1 Samuel 10:23

THE MESSAGE

They ran and got him. He took his place before everyone, standing tall—head and shoulders above them.

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
They ran and got him from there. When he stood among the people, he stood a head taller than anyone else.

Hebrew Names Version
They ran and fetched him there; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

King James Version
And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

Lexham English Bible
So they ran and took him from there, and when he took his stand among the people, he was taller than all the people from his shoulders and up.

English Standard Version
Then they ran and took him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

New Century Version
So they ran and brought him out. When Saul stood among the people, he was a head taller than anyone else.

New English Translation
So they ran and brought him from there. When he took his position among the people, he stood head and shoulders above them all.

Amplified Bible
So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

New American Standard Bible
So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

Geneva Bible (1587)
And they ranne, and brought him thence: and when he stoode among the people, he was hier then any of the people from the shoulders vpwarde.

Legacy Standard Bible
So they ran and took him from there, and he stood among the people. And he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

Contemporary English Version
The people ran and got Saul and brought him into the middle of the crowd. He was more than a head taller than anyone else.

Complete Jewish Bible
They ran and brought him from there, and when he stood among the people he was head and shoulders taller than anyone around.

Darby Translation
And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

Easy-to-Read Version
The people ran and took Saul out from behind the supplies. Saul stood up among the people. He was a head taller than anyone else.

George Lamsa Translation
And they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was head and shoulders higher than any of the people.

Good News Translation
So they ran and brought Saul out to the people, and they could see that he was a foot taller than anyone else.

Literal Translation
And they ran and took him from there. And he stood in the midst of the people, and he was taller than all the people, from his shoulders and upward.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then ranne they thither, and fetched him. And whan he stode amonge the people, he was hygher by the heade then all the people.

American Standard Version
And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

Bible in Basic English
So they went quickly and made him come out; and when he took his place among the people, he was taller by a head than any of the people.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
And they ranne and set him thence, and when he stoode among the people, he was hygher then any of the people from the shoulders vpwarde.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

King James Version (1611)
And they ranne, and fetched him thence, and when he stood among the people, he was higher then any of the people, from the shoulders & vpward.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And he ran and took him thence, and he set him in the midst of the people; and he was higher than all the people by his shoulders and upwards.

English Revised Version
And they ran and fetched him thence; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

Berean Standard Bible
So they ran and brought Saul, and when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of the others.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Therfor thei runnen, and token hym fro thennus; and he stood in the myddil of the puple, and was hiyere than al the puple fro the schulder and `aboue.

Young's Literal Translation
And they run and bring him thence, and he stationed himself in the midst of the people, and he is higher than any of the people from his shoulder and upward.

Update Bible Version
And they ran and fetched him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they ran and brought him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

World English Bible
They ran and fetched him there; and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward.

New King James Version
So they ran and brought him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

New Living Translation
So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.

New Life Bible
They ran and brought him from there. And when he stood among the people, he was a head taller than any of them.

New Revised Standard
Then they ran and brought him from there. When he took his stand among the people, he was head and shoulders taller than any of them.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
So they ran, and fetched him thence, and, when he presented himself in the midst of the people, then was he seen to be taller than any of the people, from his shoulders and upwards.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And they ran and fetched him thence: and he stood in the midst of the people, and he was higher than any of the people from the shoulders and upward.

Revised Standard Version
Then they ran and fetched him from there; and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
So they ran and took him from there, and when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward.

