Lectionary Calendar
Friday, July 18th, 2025
the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
Attention!
For 10¢ a day you can enjoy StudyLight.org ads
free while helping to build churches and support pastors in Uganda.
Click here to learn more!

Read the Bible

Complete Jewish Bible

1 Samuel 19:20

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.

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.
Contemporary English Version
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.
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 David fled and escaped, then came to Sh'mu'el in Ramah and told him everything Sha'ul had done to him. So he and Sh'mu'el went and stayed in the prophets' dormitory. 19 The news reached Sha'ul that David had been seen at the prophets' dormitory in Ramah. 20 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. 21 When Sha'ul was told, he sent other messengers; but they too began prophesying. Sha'ul sent messengers a third time, and they also prophesied. 22 Then he himself went to Ramah. When he arrived at the big cistern in Sekhu, he asked, "Where are Sh'mu'el and David?" Someone answered, "They're at the prophets' dormitory in Ramah." 23 While on his way to the prophets' dormitory in Ramah, the Spirit of God fell on him too; and he went on, prophesying, until he arrived at the prophets' dormitory in Ramah. 24 He also stripped off his clothes, prophesied in Sh'mu'el's presence and lay there naked all that day and all that night. Hence it continues to be an expression, "Is Sha'ul a prophet, too?"

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 say that you are my sister, so that it will go well with me for your sake, and so that I will stay alive because of you."
Genesis 19:5
They called Lot and said to him, "Where are the men who came to stay with you tonight? Bring them out to us! We want to have sex with them!"
Genesis 19:7
and said, "Please, my brothers, don't do such a wicked thing.
Genesis 19:30
Lot went up from Tzo‘ar and lived in the hills with his two daughters, because he was afraid to stay in Tzo‘ar. He and his two daughters lived in a cave.
Psalms 119:175
Let me live, and I will praise you; let your rulings help me.
Isaiah 55:3
Open your ears, and come to me; listen well, and you will live — I will make an everlasting covenant with you, the grace I assured David.
Amos 3:6
When the shofar is blown in the city, don't the people tremble? Can disaster befall a city without Adonai 's having done it?

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.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile