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Sunday, July 13th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Contemporary English Version

1 Samuel 19:20

Saul sent a few soldiers to bring David back. They went to Ramah and found Samuel in charge of a group of prophets who were all prophesying. Then the Spirit of God took control of the soldiers and they started prophesying too.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - David;   Jealousy;   Minister, Christian;   Prophets;   School;   Students;   Teachers;   Thompson Chain Reference - Holy Spirit;   Power;   Spirit;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Prophecy;   Prophets;   Synagogues;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Naioth;   Prophets;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Prophecy, prophet;   Samuel;   Saul, king of israel;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Education in Bible Times;   Holy Spirit;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Music;   Prophet;   Schools of the Prophets;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Music;   Naioth;   Poetry;   Prophet;   Rama;   Samuel;   Synagogue;   Tongues, Gift of;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Church;   Ecstasy;   Education in Bible Times;   Naioth;   Prophecy, Prophets;   Samuel;   Sons of the Prophets;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Magic, Divination, and Sorcery;   Naioth;   Ramah;   Samuel;   Saul;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Naioth ;   Ramah ;   The Hawker's Poor Man's Concordance And Dictionary - Music;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - David;   Naioth;   School;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Prophet;   Tongues, Gift of;   Watson's Biblical & Theological Dictionary - Prophets;   Synagogue;  

Encyclopedias:

- International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Company;   Disciple;   Samuel;   Samuel, Books of;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Dancing;   Inspiration;   Music and Musical Instruments;   Samuel, Books of;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
he sent agents to seize David. However, when they saw the group of prophets prophesying with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came on Saul’s agents, and they also started prophesying.
Hebrew Names Version
Sha'ul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Shemu'el standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came on the messengers of Sha'ul, and they also prophesied.
King James Version
And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
Lexham English Bible
So Saul sent messengers to capture David. When they saw the company of the prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as chief over them, then the Spirit of God came upon Saul's messengers, and they also prophesied.
English Standard Version
Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
New Century Version
So he sent messengers to capture him. But they met a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there leading them. So the Spirit of God entered Saul's men, and they also prophesied.
New English Translation
So Saul sent messengers to capture David. When they saw a company of prophets prophesying with Samuel standing there as their leader, the spirit of God came upon Saul's messengers, and they also prophesied.
Amplified Bible
Then Saul sent messengers to take David; but when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing and presiding over them, the Spirit of God came on the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied.
New American Standard Bible
Then Saul sent messengers to take David, but when they saw the company of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing and presiding over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And Saul sent messengers to take Dauid: & when they sawe a company of Prophets prophecying, and Samuel standing as appoynted ouer them, the Spirit of God fell vpon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophecied.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul sent messengers to take David, but they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing and presiding over them. And the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied.
Complete Jewish Bible
Sha'ul sent messengers to capture David. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Sh'mu'el standing and leading them, the Spirit of God fell on Sha'ul's messengers; and they too began prophesying.
Darby Translation
Then Saul sent messengers to take David; and they saw a company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as president over them; and the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
Easy-to-Read Version
So he sent some men to arrest David. But when they came to the camps, there was a group of prophets prophesying. Samuel was standing there leading the group. The Spirit of God came on Saul's messengers and they began prophesying.
George Lamsa Translation
And Saul sent messengers to take David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying and Samuel standing as a leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
Good News Translation
so he sent some men to arrest him. They saw the group of prophets dancing and shouting, with Samuel as their leader. Then the spirit of God took control of Saul's men, and they also began to dance and shout.
Literal Translation
And Saul sent messengers to take David. And they saw the assembly of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them. And the Spirit of God came on Saul's messengers, and they also prophesied.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then Saul sente messaungers to fetch Dauid. And they sawe a company of prophetes prophecienge, and Samuel had the ouersight of them. Then came the sprete of God vpon the messaungers of Saul, so that they prophecyed also.
American Standard Version
And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
Bible in Basic English
And Saul sent men to take David; and when they saw the band of prophets at work, with Samuel in his place at their head, the spirit of God came on Saul's men, and they became like prophets.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And Saul sent messengers to fet Dauid: And when they sawe a company of prophetes prophecying, & Samuel standing as appoynted ouer them, the spirite of God fell vpon the messengers of Saul, and they prophecied to.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And Saul sent messengers to take David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
King James Version (1611)
And Saul sent messengers to take Dauid: and when they sawe the company of the Prophets prophecying, and Samuel standing as appointed ouer them, the Spirit of God was vpon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophecied.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Saul sent messengers to take David, and they saw the assembly of the prophets, and Samuel stood as appointed over them; and the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they prophesy.
English Revised Version
And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied;
Berean Standard Bible
he sent messengers to capture him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul's messengers also began to prophesy.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor Saul sente sleeris, that thei schulden rauysche Dauid; and whanne thei hadden seyn the cumpeny of profetis profeciynge, and Samuel stondynge ouer hem, the Spirit of the Lord, `that is, the spirit of deuocioun, was maad in hem, and thei also bigunnen to prophecie.
Young's Literal Translation
And Saul sendeth messengers to take David, and they see the assembly of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing, set over them, and the Spirit of God is on Saul's messengers, and they prophesy -- they also.
Update Bible Version
And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
Webster's Bible Translation
And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing [as] appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
World English Bible
Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came on the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
New King James Version
Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
New Living Translation
he sent troops to capture him. But when they arrived and saw Samuel leading a group of prophets who were prophesying, the Spirit of God came upon Saul's men, and they also began to prophesy.
New Life Bible
So Saul sent men to take David. But when they saw the men of God saying what was going to happen, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon the men sent by Saul. And they began saying what was going to happen also.
New Revised Standard
Then Saul sent messengers to take David. When they saw the company of the prophets in a frenzy, with Samuel standing in charge of them, the spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also fell into a prophetic frenzy.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So Saul sent messengers to take David, but, when they saw the assembly of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, then came the Spirit of God upon the messengers of Saul, and, they also, were, moved to prophesy.
Douay-Rheims Bible
So Saul sent officers to take David: and when they saw a company of prophets prophesying, and Samuel presiding over them, the Spirit of the Lord came also upon them, and they likewise began to prophesy.
Revised Standard Version
Then Saul sent messengers to take David; and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Saul sent messengers to take David, but when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing and presiding over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul; and they also prophesied.

