1 Samuel 10 15

1 Samuel 10:15 kjv

And Saul's uncle said, Tell me, I pray thee, what Samuel said unto you.

1 Samuel 10:15 nkjv

And Saul's uncle said, "Tell me, please, what Samuel said to you."

1 Samuel 10:15 niv

Saul's uncle said, "Tell me what Samuel said to you."

1 Samuel 10:15 esv

And Saul's uncle said, "Please tell me what Samuel said to you."

1 Samuel 10:15 nlt

"Oh? And what did he say?" his uncle asked.

1 Samuel 10 verses

1 Samuel 10 15 Meaning

In 1 Samuel 10:15, Saul's paternal uncle directly confronts Saul, seeking an account of his recent absence and the details of his interaction with Samuel. The uncle's questioning, framed with an earnest "please," indicates his keen interest in understanding what transpired, particularly using the plural "you," suggesting an expectation of a detailed disclosure regarding all aspects of Saul's journey and his meeting with the prophet.

1 Samuel 10 15 Context

Chapter 10 of 1 Samuel narrates the pivotal moments following Samuel's private anointing of Saul as Israel's first king in chapter 9. Prior to this verse, Samuel gives Saul specific signs to confirm his divine appointment (10:1-8), including the prophecy that Saul would meet a company of prophets and would himself prophesy, signifying the Spirit of God coming upon him. Indeed, upon encountering the prophets, Saul is overcome by the Spirit and prophesies among them (10:9-13), leading to the well-known question, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" This verse (10:15) occurs just after Saul and his servant return home (10:14) and meet Saul's uncle. The uncle's questioning acts as the catalyst for Saul's partial disclosure (10:16), setting up the eventual public choosing of the king at Mizpah (10:17-27), where Saul once again demonstrates a modest, almost hesitant, demeanor before his public presentation as king. This passage highlights the transition from Saul's private preparation to his public role.

1 Samuel 10 15 Word analysis

• Then Saul's uncle said, (וַיֹּאמֶר דּוֹד שָׁאוּל - va-yo'mer dod sha'ul)

  • וַיֹּאמֶר (va-yo'mer): "And he said." This is a common Hebrew narrative construction (waw-consecutive imperfect), indicating a sequential action. It marks the initiation of the conversation following Saul's return home.
  • דּוֹד (dod): "Uncle." This term signifies a paternal uncle, the brother of Saul's father, Kish. The specific mention of "uncle" highlights a close familial relationship and an implicit authority or right to inquire within the family structure. The family, especially an elder figure like the uncle, naturally expects a report of significant absences.
  • שָׁאוּל (sha'ul): "Saul." The future king of Israel, who has just experienced a profound divine encounter and private anointing.

• "Please tell me what Samuel said to you." (הַגִּידָה נָּא לִי מַה דִּבֶּר אֲלֵיכֶם שְׁמוּאֵל - ha-ggida na li mah dibber aleikem sh'mu'el)

  • הַגִּידָה (ha-ggida): "Tell." This is a Hiphil imperative form of the root נגד (nagad), meaning "to declare, make known, report." It is a direct command, a firm request for information. The Hiphil stem often implies causing something to be known.
  • נָּא (na): "Please" or "now, pray." This is an enclitic particle that softens commands, expresses entreaty, or indicates urgency and earnestness. The uncle is not merely asking casually; he is pressing for details earnestly.
  • לִּי (li): "to me." A singular pronoun indicating that the uncle desires the information for himself, personally.
  • מַה (mah): "what." An interrogative pronoun, seeking specific content.
  • דִּבֶּר (dibber): "said, spoke." This is the Piel perfect form of the verb דבר (dabar), meaning "to speak, to converse." The Piel stem often indicates intensive or careful speaking, implying that the uncle expects a detailed account, not just a casual word or summary. He wants to know the full conversation.
  • אֲלֵיכֶם (aleikem): "to you (plural)." This is a crucial detail. Samuel privately anointed Saul alone (1 Sam 9:27; 10:1), but Saul was accompanied by his servant throughout the journey. The uncle's use of the plural implies he either assumes the servant was present during the conversation with Samuel (which he wasn't for the anointing), or he wants a complete disclosure about the entire matter involving both Saul and his attendant during their trip and encounter with Samuel. This indicates a deep-seated curiosity for the complete picture, pressuring Saul for a full report of their expedition.
  • שְׁמוּאֵל (sh'mu'el): "Samuel." The esteemed prophet, widely recognized as a man of God, whose pronouncements carried divine authority. The uncle knows that any interaction with Samuel would be significant.

1 Samuel 10 15 Bonus section

The prominence of "Saul's uncle" in this narrative may indicate that he was an influential figure in Kish's household or clan. In ancient Israelite society, extended family networks were central, and paternal uncles often held positions of respect and counsel. His direct and probing question demonstrates this familial concern and his expected right to know. This sets the stage for how Saul's identity as a leader, first revealed privately to him, begins to ripple through his immediate social circle before its ultimate public declaration by divine choice. The uncle's inquiry highlights the natural human impulse to understand events of spiritual significance when they touch one's own kin, even when God's plan unfolds in mysterious or undisclosed ways.

1 Samuel 10 15 Commentary

1 Samuel 10:15 reveals a moment of natural familial curiosity intertwined with Saul's private, divinely appointed secret. Saul's uncle, a prominent family member, expects a full report of Saul's journey, especially concerning an encounter with a revered figure like Samuel. The uncle's urgent and plural questioning "what Samuel said to you (plural)" underscores his desire for comprehensive information, perhaps even hinting at his awareness that the donkey-searching mission might have led to something more profound.

This question immediately sets up Saul's response in the next verse, where he discloses only the retrieval of the donkeys, omitting Samuel's anointing him as king. Saul's silence concerning the kingship has been interpreted as early humility, prudence, or a nascent tendency toward secretiveness. Given Samuel's instruction for Saul to go to Gilgal for a public coronation at a later time (1 Sam 10:8), Saul's restraint demonstrates his understanding of God's timing and his submission to Samuel's directive, rather than taking credit or publicly proclaiming his anointing before God's chosen moment. This initial display of humility and a measured response contrasts sharply with his later impulses of self-will and public self-aggrandizement. The family's questioning here subtly foreshadows the challenges Saul will face in balancing divine revelation with human understanding and the appropriate timing for disclosure.