1 Samuel 10 10

1 Samuel 10:10 kjv

And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

1 Samuel 10:10 nkjv

When they came there to the hill, there was a group of prophets to meet him; then the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

1 Samuel 10:10 niv

When he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying.

1 Samuel 10:10 esv

When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them.

1 Samuel 10:10 nlt

When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy.

1 Samuel 10 verses

1 Samuel 10 10 Meaning

This verse describes the third sign given by Samuel to Saul, where upon reaching Gibeah, Saul encountered a company of prophets. In that moment, the Spirit of God powerfully came upon him, enabling him to engage in ecstatic prophecy among them, thereby confirming his divine anointing as king.

1 Samuel 10 10 Context

First Samuel chapter 10 recounts Saul's anointing by Samuel as the first king of Israel and the subsequent signs given to validate his appointment. Following his private anointing (1 Sam 10:1), Samuel provides Saul with three specific signs to confirm the divine legitimacy of his kingship (1 Sam 10:2-7). This verse, 1 Samuel 10:10, details the third and final sign, which publicly and dramatically validates Saul's divine selection and equips him for his role. It occurs upon Saul's return journey after meeting Samuel, leading him to his hometown of Gibeah, a significant Benjaminite location, reinforcing his connection to his tribal identity. This event places Saul, momentarily, among prophetic figures at a time when Israel's spiritual leadership transitioned from judges and prophets to kingship, underscoring the spiritual nature of his new office.

1 Samuel 10 10 Word analysis

• When they came to Gibeah (בָּאוּ גִּבְעַת – bāʾū gibʿat): "Gibeah" was Saul's hometown (1 Sam 10:26), implying that this prophetic encounter happened in or very near his own familiar territory. This serves as a significant locale for the validation of his calling, bringing a divine sign right into his personal context.
• behold (הִנֵּה – hinneh): This Hebrew interjection draws immediate attention to a sudden, striking, and important event. It signals the divinely orchestrated nature of the encounter, emphasizing that it was not coincidental but providentially arranged.
• a group of prophets (חֶבֶל נְבִאִים – ḥevel nᵊḇîʾîm): Literally "a cord" or "band" of prophets. These were not the solitary classical prophets like Elijah or Elisha but likely a communal, possibly ecstatic, itinerant band. They might have engaged in worship, music, and spontaneous spiritual utterances. Their prophetic activity here is likely an outward, possibly physical, manifestation of the Spirit's presence, rather than necessarily delivering specific divine messages or foretelling the future.
• met him (לִקְרָאתֹו – liqraʾtô): This phrase implies an intentional meeting, suggesting divine design in arranging for this company of prophets to cross paths with Saul exactly at that moment. It emphasizes God's precise orchestration of events to validate His chosen king.
• the Spirit of God (רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים – rūaḥ ʾĔlōhîm): Refers to God's dynamic, empowering presence or active divine power. In the Old Testament, the Spirit of God often "came upon" individuals for specific tasks, empowering them with temporary strength, wisdom, or prophetic abilities for leadership or special service (e.g., Judges, craftsmen in Exodus). It's distinct from the indwelling Spirit of the New Covenant.
• rushed upon him (צָלְחָה עָלָיו – tsālĕḥâ ʿālāw): This Hebrew verb "tsalach" denotes a sudden, powerful, overwhelming, and forceful seizure or enablement. It signifies the Spirit's decisive and immediate action, not a gradual influence. This indicates a direct, intense divine intervention equipping Saul with immediate supernatural capability.
• and he prophesied among them (וַיִּתְנַבֵּא בְּתוֹכָם – vayyitnabēʾ bəṭōḵām): The verb "hitnabēʾ" (from naba, "to prophesy") implies ecstatic behavior, spontaneous utterance, or inspired speaking. It was not necessarily foretelling the future but participating in the spiritually charged activities of the prophetic company, validating his divine enablement and showing him to be 'one of them' by virtue of shared spiritual experience. This visible manifestation confirmed to him and others his divine anointing and qualification.

1 Samuel 10 10 Bonus section

The spontaneous and ecstatic nature of "prophesying" observed in this verse (and again in 1 Samuel 19:23-24 concerning Saul) suggests a form of prophetic activity different from the "thus says the Lord" message delivery characteristic of later classical prophets. This early form was often communal, involving music, trance-like states, and intense emotional or spiritual outpouring, signifying a powerful connection to the divine. This communal experience distinguished them from the solitary deliverers of direct oracles seen in later periods. The "Is Saul also among the prophets?" proverb (1 Sam 10:11-12) suggests surprise at Saul's inclusion in this spiritual experience, possibly reflecting his previous lack of religious zeal or perceived unsuitability, highlighting the unexpected and miraculous nature of the Spirit's operation. This event marked Saul as one chosen and empowered by God, yet it implicitly carries the warning that external anointing does not inherently secure enduring faithfulness without continuous submission to God.

1 Samuel 10 10 Commentary

1 Samuel 10:10 stands as a profound moment in Saul's early anointing, signifying God's direct confirmation and equipping for his role as king. The scene at Gibeah, with the unexpected encounter with the prophetic band, underscores the sovereign hand of God in fulfilling Samuel's prophetic signs. The descent of the "Spirit of God" was not for Saul's personal piety or salvation in the New Covenant sense, but a charismatic enablement, a divine charism, for his new public office. The verb "rushed upon him" conveys the immediacy and power of this supernatural empowerment, which transiently transformed Saul's demeanor, enabling him to participate in ecstatic prophetic utterances. This experience served multiple purposes: it authenticated Samuel's words to Saul, prepared Saul inwardly for the weighty responsibilities of kingship by connecting him to divine power, and offered a public sign (as later attested by the proverb in 1 Sam 10:11-12) of God's favor and appointment. This act reveals that kingship in Israel, at its inception, was conceived not merely as a political office but as a divinely sanctioned and spiritually empowered vocation. However, as Saul's later life reveals, such a spiritual empowerment for office does not guarantee a continuing obedience or a transformed heart.