1 Samuel 19 20

1 Samuel 19:20 kjv

And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

1 Samuel 19:20 nkjv

Then Saul sent messengers to take David. And when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as leader over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

1 Samuel 19:20 niv

so he sent men to capture him. But when they saw a group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel standing there as their leader, the Spirit of God came on Saul's men, and they also prophesied.

1 Samuel 19:20 esv

Then Saul sent messengers to take David, and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as head over them, the Spirit of God came upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

1 Samuel 19:20 nlt

he sent troops to capture him. But when they arrived and saw Samuel leading a group of prophets who were prophesying, the Spirit of God came upon Saul's men, and they also began to prophesy.

1 Samuel 19 verses

1 Samuel 19 20 Meaning

This verse describes the first of three groups of messengers sent by King Saul to capture David. Upon arriving at Naioth in Ramah, where Samuel led a company of prophets, these messengers were overcome by the Spirit of God and began to prophesy themselves, thereby failing to fulfill Saul's mission. It illustrates God's sovereign intervention to protect David from Saul's malevolent intentions.

1 Samuel 19 20 Context

Chapter 19 of 1 Samuel depicts Saul's escalating attempts to kill David, driven by jealousy and a paranoid belief that David threatened his kingship. After several failed attempts at the royal palace, David flees. First, Jonathan intervenes on David's behalf, but Saul's malice quickly resurfaces. David then escapes to his wife Michal, Saul's daughter, who helps him elude her father's assassination attempt. David flees to Samuel at Ramah, finding refuge among Samuel and the community of prophets at Naioth. This verse initiates Saul's repeated, and supernaturally frustrated, efforts to seize David in this spiritual haven, highlighting David's status as God's chosen, under divine protection, and underscoring the spiritual warfare underlying Saul's relentless pursuit.

1 Samuel 19 20 Word analysis

• Then Saul sent messengers: Indicates a deliberate, organized action by Saul, fueled by his intense desire to eliminate David. "Messengers" (מַלְאָכִים - mal'akhim) are official representatives, highlighting the king's authority being used for an ungodly purpose.

• to take David: This phrase clearly states their nefarious objective: to apprehend David, likely to kill him as Saul had vowed (1 Sam 19:1).

• and when they saw: Suggests a sudden encounter with the prophetic group that arrests their attention and ultimately thwarts their mission.

• the company of the prophets: חֶבֶל הַנְּבִיאִים (chevel hanevi'im). "Chevel" refers to a rope or band, suggesting a bound or united group, a school or community of prophets. This highlights an established, organized prophetic ministry under Samuel's guidance. Their collective presence and spiritual activity created an environment conducive to the Spirit's manifestation.

• prophesying: נִבְּאִים (nivbe'im). A Niphal participle from נָבָא (nava'), meaning "to prophesy" or "to be in a prophetic state." This signifies they were actively speaking under divine inspiration, not necessarily foretelling future events but often speaking praises, prayers, or ecstatic utterances moved by God's Spirit. Their state was an act of worship and spiritual devotion.

• and Samuel standing as appointed over them: לְנִצָּב עֲלֵיהֶם (lenitzav aleihem) - "as one appointed/standing over them." This emphasizes Samuel's role as the revered leader and head of this prophetic community, legitimizing and providing structure to their spiritual activities. His presence solidifies the divine authority associated with the group.

• the Spirit of God: רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים (Ruach Elohim). A pivotal term. It denotes the active, powerful, and sovereign presence of God. This is an overpowering divine force. Its descent on the messengers is extraordinary and serves as a divine intervention, a direct and visible act of God's will.

• was upon the messengers: The preposition "upon" (עַל - al) indicates an overwhelming, engulfing influence. It's not a gentle leading but a powerful takeover, demonstrating God's complete control even over those with opposing intentions. This is a divine arrest.

• and they also prophesied: וַיִּתְנַבְּאוּ גַּם-הֵמָּה (vayyitnavve'u gam-hemmah). The repetition of the verb "prophesied" for the messengers highlights the powerful and infectious nature of the Spirit's work in this context. "Also" (גַּם - gam) implies they joined the prophetic activity involuntarily, confirming that the Spirit's power compelled them, preventing them from carrying out their original, wicked mission. This act signifies God's direct and powerful protection of David by incapacitating his pursuers.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Then Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw...the Spirit of God was upon the messengers, and they also prophesied.": This entire sequence illustrates the clash between human evil intent and divine omnipotence. Saul's best human efforts are effortlessly overridden by God's Spirit, turning agents of malice into temporary, involuntary vehicles of God's power. It underscores the futility of fighting against God's chosen and His plans.
  • "company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers": This demonstrates the powerful, transformative spiritual atmosphere generated by a community dedicated to God. The presence of true worship and prophecy seems to have a profound, even contagious, effect, drawing in even those who are outsiders or hostile, bringing them under the Spirit's influence.

1 Samuel 19 20 Bonus section

• The Power of Proximity: The messengers' experience underscores the concept that being in close proximity to genuine spiritual activity can expose one to the Spirit of God, even without personal intent or desire for such an experience. This encounter serves as a dramatic demonstration of God's power, capable of manifesting through unlikely vessels to achieve His purposes.
• Foiling Malice: This incident is a specific example of God "fighting for" His chosen, not through direct battle but by disabling the enemy's agents in an unexpected manner. It shows that God does not always intervene through visible miracles or dramatic signs, but sometimes through subtle yet undeniable spiritual acts.
• The Humiliation of Saul (Anticipatory): This verse sets the stage for Saul's ultimate humiliation later in the same chapter (1 Sam 19:23-24), where he himself will fall under the prophetic influence of the Spirit. Each failed attempt by Saul's messengers escalates the dramatic tension, showcasing Saul's increasing futility and God's unwavering resolve to protect David, eventually culminating in Saul's personal disgrace.
• Naioth as a Sanctuary: The location of "Naioth in Ramah" appears to function as a spiritual sanctuary under Samuel's leadership. The name "Naioth" likely means "dwellings" or "habitations," possibly referring to a specific building or complex where prophets lived and studied, or simply the place where the prophets congregated. It was a place consecrated to spiritual activity, thus a divine no-go zone for Saul's worldly pursuit.

1 Samuel 19 20 Commentary

1 Samuel 19:20 is a powerful testament to God's sovereign protection over David, His chosen king. Saul's relentless, ungodly pursuit of David is met with an extraordinary divine counter-action. The very messengers sent to capture David are disarmed, not by force of arms, but by the overwhelming, unexpected intervention of the Spirit of God. This illustrates that God's plan cannot be thwarted by human malice or military might. The messengers, coming into the vibrant spiritual atmosphere cultivated by Samuel and the prophetic community, are momentarily transformed. Their prophesying, a spontaneous and involuntary act, signals that God is actively present in that place, making it inviolable to Saul's malicious agenda. This supernatural interference served not to convert the messengers morally, but solely to protect David and publicly affirm that he was under God's hand, while Saul was clearly fighting against divine will.