1 Samuel 9:16
in 1 Samuel 9“At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him leader over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
To-morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be prince over my people Israel; and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
KJV
To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
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This verse in 1 Samuel 9
Commentary
11 notes on this verseHe is also described as a man coming from the land of Benjamin. He is called a man on account of the strength of his works; from the land of Benjamin, on account of his right confession of faith. Benjamin indeed means "son of the right hand." Who then is called this son of the right hand, if not he of whom it is written: "He ascended into heaven, and sits at the right hand of the Father" (Mark 16:19)?
This site's exposition
there was Samuel coming toward them
on 1 Samuel 9:14-17
Samuel meets Saul because the LORD told him the day before, “At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin”. God gives the reason, “he will save them from the hand of the Philistines”, before Saul has said a word. The words “Here is the man of whom I spoke” set God's choice beside the crowd's choice at 10:24.
This site's exposition
At this time tomorrow
The LORD sends Samuel to anoint a leader, the Hebrew nagid, which Adam Clarke glosses as captain of the LORD's host. Albert Barnes sets the Philistines of this verse beside 7:13 and suggests their renewed pressure helped drive the people's cry for a king. Saul would save them only in part.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers1 voice
However, since the rank of kingship underlies all worth and power and rule, by this title the royal power of Christ is authoritatively and primarily indicated (for the anointing of kingship, as we learn in the historical books, comes first), and all the force of the other titles depends on that of royalty. For this reason, the person who knows the separate elements included under it also knows the power encompassing these elements. But it is the kingship itself which declares what the title of Christ means.
The Medieval Church1 voice
But the Lord had revealed Samuel's ear, etc. And God the Father had revealed the secrets of His mystery to John, while the state of the Mosaic law was still standing, saying: Because after you have manifested to the world the day of the new …
The Puritans and the Awakening3 voices
Philistines - For though they were now most pressed with the Ammonites, yet they looked upon these as a land-flood, soon up, and soon down again: but the Philistines, their constant and nearest enemies, they most dreaded. And from these did Saul in some measure save them, and would have saved them much more, if his and the people's sins had not hindered.
The Hebrew phrase is, He uncovered the ear of Samuel, to which some allude for the explication of the way of God's revealing himself to us; he not only speaks, but uncovers our ear.
And what should this precious dish be, which was so very carefully reserved for the king-elect? One would expect it should be something very nice and delicate. No, it was a plain shoulder of mutton (
quarantine:debris (2026-07-29) — unbalanced-parens
3 more voices on this verse
The Puritans and the Awakening1 voice
Tomorrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin,....
The Nineteenth Century2 voices
Thou shalt anoint him to be captain - Not to be king, but to be נגיד nagid or captain of the Lord’s host. But in ancient times no king was esteemed who was not an able warrior. Plutarch informs us that Alexander the Great esteemed the following verse the most correct, as to its sentiment, of any in the whole Iliad of Homer: - Ουτος γ’ Ατρειδης ευρυκρειων Αγαμεμνων, Αμφοτερον βασιλευς τ’ αγαθος, κρατερος τ’ αιχμητης. “The king of kings, Atrides, you survey; Great in the war, and great in acts of sway.” Pope.
