220.

It is possible for an evil spirit to influence a person. The spirit of God later turned Saul into another man, that is, into a prophet, when people said, "What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" But the evil spirit also turned him into another man, in other words, into a renegade. For some time Judas was numbered among the chosen [apostles], even becoming the keeper of the purse. He was then not yet a traitor, but he was dishonest.

This site's exposition

a group of prophets met him

on 1 Samuel 10:10-13

Saul prophesies among the prophets exactly as the sign promised. Onlookers ask, “Is Saul also among the prophets”, and a local man's reply, “And who is their father”, makes the question a proverb. The question returns at 19:24, when the Spirit drives him to strip and lie prophesying all day and night, so the proverb brackets his reign between one meaning and its reversal.

This site's exposition

All those who had formerly known Saul

Matthew Henry notes that Saul had lived near this company of prophets without joining them, so those who had known him were astonished to see him prophesying. He compares Paul in Acts 9. Tertullian sets beside it a later change in Saul, worked by an evil spirit.

The record, by era

The Medieval Church2 voices

A commentator

Gregory the Dialogist

Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 4, Chapter 5 · Written before 604.

proposed

26. What is it that they say, "What is this thing that has happened," except to marvel greatly at what could not be comprehended by them? They had known the man, a son of man; they saw him joined to the prophets. They had known him as carnal; they saw him as spiritual. They had known him as simple; they saw him as a prophet. They say therefore: "What has happened to the son of Kish?" They were able to know what he had been; what he now was, and how he could be so, they did not know. This indeed is the spiritual progress of the preacher: that he who was once known in ordinary life should possess something in a higher order that is beyond understanding. Three degrees of perfection are shown, because he says: "Yesterday and the day before." In two days indeed the preacher is recognized; on the third he possesses something that even those who knew him cannot comprehend. For the first day belongs to hearers, the second to companions, the third is that of preaching. For the pastor had his first day when as a disciple he obeyed his superiors. For he who is devoted in the virtue of obedience is seen as if in a great light. He had his second day when he began to be an assistant to his betters. For this brightness of a great way of life, in the example of the elect, makes the greatest day. The Lord, indicating this day, said: "So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven" (Matt. 5:16). But the third day is that of the rushing Spirit and of prophecy. For on the third day the pastor is beheld, when he matches the sublimity of his dignity with the splendor of his conduct, when, clothed with heavenly power, he shines upon his subjects with such life and such teaching that he can be seen by them but cannot be examined and judged. […]

A commentator

Bede

Commentary on Samuel · Written before 735.

proposed

And all those who knew Him yesterday and the day before, etc. Jesus, teaching in His homeland, many hearing were astonished at His doctrine, saying: Whence has this man these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works …

The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices

A commentator

Matthew Henry

1662–1714

Commentary on the Whole Bible (1710)

Though this school of the prophets was near his father's house, yet he had never associated with them, nor shown them any respect, perhaps had sometimes spoken slightly of them; and now to see him prophesying among them was a surprise to them, as it was long after when his namesake, in the New Testament, preached that gospel which he had before persecuted, Acts ix.
And it came to pass, that when all that knew him before time,....

The Nineteenth Century1 voice

A commentator

Jamieson, Fausset & Brown

1802–1910

Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)

proposed

The prophetic spirit had come upon him; and to Saul it was as personal and experimental an evidence of the truth of God's word that had been spoken to him, as converts to Christianity have in themselves from the sanctifying power of the Gospel.

The words behind it

23 Hebrew words

Every Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.