Contextual Overview

18 Meanwhile, David went to Samuel at Ramah and told him what Saul had done. Then Samuel and David went to Prophets Village and stayed there. 19 Someone told Saul, "David is at Prophets Village in Ramah." 20 Saul sent a few soldiers to bring David back. They went to Ramah and found Samuel in charge of a group of prophets who were all prophesying. Then the Spirit of God took control of the soldiers and they started prophesying too. 21 When Saul heard what had happened, he sent another group of soldiers, but they prophesied the same way. He sent a third group of soldiers, but the same thing happened to them. 22 Finally, Saul left for Ramah himself. He went as far as the deep pit at the town of Secu, and he asked, "Where are Samuel and David?" "At Prophets Village in Ramah," the people answered. 23 Saul left for Ramah. But as he walked along, the Spirit of God took control of him, and he started prophesying. Then, when he reached Prophets Village, 24 he stripped off his clothes and prophesied in front of Samuel. He dropped to the ground and lay there naked all day and night. That's how the saying started, "Is Saul now a prophet?"

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

sent messengers: 1 Samuel 19:11, 1 Samuel 19:14, John 7:32, John 7:45

when they: 1 Samuel 10:5, 1 Samuel 10:6, 1 Samuel 10:10, Numbers 11:25, Numbers 11:26, Joel 2:28, John 7:32, John 7:45, John 7:46-52, 1 Corinthians 14:3, 1 Corinthians 14:24, 1 Corinthians 14:25

Reciprocal: Numbers 24:2 - the spirit 1 Samuel 19:23 - the Spirit 2 Kings 2:3 - And the sons 2 Kings 4:38 - the sons 2 Kings 6:1 - the place Amos 2:11 - I raised 1 Corinthians 12:10 - prophecy 1 Thessalonians 5:20 - General

Cross-References

Genesis 12:13
Please save my life by saying that you are my sister."
Genesis 19:5
and started shouting, "Where are your visitors? Send them out, so we can have sex with them!"
Genesis 19:7
Then he said, "Friends, please don't do such a terrible thing!
Genesis 19:30
Lot was afraid to stay on in Zoar. So he took his two daughters and moved to a cave in the hill country.
Psalms 119:175
Keep me alive, so I can praise you, and let me find help in your teachings.
Isaiah 55:3
Pay close attention! Come to me and live. I will promise you the eternal love and loyalty that I promised David.
Amos 3:6
Isn't the whole city frightened when the trumpet signals an attack? Isn't it the Lord who brings disaster on a city?

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And Saul sent messengers to take David,.... Notwithstanding the sacred place he was in, so bent was he upon his destruction:

and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying; or praising, as the Targum; singing hymns and songs of praise to God, under the inspiration and influence of the Spirit of God, who endited these songs for them, and excited them to sing them; these prophets belonged to the school or college of prophets at Naioth, whom the messengers saw when they came thither, and found them thus employed; or "when he saw" m, for the word is singular, that is, the chief of the messengers, or everyone of them, so Kimchi:

and Samuel standing [as] appointed over them; he was president of the college, and he stood to instruct and teach them in the knowledge of divine things: so the Targum,

"standing, teaching over them or by them,''

and to direct and assist them in singing their songs of praise:

the Spirit of the Lord was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied: or praised, as the Targum; sung hymns and songs of praise as the prophets did, and were so taken up with these religious exercises, that they forgot, or were inattentive to the business they were sent to do. Ben Gersom thinks they foretold things to come, and so Abarbinel; and particularly that they prophesied that David should rule over all Israel, and that God would not suffer Saul to slay him; and so were indifferent to, and negligent of doing the errand they were sent on, yea, purposely avoided it.

m וירא "et vidit", Montanus, Vatablus, Tigurine version; "et vidit quisque [vel] unusquisque illorum", Junius & Tremellius, Piscator.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Samuel standing as appointed - Rather, “as Overseer, or leader.”

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 19:20. The company of the prophets prophesying — Employed in religious exercises.

Samuel - appointed over them — Being head or president of the school at this place.

The Spirit of God was upon the messengers — They partook of the same influence, and joined in the same exercise; and thus were prevented from seizing David.


 
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