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
That he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines, etc. - These words are not very easily reconcileable with 1Sa 7:13. It is possible that the aggressive movements of the Philistines, after the long cessation indicated by 1Sa 7:13, coupled with Samuel’s old age and consequent inability to lead them to victory as before, were among the chief causes which led to the cry for a king. If this were so the Philistine oppression glanced at in this verse might in a general survey be rather connected with Saul’s times than with Samuel’s.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
Will rule over My people. Will restrain [=will rule], similar to 'restrained [ עָצוּר ] and let free.' 9 Devarim:36. This is the function of the ruler, to restrain the people during war, that they not scatter or spread out one from another, and.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 6 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
25 Hebrew wordsEvery 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.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| כָּעֵ֣ת׀ | kaet | about <the> this time | H6256 → | 296 times |
| מָחָ֡ר | machar | tomorrow | H4279 → | 52 times |
| אֶשְׁלַח֩ | ʾeshlach | I will send | H7971 → | 845 times |
| אֵלֶ֨יךָ | ʾeleikha | to you | H413 → | 5510 times |
| אִ֜ישׁ | ʾish | a man | H376 → | 1663 times |
| מֵאֶ֣רֶץ | meeretz | from [the] land of | H776 → | 2504 times |
| בִּנְיָמִ֗ן | binyamin | Benjamin | H1144 → | 166 times |
| וּמְשַׁחְתּ֤וֹ | umeshachto | and you will anoint him | H4886 → | 70 times |
| לְנָגִיד֙ | lenagid | to ruler | H5057 → | 45 times |
| עַל־ | ʾal- | over | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| עַמִּ֣י | ʾami | people my | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל | yisrael | Israel | H3478 → | 2507 times |
| וְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ | vehoshia' | and he will deliver | H3467 → | 206 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| עַמִּ֖י | ʾami | people my | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| מִיַּ֣ד | miyad | from [the] hand of | H3027 → | 1618 times |
| פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים | pelishtim | [the] Philistines | H6430 → | 287 times |
| כִּ֤י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| רָאִ֙יתִי֙ | raiti | I have seen | H7200 → | 1300 times |
| אֶת־ | ʾet- | <obj.> | H853 → | 10935 times |
| עַמִּ֔י | ʾami | people my | H5971 → | 1873 times |
| כִּ֛י | ki | for | H3588 → | 4482 times |
| בָּ֥אָה | baah | it has come | H935 → | 2568 times |
| צַעֲקָת֖וֹ | tzaakato | cry of distress its | H6818 → | |
| אֵלָֽי׃ | ʾelai | to me | H413 → | 5510 times |
כָּעֵ֣ת׀about <the> this time
kaetH6256 →296 times
מָחָ֡רtomorrow
macharH4279 →52 times
אֶשְׁלַח֩I will send
ʾeshlachH7971 →845 times
אֵלֶ֨יךָto you
ʾeleikhaH413 →5510 times
אִ֜ישׁa man
ʾishH376 →1663 times
מֵאֶ֣רֶץfrom [the] land of
meeretzH776 →2504 times
בִּנְיָמִ֗ןBenjamin
binyaminH1144 →166 times
וּמְשַׁחְתּ֤וֹand you will anoint him
umeshachtoH4886 →70 times
לְנָגִיד֙to ruler
lenagidH5057 →45 times
עַל־over
ʾal-H5921 →5755 times
עַמִּ֣יpeople my
ʾamiH5971 →1873 times
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לIsrael
yisraelH3478 →2507 times
וְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַand he will deliver
vehoshia'H3467 →206 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
עַמִּ֖יpeople my
ʾamiH5971 →1873 times
מִיַּ֣דfrom [the] hand of
miyadH3027 →1618 times
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים[the] Philistines
pelishtimH6430 →287 times
כִּ֤יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
רָאִ֙יתִי֙I have seen
raitiH7200 →1300 times
אֶת־<obj.>
ʾet-H853 →10935 times
עַמִּ֔יpeople my
ʾamiH5971 →1873 times
כִּ֛יfor
kiH3588 →4482 times
בָּ֥אָהit has come
baahH935 →2568 times
צַעֲקָת֖וֹcry of distress its
tzaakatoH6818 →
אֵלָֽי׃to me
ʾelaiH413 →5510 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach 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
1 Samuel 10:1Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 16:13
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and…
- Psalms 78:71
from tending the ewes He brought him to be shepherd of His people Jacob, of Israel His inheritance.
- Psalms 2:12
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and you perish in your rebellion, when His wrath ignites in an instant. Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.
- Acts 13:21
Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them forty years under Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin.
- 1 Samuel 16:13
Through
Psalms 106:44Nevertheless He heard their cry; He took note of their distress.
it leads to
- Judges 3:9
But when the Israelites cried out to the LORD, He raised up Othniel son of Caleb’s younger brother Kenaz as a deliverer to save them.
- Judges 4:3
Then the Israelites cried out to the LORD, because Jabin had nine hundred chariots of iron, and he had harshly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years.
- Judges 3:9
Through
Psalms 25:18Consider my affliction and trouble, and take away all my sins.
it leads to
- 2 Samuel 16:12
Perhaps the LORD will see my affliction and repay me with good for the cursing I receive today.”
- 2 Samuel 16:12
Through
1 Samuel 15:1Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.
it leads to
- 1 Samuel 12:14
If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over…
- 1 Samuel 12:14
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About 1 Samuel
This page draws on 10 works. Open the list of works
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Bede, Commentary on Samuel; Gregory of Nyssa, ON PERFECTION; Gregory the Dialogist, Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 4, Chapter 4; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Books of Samuel; Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible and W. G. Blaikie, The First Book of Samuel (Expositor's Bible).