Lectionary Calendar
Sunday, April 19th, 2026
the Third Sunday after Easter
Attention!
StudyLight.org has pledged to help build churches in Uganda. Help us with that pledge and support pastors in the heart of Africa.
Click here to join the effort!

Read the Bible

THE MESSAGE

1 Samuel 9:18

Saul came up to Samuel in the street and said, "Pardon me, but can you tell me where the Seer lives?"

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Prophets;   Thompson Chain Reference - Bible Stories for Children;   Children;   Home;   Pleasant Sunday Afternoons;   Religion;   Stories for Children;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Prophecy, prophet;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Kish;   Holman Bible Dictionary - High Place;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - High Place, Sanctuary;   Israel;   Samuel;   Samuel, Books of;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - High Place;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - High Place;   Seer;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Saul approached Samuel in the city gate and asked, “Would you please tell me where the seer’s house is?”
Hebrew Names Version
Then Sha'ul drew near to Shemu'el in the gate, and said, Tell me, Please, where the seer's house is.
King James Version
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
Lexham English Bible
Then Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate and said, "Please tell me, where is the house of the seer?"
English Standard Version
Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?"
New Century Version
Saul approached Samuel at the gate and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."
New English Translation
As Saul approached Samuel in the middle of the gate, he said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."
Amplified Bible
Then Saul approached Samuel in the [city] gate and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."
New American Standard Bible
Then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."
Geneva Bible (1587)
Then went Saul to Samuel in the middes of the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the Seers house is.
Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."
Contemporary English Version
Saul went over to Samuel in the gateway and said, "A man who can see visions lives here in town. Could you tell me the way to his house?"
Complete Jewish Bible
Sha'ul approached Sh'mu'el in the gateway and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."
Darby Translation
And Saul drew near to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
Easy-to-Read Version
Saul went up to a man near the gate to ask directions. This man just happened to be Samuel. Saul said, "Excuse me. Could you tell me where the seer's house is?"
George Lamsa Translation
Then Saul drew near to Samuel at the gate, and said, Tell me, where is the house of the seer?
Good News Translation
Then Saul went over to Samuel, who was near the gate, and asked, "Tell me, where does the seer live?"
Literal Translation
And Saul drew near to Samuel amidst the gate, and said, Please tell me where is the seer's house?
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Then came Saul vnto Samuel vnder ye gate, and sayde: Tell me (I praye the) where is the Seers house?
American Standard Version
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.
Bible in Basic English
Then Saul came up to Samuel in the doorway of the town and said, Give me directions, if you will be so good, to the house of the seer.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
Then went Saul to Samuel in the middle of the gate, and sayd: Tell me I pray thee where the sears house is?
JPS Old Testament (1917)
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said: 'Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.'
King James Version (1611)
Then Saul drew neere to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the Seers house is.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Saul drew near to Samuel into the midst of the city, and said, Tell me now which is the house of the seer?
English Revised Version
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer’s house is.
Berean Standard Bible
Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, "Would you please tell me where the seer's house is?"
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Forsothe Saul neiyede to Samuel in the myddis of the yate, and seide, Y preye, schewe thou to me, where is the hows of the seere?
Young's Literal Translation
And Saul draweth nigh to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and saith, `Declare, I pray thee, to me, where [is] this -- the seer's house?'
Update Bible Version
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray you, where the seer's house is.
Webster's Bible Translation
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house [is].
World English Bible
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, Please, where the seer's house is.
New King James Version
Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Please tell me, where is the seer's house?"
New Living Translation
Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, "Can you please tell me where the seer's house is?"
New Life Bible
Then Saul came to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me, where is the man of God's house?"
New Revised Standard
Then Saul approached Samuel inside the gate, and said, "Tell me, please, where is the house of the seer?"
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And Saul drew near unto Samuel, in the midst of the gate, - and said - I pray thee, do tell me, where is the house of the seer?
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul came to Samuel in the midst of the gate, and said: Tell me, I pray thee, where is the house of the seer?
Revised Standard Version
Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate, and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?"
New American Standard Bible (1995)
Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, "Please tell me where the seer's house is."

Contextual Overview

18 Saul came up to Samuel in the street and said, "Pardon me, but can you tell me where the Seer lives?" 19"I'm the Seer," said Samuel. "Accompany me to the shrine and eat with me. In the morning I'll tell you all about what's on your mind, and send you on your way. And by the way, your lost donkeys—the ones you've been hunting for the last three days—have been found, so don't worry about them. At this moment, Israel's future is in your hands." 21 Saul answered, "But I'm only a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel's tribes, and from the most insignificant clan in the tribe at that. Why are you talking to me like this?" 22Samuel took Saul and his servant and led them into the dining hall at the shrine and seated them at the head of the table. There were about thirty guests. Then Samuel directed the chef, "Bring the choice cut I pointed out to you, the one I told you to reserve." 24 The chef brought it and placed it before Saul with a flourish, saying, "This meal was kept aside just for you. Eat! It was especially prepared for this time and occasion with these guests." Saul ate with Samuel—a memorable day! 25 Afterward they went down from the shrine into the city. A bed was prepared for Saul on the breeze-cooled roof of Samuel's house. 26 They woke at the break of day. Samuel called to Saul on the roof, "Get up and I'll send you off." Saul got up and the two of them went out in the street. 27 As they approached the outskirts of town, Samuel said to Saul, "Tell your servant to go on ahead of us. You stay with me for a bit. I have a word of God to give you."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

Cross-References

Genesis 10:1
This is the family tree of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth. After the flood, they themselves had sons.
Genesis 10:6
The sons of Ham: Cush, Egypt, Put, Canaan.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate,.... Either at the door of his own house, just as he was coming out of it, or within the gate of the city as Saul entered that, Samuel came to it, in order to go through it to the high place, which it is probable was without the city; wherefore it is very properly said that Samuel came out to meet them, 1 Samuel 9:14

and said, tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is; one knows not which to wonder at most, the simplicity and humility of Samuel to be in so plain an habit, unattended by servants, and yet going to a public festival, so that he seemed to be no other than a common man, to be inquired of whereabout his house was; or the ignorance of Saul, who had lived so long in the world, and so near Samuel, and yet had never seen and knew not the chief magistrate in the nation, so famous both for his civil and religious character.


 
adsfree-icon
Ads FreeProfile