Contextual Overview

¹⁷Samuel called the people to assemble before God at Mizpah. He addressed the children of Israel, "This is God 's personal message to you: "I brought Israel up out of Egypt. I delivered you from Egyptian oppression—yes, from all the bullying governments that made your life miserable. And now you want nothing to do with your God, the very God who has a history of getting you out of troubles of all sorts. "And now you say, ‘No! We want a king; give us a king!' "Well, if that's what you want, that's what you'll get! Present yourselves formally before God , ranked in tribes and families." After Samuel got all the tribes of Israel lined up, the Benjamin tribe was picked. Then he lined up the Benjamin tribe in family groups, and the family of Matri was picked. The family of Matri took its place in the lineup, and the name Saul, son of Kish, was picked. But when they went looking for him, he was nowhere to be found. Samuel went back to God : "Is he anywhere around?" God said, "Yes, he's right over there—hidden in that pile of baggage." They ran and got him. He took his place before everyone, standing tall—head and shoulders above them. Samuel then addressed the people, "Take a good look at whom God has chosen: the best! No one like him in the whole country!" Then a great shout went up from the people: "Long live the king!" Samuel went on to instruct the people in the rules and regulations involved in a kingdom, wrote it all down in a book, and placed it before God . Then Samuel sent everyone home. Saul also went home to Gibeah, and with him some true and brave men whom God moved to join him. But the riffraff went off muttering, "Deliverer? Don't make me laugh!" They held him in contempt and refused to congratulate him. But Saul paid them no mind. Nahash, king of the Ammonites, was brutalizing the tribes of Gad and Reuben, gouging out their right eyes and intimidating anyone who would come to Israel's help. There were very few Israelites living on the east side of the Jordan River who had not had their right eyes gouged out by Nahash. But seven thousand men had escaped from the Ammonites and were now living safely in Jabesh. ¹⁹"You'll Be a New Person" Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul's head, and kissed him. He said, "Do you see what this means? God has anointed you prince over his people. "This sign will confirm God 's anointing of you as prince over his inheritance: After you leave me today, as you get closer to your home country of Benjamin, you'll meet two men near Rachel's Tomb. They'll say, ‘The donkeys you went to look for are found. Your father has forgotten about the donkeys and is worried about you, wringing his hands—quite beside himself!' "Leaving there, you'll arrive at the Oak of Tabor. There you'll meet three men going up to worship God at Bethel. One will be carrying three young goats, another carrying three sacks of bread, and the third a jug of wine. They'll say, ‘Hello, how are you?' and offer you two loaves of bread, which you will accept. "Next, you'll come to Gibeah of God, where there's a Philistine garrison. As you approach the town, you'll run into a bunch of prophets coming down from the shrine, playing harps and tambourines, flutes and drums. And they'll be prophesying. Before you know it, the Spirit of God will come on you and you'll be prophesying right along with them. And you'll be transformed. You'll be a new person! "When these confirming signs are accomplished, you'll know that you're ready: Whatever job you're given to do, do it. God is with you! "Now, go down to Gilgal and I will follow. I'll come down and join you in worship by sacrificing burnt offerings and peace offerings. Wait seven days. Then I'll come and tell you what to do next." Saul turned and left Samuel. At that very moment God transformed him—made him a new person! And all the confirming signs took place the same day. When Saul and his party got to Gibeah, there were the prophets, right in front of them! Before he knew it, the Spirit of God came on Saul and he was prophesying right along with them. When those who had previously known Saul saw him prophesying with the prophets, they were totally surprised. "What's going on here? What's come over the son of Kish? How on earth did Saul get to be a prophet?" One man spoke up and said, "Who started this? Where did these people ever come from?" That's how the saying got started, "Saul among the prophets! Who would have guessed?!" When Saul was done prophesying, he returned home. His uncle asked him and his servant, "So where have you two been all this time?" "Out looking for the donkeys. We looked and looked and couldn't find them. And then we found Samuel!" "So," said Saul's uncle, "what did Samuel tell you?" Saul said, "He told us not to worry—the donkeys had been found." But Saul didn't breathe a word to his uncle of what Samuel said about the king business. Samuel called the people to assemble before God at Mizpah. He addressed the children of Israel, "This is God 's personal message to you: "I brought Israel up out of Egypt. I delivered you from Egyptian oppression—yes, from all the bullying governments that made your life miserable. And now you want nothing to do with your God, the very God who has a history of getting you out of troubles of all sorts. "And now you say, ‘No! We want a king; give us a king!' "Well, if that's what you want, that's what you'll get! Present yourselves formally before God , ranked in tribes and families." ²⁰After Samuel got all the tribes of Israel lined up, the Benjamin tribe was picked. Then he lined up the Benjamin tribe in family groups, and the family of Matri was picked. The family of Matri took its place in the lineup, and the name Saul, son of Kish, was picked. But when they went looking for him, he was nowhere to be found. ²² Samuel went back to God : "Is he anywhere around?" God said, "Yes, he's right over there—hidden in that pile of baggage." ²³ They ran and got him. He took his place before everyone, standing tall—head and shoulders above them. ²⁴ Samuel then addressed the people, "Take a good look at whom God has chosen: the best! No one like him in the whole country!" Then a great shout went up from the people: "Long live the king!" ²⁵ Samuel went on to instruct the people in the rules and regulations involved in a kingdom, wrote it all down in a book, and placed it before God . Then Samuel sent everyone home. ²⁶Saul also went home to Gibeah, and with him some true and brave men whom God moved to join him. But the riffraff went off muttering, "Deliverer? Don't make me laugh!" They held him in contempt and refused to congratulate him. But Saul paid them no mind. Nahash, king of the Ammonites, was brutalizing the tribes of Gad and Reuben, gouging out their right eyes and intimidating anyone who would come to Israel's help. There were very few Israelites living on the east side of the Jordan River who had not had their right eyes gouged out by Nahash. But seven thousand men had escaped from the Ammonites and were now living safely in Jabesh.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

he was higher: 1 Samuel 9:2, 1 Samuel 16:7, 1 Samuel 17:4

Reciprocal: Judges 14:11 - saw him 1 Kings 1:6 - very

Cross-References

Job 1:1
Job was a man who lived in Uz. He was honest inside and out, a man of his word, who was totally devoted to God and hated evil with a passion. He had seven sons and three daughters. He was also very wealthy—seven thousand head of sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred teams of oxen, five hundred donkeys, and a huge staff of servants—the most influential man in all the East!

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And they ran and fetched him thence,.... Being in haste to see their king elect, and proclaim him:

and when he stood among the people; being brought among them, and presented to them:

he was higher than any of the people, from the shoulders, and upwards; which made him look very graceful and majestic; height of stature, and a comely form, as Kimchi observes, recommend to royal dignity; and make the people stand more in awe of a prince, and have always been reckoned among all other nations to make a prince venerable,

:-.