1 Samuel 10:23 kjv
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.
1 Samuel 10:23 nkjv
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.
1 Samuel 10:23 niv
They ran and brought him out, and as he stood among the people he was a head taller than any of the others.
1 Samuel 10:23 esv
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.
1 Samuel 10:23 nlt
So they found him and brought him out, and he stood head and shoulders above anyone else.
1 Samuel 10 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 9:2 | "He had a son whose name was Saul... a handsome young man. Among the people of Israel there was not a more handsome person than he; from his shoulders upward he was taller than any of the people." | Pre-anointing description of Saul's extraordinary appearance, mirroring 10:23. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "But the Lord said to Samuel, 'Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature... For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.'" | Direct contrast to Saul's selection criteria, emphasizing God's view of true leadership. |
| Deut 17:15 | "you may indeed set a king over you whom the Lord your God will choose. You shall not set a foreigner over you..." | God's instruction for king selection, emphasizing divine choice over human preference. |
| 1 Sam 8:5 | "Now appoint for us a king to govern us like all the nations." | Israel's demand for a king based on human standards, reflecting a desire for external display. |
| 1 Sam 8:7 | "And the Lord said to Samuel... they have rejected me from being king over them." | God's view of Israel's demand, underscoring rejection of His spiritual leadership. |
| Hosea 8:4 | "They made kings, but not through me. They set up princes, but I knew it not." | Divine critique of human-driven kingship established outside God's perfect will. |
| 1 Sam 16:6 | "When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, 'Surely the Lord's anointed is before him.'" | Samuel initially considers Eliab based on his stature, showing human tendency. |
| Prov 16:18 | "Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall." | Principle related to Saul's later spiritual downfall, which outward pride could reflect. |
| Isa 2:12 | "For the Lord of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up..." | Condemnation of human pride, contrasting with humble leadership. |
| 1 Sam 17:4 | "There came out from the Philistine camp a champion named Goliath... whose height was six cubits and a span." | Goliath's imposing height, presenting a physical threat, but later defeated by faith not stature. |
| Matt 20:26 | "But whoever would be great among you must be your servant..." | Christ's redefinition of true greatness in leadership, opposite to worldly views of stature/power. |
| Phil 2:6-8 | "who, though he was in the form of God... emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant..." | Christ's example of humility and self-emptying, a stark contrast to earthly notions of imposing leaders. |
| Isa 53:2 | "He had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him." | Description of Christ's un-impressive outward appearance, highlighting His inner spiritual power. |
| 1 Pet 5:2-3 | "Shepherd the flock of God that is among you... not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock." | Emphasizes servant leadership, avoiding an overbearing, externally impressive persona. |
| 1 Sam 10:24 | "And Samuel said to all the people, 'Do you see him whom the Lord has chosen? There is none like him among all the people.' And all the people shouted, 'Long live the king!'" | The immediate acclamation of the people, validating Saul based on his visible distinction. |
| 1 Sam 10:22 | "So Saul inquired again of the Lord, 'Is there a man still to come?' And the Lord answered, 'Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.'" | God's divine revelation of Saul's whereabouts, preceding his dramatic entrance. |
| Zech 4:6 | "'Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord of hosts." | Highlights that true effectiveness and spiritual leadership comes from God's Spirit, not physical prowess. |
| Judg 9:8 | "The trees once went out to anoint a king over them, and they said to the olive tree, 'Reign over us.'" | Fable reflecting on leadership, where truly beneficial figures are often reluctant, while prideful ones seek power. |
| Psa 20:7 | "Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God." | Reinforces reliance on God's strength over human instruments or physical attributes like height. |
| John 18:36 | "My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting..." | Christ's explanation of His spiritual kingdom, contrasting with earthly kingdoms that prioritize physical presence and power. |
1 Samuel 10 verses
1 Samuel 10 23 Meaning
This verse describes the physical presentation of Saul to the Israelite people, emphasizing his remarkable height. After being identified by lots and divinely revealed to be hiding, Saul is brought forth. Upon standing among the gathered assembly, it is immediately evident that he possessed an extraordinary stature, being significantly taller than anyone else present, towering above them from his shoulders upward. This detail highlights his immediate visual distinction and commanding presence, aligning with the people's desire for an outwardly impressive king.
