1 Samuel 10:9 kjv
And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day.
1 Samuel 10:9 nkjv
So it was, when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, that God gave him another heart; and all those signs came to pass that day.
1 Samuel 10:9 niv
As Saul turned to leave Samuel, God changed Saul's heart, and all these signs were fulfilled that day.
1 Samuel 10:9 esv
When he turned his back to leave Samuel, God gave him another heart. And all these signs came to pass that day.
1 Samuel 10:9 nlt
As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel's signs were fulfilled that day.
1 Samuel 10 9 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 4:11-12 | "Who has made man's mouth?... Is it not I, the LORD? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you..." | God equips those He calls. |
| Deut 29:4 | "But to this day the LORD has not given you a heart to understand..." | God's sovereign hand in spiritual insight. |
| Judg 6:34 | "The Spirit of the LORD clothed Gideon..." | Divine enabling for leadership tasks. |
| Judg 11:29 | "Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah..." | Divine enabling for specific missions. |
| 1 Sam 9:16 | "...I will send you a man... and you shall anoint him to be prince..." | God chooses and designates leaders. |
| 1 Sam 10:6 | "Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy..." | Direct connection to Saul's immediate experience. |
| 1 Sam 10:10 | "...and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied..." | Fulfillment of prophecy about the Spirit's arrival. |
| 1 Sam 16:7 | "...For the LORD sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." | God assesses internal disposition. |
| 1 Sam 16:13 | "And the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward." | Another instance of divine equipping for kingship. |
| Ps 51:10 | "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me." | Plea for internal transformation. |
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is a stream of water in the hand of the LORD..." | God's sovereign control over rulers' hearts. |
| Jer 24:7 | "I will give them a heart to know that I am the LORD..." | God provides spiritual understanding. |
| Ezek 11:19 | "I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them..." | Prophecy of internal, spiritual transformation. |
| Ezek 36:26 | "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you..." | Prophecy of new inner being and capabilities. |
| Matt 12:35 | "The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil." | The heart as the source of actions. |
| Luke 24:44 | "...that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled." | The concept of prophetic signs fulfilled. |
| Acts 1:8 | "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you..." | Divine enablement for mission through the Spirit. |
| Rom 13:1 | "For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God." | God's sovereignty over all authorities. |
| 2 Cor 3:18 | "...being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit." | Internal transformation by the Spirit. |
| 2 Cor 5:17 | "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away..." | Complete internal renewal for a new purpose. |
| Phil 2:13 | "for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure." | God's internal work in believers. |
| Heb 8:10 | "For this is the covenant that I will make... I will put my laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts..." | Internalizing God's will and law. |
1 Samuel 10 verses
1 Samuel 10 9 Meaning
This verse signifies a pivotal moment in Saul's life, highlighting God's immediate and active intervention. As Saul turned away from Samuel, the Lord fundamentally altered his inner disposition, equipping him for the immense responsibility of kingship. This divine transformation of his heart enabled him to receive and carry out his new calling. The simultaneous fulfillment of all the prophetic signs given by Samuel that day served as irrefutable confirmation of God's direct hand in these events and His chosen plan for Saul.
1 Samuel 10 9 Context
Chapter 10 of 1 Samuel marks a pivotal moment in Israel's history—the inauguration of its first king, Saul, chosen by God. Leading up to verse 9, Samuel has secretly anointed Saul as king (v. 1), indicating God's chosen ruler for Israel, in response to the people's demand for a king. Following the anointing, Samuel provides Saul with three specific signs (vv. 2-7) that will serve as divine confirmation of his anointing and God's empowering presence. These signs include encountering two men near Rachel's tomb, three men going to Bethel, and a band of prophets. Verse 9 is the immediate culmination, showing God's direct fulfillment of these prophecies and the internal preparation of Saul. This prepares Saul for the public revelation of his kingship, initially at Mizpah (v. 17). Historically, this period signifies Israel's transition from a loose confederacy governed by judges and God's direct rule to a monarchy, yet one still under divine authority, with the king serving as God's anointed leader.