  • וַיְהִ֗יand it was

    vayhiH1961 →3559 times

  • כָּל־every

    kol-H3605 →5413 times

  • יֽוֹדְעוֹ֙[one who] knew him

    yodoH3045 →945 times

  • מֵאִתְּמ֣וֹלfrom yesterday

    meitemolH865 →8 times

  • שִׁלְשׁ֔וֹםthree days ago

    shilshomH8032 →24 times

  • וַיִּרְא֕וּand they saw

    vaiyiruH7200 →1300 times

  • וְהִנֵּ֥הand there!

    vehinehH2009 →843 times

  • עִם־with

    ʾim-H5973 →1050 times

  • נְבִאִ֖יםprophets

    neviimH5030 →314 times

  • נִבָּ֑א[he is] prophesying

    niba'H5012 →115 times

  • וַיֹּ֨אמֶרand it said

    vaiyomerH559 →5305 times

  • הָעָ֜םthe people

    haamH5971 →1873 times

  • אִ֣ישׁeach

    ʾishH376 →1663 times

  • אֶל־to

    ʾel-H413 →5510 times

  • רֵעֵ֗הוּneighbor his

    reehuH7453 →188 times

  • מַה־what?

    mah-H4100 →752 times

  • זֶּה֙this

    zehH2088 →1180 times

  • הָיָ֣הhas it happened

    hayahH1961 →3559 times

  • לְבֶן־to [the] son of

    leven-H1121 →4930 times

  • קִ֔ישׁKish

    kishH7027 →21 times

  • הֲגַ֥ם¿ also

    hagamH1571 →769 times

  • שָׁא֖וּל[is] Saul

    shaulH7586 →402 times

  • בַּנְּבִיאִֽים׃among the prophets

    baneviimH5030 →314 times

A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.

Related verses

9 in all, six open

The number beside each verse is how many compiled reference works tie it to this one. The strongest six stand open.

1 Samuel 19:24Then Saul stripped off his robes and also prophesied before Samuel. And he collapsed and lay naked all that day and night. That is why it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”5 worksJohn 7:15The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”5 worksMatthew 13:54–55Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.4 worksActs 3:10they recognized him as the man who used to sit begging at the Beautiful Gate of the temple, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.2 worksActs 4:13When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.2 worksJohn 9:8–9At this, his neighbors and those who had formerly seen him begging began to ask, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?”2 works
The other 3 cross-references, with their words ▾
Acts 2:7–8Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?2 worksActs 9:21All who heard him were astounded and asked, “Isn’t this the man who wreaked havoc in Jerusalem on those who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?”2 works1 Kings 13:11Now a certain old prophet was living in Bethel, and his sons came and told him all the deeds that the man of God had done that day in Bethel. They also told their father the words that the man had spoken to the king.2 works

The walk

8 stops

Each card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.

  • Through

    Acts 4:13

    When they saw the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they marveled and took note that these men had been with Jesus.

    it leads to

    • 1 Corinthians 1:27

      But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.

    • John 7:15

      The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”

    • Matthew 11:25

      At that time Jesus declared, “I praise You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because You have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children.

    • Acts 2:7–12

      Astounded and amazed, they asked, “Are not all these men who are speaking Galileans?

  • Through

    John 7:15

    The Jews were amazed and asked, “How did this man attain such learning without having studied?”

    it leads to

    • Luke 4:22

      All spoke well of Him and marveled at the gracious words that came from His lips. “Isn’t this the son of Joseph?” they asked.

    • Matthew 7:28–29

      When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astonished at His teaching,

    • Matthew 13:54

      Coming to His hometown, He taught the people in their synagogue, and they were astonished. “Where did this man get such wisdom and miraculous powers?” they asked.

  • Through

    1 Samuel 19:24

    Then Saul stripped off his robes and also prophesied before Samuel. And he collapsed and lay naked all that day and night. That is why it is said, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”

    it leads to

    • Isaiah 20:2

      the LORD had already spoken through Isaiah son of Amoz, saying, “Go, remove the sackcloth from your waist and the sandals from your feet.” And Isaiah did so, walking around naked and barefoot.

About 1 Samuel

Samuel Blesses Saul — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
Samuel Blesses Saul — Gustave Doré, Doré's English Bible (1866), public domain
1 Samuel: the study guide →Read 1 Samuel 10 →

This page draws on Bede, Commentary on Samuel; Gregory the Dialogist, Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 4, Chapter 5; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Books of Samuel; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and Tertullian, ON THE SOUL 11.5-6.

Read on in 1 Samuel 10 →