1 Samuel 10 23 Context
First Samuel chapter 10 marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history—the anointing and public presentation of its first king, Saul. Following the private anointing of Saul by Samuel and the subsequent confirmation through signs and the anointing of the Spirit, the focus shifts to the national assembly at Mizpah. Here, Samuel gathers all Israel to formally identify their chosen king through lots, emphasizing God's role despite their rejection of His direct rule. After the tribe of Benjamin and the family of Matri are chosen, the lot falls on Saul, but he is found to be hiding "among the baggage." It is from this place of initial apprehension or humility that Saul is brought forward to face the nation. Verse 23 is the immediate consequence of this divine revelation and his retrieval, serving as the powerful, visual culmination of his designation as king. Culturally, in the Ancient Near East, an impressive physical stature was often associated with royal dignity and martial leadership, making Saul's towering height a significant characteristic for a king desired "like all the nations."
1 Samuel 10 23 Word analysis
- So they ran (וַיָּרוּצוּ - vayyārūṣū): Implies urgency and excitement. Upon the divine revelation of Saul's hiding place (v. 22), the people acted quickly to present their king.
- and brought him (וַיִּקָּחֻהוּ - vayyiqqāḥūhū): Denotes 'taking' or 'retrieving.' Suggests an active effort to fetch him, given his prior concealment.
- from there (מִשָּׁם - mishām): Refers directly to his hiding spot among "the baggage" (hakkēlîm) mentioned in the preceding verse (1 Sam 10:22). It underscores his initial reluctance or modesty.
- And when he stood (וַיַּעֲמֹד - vayya‘ămōḏ): Marks his emergence from hiding into public view. This action signifies a formal, upright presence, ready to be assessed by the people.
- among the people (בְּתוֹךְ הָעָם - bĕṯōwḵ hā‘ām): Places him centrally within the gathered Israelite assembly. His position is now conspicuous and exposed to all.
- he was taller (וַיִּגְבַּהּ - vayyiḡbaḥ): From the root גבה (gavah), meaning 'to be high,' 'exalted.' This verb emphasizes not just height, but an exceptional, prominent elevation.
- than any of the people (מִכָּל הָעָם - mikkol hā‘ām): A comparative phrase indicating superiority in height to all others. It highlights his singular physical distinction.
- from his shoulders upward (מִשִּׁכְמוֹ וָמָעְלָה - mishshikhmo wāmā‘lāh): A very specific and vivid description. It means his head and neck were visible above the crowd, making him unmistakable and physically commanding. This exact phrasing is also used in 1 Sam 9:2 to first introduce Saul's physical attributes.
- Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "So they ran and brought him from there": This phrase captures the immediate, eager response of the people to retrieve their designated leader from his hiding spot, revealing their excitement following the lot's outcome.
- "And when he stood among the people, he was taller than any of the people from his shoulders upward": This entire descriptive phrase sets the stage for Saul's kingship by highlighting his most striking and kingly physical attribute from the perspective of the people. It demonstrates he visually met their expectation of a strong, imposing ruler.
1 Samuel 10 23 Bonus section
- The detail of Saul's hiding "among the baggage" (v. 22) before his revelation in verse 23 could indicate either a genuine sense of humility and apprehension regarding the enormous responsibility of kingship, or perhaps a fearful reluctance to step into such a prominent role. This nuance contributes to a more complex character portrait of Saul from the outset.
- Saul's unparalleled height, described so precisely, was a definitive sign to the people that he was indeed chosen, appearing perfectly fitted for the role by their own criteria. It solidified his authority and respect in their eyes from the moment of his public presentation.
- The repetition of "from his shoulders upward" from Saul's initial description in 1 Samuel 9:2 creates a powerful literary connection, underscoring this particular physical feature as central to his identity and appeal as king in the human estimation. This also sets up a future contrast when the narrative pivots to a leader chosen for his heart rather than stature.
- Scholars note that in the ancient world, physical deformity or short stature could disqualify one from certain positions, making Saul's exemplary height a strong mark of fitness and a fulfillment of what the people unconsciously or consciously sought in a monarch.
1 Samuel 10 23 Commentary
First Samuel 10:23 serves as the dramatic public unveiling of Saul, Israel's first king, whom the people had earnestly demanded. His dramatic emergence from concealment, having been divinely revealed among the baggage, only magnifies the impact of his appearance. The profound emphasis on his towering stature—being literally head and shoulders above everyone else—is deeply significant. This physical attribute immediately satisfied the human expectation for a king who embodied strength, authority, and prominence, reflecting the people's desire to be "like all the nations" who looked to such outward displays of leadership. While impressive to human eyes, this singular focus on outward appearance by the people implicitly sets the stage for God's counter-cultural principle of judging "not as man sees" (1 Sam 16:7), foreshadowing that Saul's impressive exterior would ultimately not compensate for his future spiritual failings. The verse is thus a narrative touchstone, illustrating divine provision according to human demand, even as it lays the groundwork for later lessons on the true nature of God-honoring leadership.