1 Samuel 10 9 Word analysis
- And it was so, that when he had turned his back:
- This phrase indicates the exact timing of the event: immediately after Saul departed from Samuel. It emphasizes the immediacy and direct connection between Samuel's prophecy and God's action. It also signifies Saul stepping into a new phase of his life.
- to go from Samuel:
- Implies physical departure but signifies the beginning of Saul's journey to fulfill his new, divinely appointed role, separating from the prophet's immediate supervision.
- God changed his heart:
- God (אֱלֹהִ֜ים - Elohim): Refers to the true and sovereign God, emphasizing that this was a divine, supernatural act, not a natural change in Saul's disposition or intellect.
- changed (וַיַּהֲפָךְ - wayyahaphak): This verb, from the root hāphak, means to turn, overturn, or change. Here, it signifies a complete and decisive alteration, a divine reorientation or transformation. It is a Hiph'il verb, indicating that God caused the change.
- his heart (לֵ֣ב אַחֵ֗ר - lev aḥer, lit. "another heart"): "Heart" (lev) in the Old Testament represents not just emotions, but the seat of intellect, will, decision-making, and moral character—the entire inner being. The term "another heart" suggests a disposition fundamentally different from his previous one, suited for kingship. This was a functional change, equipping him for the immense responsibilities of leading a nation, not necessarily a salvific or regenerative change in the New Testament sense of being "born again." It empowered him with wisdom, courage, and leadership capacity needed for his royal office.
- and all those signs came to pass that day:
- all those signs (הַשָּׂשֹׁ֣ות הָאֵ֗לֶּה - haś-śaśšōṯ hāʾēlleh): Refers to the specific predictive signs Samuel gave Saul in verses 2-7. The Hebrew word 'ōth (sign) refers to a visible mark, token, or miracle that confirms a message or divine authority.
- came to pass: Denotes precise, literal fulfillment.
- that day: Highlights the immediate and undeniable divine confirmation. The quick succession of events left no doubt about their supernatural origin and the truthfulness of Samuel's word. It validated both Samuel as a prophet and Saul as God's chosen king.
1 Samuel 10 9 Bonus section
The concept of God giving a "different heart" or "another heart" for a specific divine purpose is not unique to Saul. While distinct from the "new heart" promised in Jeremiah 31 and Ezekiel 36 (which relates to covenant renewal and spiritual regeneration), it demonstrates a pattern of God supernaturally equipping individuals for roles—be it leadership, prophecy, or even artistic craftsmanship for the tabernacle. This divine equipping ensures that the person is suitable for the task, irrespective of their prior disposition or experience, highlighting God's sovereignty over human abilities and appointments. The temporary nature of Saul's "spirit of the Lord" coming upon him (which departs in 1 Sam 16:14 due to his disobedience) differentiates it from the permanent indwelling of the Holy Spirit available to believers in the New Covenant.
1 Samuel 10 9 Commentary
This verse encapsulates the immediate and undeniable divine equipping of Saul for his role as Israel's first king. "God changed his heart" is central; it wasn't a spiritual conversion in the salvific sense (as understood in the New Testament), but a specific, sovereign alteration of Saul's internal disposition. This was a functional heart change, endowing him with the necessary resolve, wisdom, courage, and discernment to rule. Prior to this, Saul was depicted as a humble farmer; this change provided the character traits and capabilities required for the monarchy. This divine act demonstrated God's direct involvement in establishing the king, making it clear that Saul's authority came from Him, not from popular demand alone. The subsequent fulfillment of all the prophetic signs confirmed this divine enablement, serving as powerful, immediate validation to Saul himself that Samuel's words and his own calling were truly from the Lord. It emphasized God's faithfulness to His word and His readiness to empower His chosen instruments for their assigned tasks, whether they are a new leader or a regular person for His divine plan.