1 Samuel 16 14

1 Samuel 16:14 kjv

But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him.

1 Samuel 16:14 nkjv

But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the LORD troubled him.

1 Samuel 16:14 niv

Now the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him.

1 Samuel 16:14 esv

Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the LORD tormented him.

1 Samuel 16:14 nlt

Now the Spirit of the LORD had left Saul, and the LORD sent a tormenting spirit that filled him with depression and fear.

1 Samuel 16 verses

1 Samuel 16 14 Meaning

First Samuel 16:14 marks a pivotal turning point in the biblical narrative, explaining the shift in divine favor from King Saul to the newly anointed David. It declares that the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul, signifying the removal of God's empowering presence and anointing for kingship. Simultaneously, it states that an evil spirit "from the LORD" began to torment Saul, afflicting him with distressing internal turmoil, as a direct consequence of his disobedience and rejection by God. This passage underscores God's sovereignty over spiritual forces and His active involvement in the affairs of His chosen leaders, whether in granting blessing or permitting affliction.

1 Samuel 16 14 Context

First Samuel chapter 16 unfolds immediately after King Saul's definitive rejection by God due to his repeated acts of disobedience, particularly his failure to utterly destroy the Amalekites as commanded (1 Sam 15). The prophet Samuel, mourning Saul, is commanded by God to cease grieving and go to Bethlehem to anoint a new king from Jesse's sons (1 Sam 16:1-5). The first several sons presented are physically impressive but not God's choice, for God "sees not as man sees: for man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart" (1 Sam 16:7). Finally, David, the youngest and a shepherd, is brought forth. Upon his anointing by Samuel, "the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward" (1 Sam 16:13). Verse 14 immediately follows this event, forming a sharp contrast between the spiritual state of the new king-elect, David, and the reigning but rejected King Saul. Historically, the narrative highlights the transition of the monarchy and divine favor in Israel, establishing the precedent that a king's rule and anointing are conditional upon obedience to God's word. The idea of an "evil spirit from the LORD" is not polemic against pagan ideas of capricious gods, but rather an affirmation of YHWH's ultimate sovereignty over all powers, including those that cause distress, serving as instruments of His righteous judgment or divine purpose.

1 Samuel 16 14 Word analysis

• "Now the Spirit of the LORD" (וְרוּחַ יְהוָה, v'ruach Yahweh):

  • Spirit (רוּחַ, ruach): In Hebrew, ruach carries various meanings including wind, breath, mind, and spirit. When connected with Yahweh, it denotes the active, empowering presence of God. It's the divine energy and enabling power given for specific tasks, such as prophecy, leadership, and skilled craftsmanship. For Saul (1 Sam 10:6), the ruach Yahweh signified God's endorsement and equipping for his role as king, giving him the ability to rule and prophesy. Its presence indicates divine approval and enablement.
  • of the LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): The personal, covenant name of God, emphasizing His self-existence, relational character, and absolute sovereignty. The "Spirit of Yahweh" stresses that this power originates from the one true God and is an extension of His will and presence.

• "had departed" (סָרָה, sārāh from root סוּר, sur):

  • Means to turn aside, remove, depart, withdraw. This verb indicates a complete and definitive removal. The Spirit did not just lessen its influence; it explicitly "departed," symbolizing the irreversible withdrawal of divine anointing, favor, and empowering presence for Saul's kingship. This departure is a direct consequence of God's rejection of Saul (1 Sam 15:23).

• "from Saul," (מֵעִם שָׁאוּל, mēʿim Sha’ul):

  • Specifies the direct recipient of this divine removal. It signifies that Saul, once endowed with God's Spirit, was now spiritually alienated from that empowering presence. This withdrawal left a spiritual vacuum in his life.

• "and an evil spirit" (וְרוּחַ רָעָה, v'ruach ra'ah):

  • evil (רָעָה, ra'ah): This can mean bad, unpleasant, calamitous, injurious, or morally evil. Here, it is primarily an "injurious" or "troubling" spirit, causing distress rather than being inherently morally evil in the sense of defying God, as it is directly stated to be "from the LORD." It suggests a malevolent spiritual entity causing affliction.
  • spirit (רוּחַ, ruach): Again, denotes a non-physical entity or influence. In contrast to the Ruach Yahweh, this ruach ra'ah brings distress.

• "from the LORD" (מֵאֵת יְהוָה, mēʾēṯ Yahweh):

  • This is crucial for understanding. It does not imply that God creates evil or is the author of moral evil, but rather that God, in His absolute sovereignty, permits or dispatches this spirit as an agent of His will and judgment. It acts as an instrument of divine discipline or chastisement upon Saul for his rebellion. This indicates God's control even over malevolent spiritual forces, using them to achieve His righteous purposes (e.g., 1 Kgs 22:23; Job 1:12). It implies a spiritual, possibly psychological, affliction ordained by God.

• "tormented him" (בִּעֲתַתּוּ, biʿattattu from בָּעַת, ba'at):

  • Meaning to terrify, disquiet, dismay, agitate, vex. It describes an intense, internal, and disturbing mental or emotional anguish that leaves Saul in a constant state of turmoil, agitation, and fear. This affliction manifests as deep-seated psychological and spiritual distress, a stark contrast to the peace and confidence that the Spirit of the Lord brings. It goes beyond simple sadness to a state of profound harassment and instability.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "the Spirit of the LORD had departed from Saul": This phrase marks the formal removal of divine enablement and sanction for Saul's kingship. It is God's judgment manifested, signalling a clear end to His empowering presence which Saul had abused through disobedience. This void created an openness for affliction.
  • "and an evil spirit from the LORD tormented him": This is the divine consequence. The evil spirit is an agent of divine judgment, sent or permitted by God, to inflict psychological and spiritual torment on Saul. The term "from the LORD" emphasizes God's active, sovereign involvement in orchestrating both the removal of His blessing and the onset of affliction, demonstrating that nothing is outside His control, especially concerning judgment for rebellion against His revealed will. The nature of the "torment" describes an inward suffering, contrasting with outward enemies, making it particularly poignant.

1 Samuel 16 14 Bonus section

The nature of the "evil spirit from the LORD" has been a subject of significant theological discussion. It's crucial to understand it not as God creating evil in the moral sense, but rather God ordaining or permitting a malevolent entity to operate within His sovereign plan for judgment. This emphasizes God's ultimate authority over all spirits, whether benevolent or malevolent. It showcases that even destructive forces ultimately serve God's purpose, particularly in instances of divine discipline or judgment. Psychologically, Saul's condition may have manifested as severe depression, paranoia, and fits of rage, yet the biblical text attributes its ultimate source and control to divine action, demonstrating that even mental and emotional distress can be part of God's sovereign dealings with individuals, especially those in positions of great responsibility who fail to honor Him. The narrative suggests a spiritual rather than solely pathological explanation for Saul's declining mental state.

1 Samuel 16 14 Commentary

This verse powerfully depicts the direct, consequential nature of God's interaction with humanity, particularly concerning kingship and divine favor. The departure of the Spirit of the LORD from Saul signifies more than just a loss of blessing; it represents the termination of God's covenantal empowering for his role as king, an immediate and spiritual repercussion of his consistent rebellion. The subsequent "evil spirit from the LORD" should be understood as a direct instrument of God's punitive justice, meticulously orchestrated to serve His sovereign purpose. It underscores that God is not just reactive but proactively engages in the governance of His creation, using even unsettling means to fulfill His will and establish the next leader, David. This was not a demonic attack outside of God's control, but an affliction permitted and directed by God, a spiritual judgment manifesting as internal disquiet, anxiety, and deep torment for Saul, serving as a sign of his rejection and an explanation for his deteriorating state and irrational behavior going forward. The contrasting state of David, empowered by the Spirit, heightens the drama and divine approval of the new order.

• Examples: Like a manager revoking access codes from a disobedient employee, immediately granting access to a new appointee, and then assigning a task force to deal with the disobedient former employee’s negative behavior.