1 Samuel 28 12

1 Samuel 28:12 kjv

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

1 Samuel 28:12 nkjv

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!"

1 Samuel 28:12 niv

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"

1 Samuel 28:12 esv

When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul."

1 Samuel 28:12 nlt

When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, "You've deceived me! You are Saul!"

1 Samuel 28 verses

1 Samuel 28 12 Meaning

In 1 Samuel 28:12, the woman of Endor, a medium, expresses extreme shock and fear upon seeing the genuine apparition of Samuel. Her terror stems from recognizing a truly supernatural event, distinct from her usual practices of summoning familiar spirits. This immediate, profound reaction then leads her to deduce and declare the true identity of her disguised client, Saul, realizing that only the rejected King, in his desperation, could bring about such a unique and terrifying divine manifestation.

1 Samuel 28 12 Context

Chapter 28 of 1 Samuel depicts Saul's final desperate attempt to receive guidance from the divine, having been completely abandoned by God due to his persistent disobedience. Prior to this chapter, Saul had eradicated mediums and spiritists from the land (1 Sam 28:3). However, facing the formidable Philistine army at Shunem, and having received no answer from God through conventional means (dreams, Urim, or prophets), Saul, in a profound act of apostasy, seeks out a medium in Endor. He disguises himself to avoid detection. The woman initially fears that he is an agent sent to trap her, but Saul reassures her. This verse (28:12) marks the pivotal moment when the medium, having begun her incantations, is genuinely terrified by an unbidden, powerful spiritual manifestation that reveals both the authenticity of the apparition (Samuel) and, by extension, the true identity of her disguised royal client, Saul, who is now facing the full wrath of a rejected God.

1 Samuel 28 12 Word analysis

• And when the woman: The Hebrew word is w’ishshah (וְאִשָּׁה), referring to the medium. Her initial action is within her domain, but her reaction reveals she encountered something far beyond her manipulation. She is a 'mistress of a spirit' (referencing ba‘alat ’ov from verse 7), signifying one who engages in necromancy.
• saw Samuel: The phrase is wattere’ ’eth-shmu’el (וַתֵּרֶא אֶת־שְׁמוּאֵל). This is the critical moment. Her sight of Samuel implies a clear, discernible appearance, not just a vague sensation. The Septuagint reads "the spirit ascended from the earth." The text itself presents it as genuinely Samuel. This challenges the common practice of necromancy; typically, mediums connect with familiar spirits or deceiving entities. A true prophet appearing indicates God's sovereign permission, overriding all normal spiritual boundaries to deliver a final, damning word.
• she cried out with a loud voice: The Hebrew is wattiz‘aqah b’qol gadowl (וַתִּזְעַק בְּקֹול גָּדֹול). Her scream denotes intense, uncontrollable terror and shock, not just surprise. It indicates she recognized the manifestation as inherently different, immensely powerful, and directly connected to divine authority, not her own summoned spirits. Her "loud voice" suggests profound distress.
• and the woman spoke to Saul: Her fear immediately translates into action, directly confronting her client. The terror shifted from the spirit to the revelation of Saul's identity and its implications.
• saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!": Lamah rimmitha’ni wa’attah sha’ul (לָמָּה רִמִּיתַ֫נִי וְאַתָּה שָׁאוּל). Her immediate understanding of his identity stems from her recognition that such an unprecedented appearance could only be for someone as significant and divinely condemned as the king himself. Her fear for her own life likely comes from recognizing her client is the one who, ironically, had previously condemned her practices, combined with the presence of true divine judgment. Her recognition is swift and absolute.

1 Samuel 28 12 Bonus section

The appearance of Samuel in 1 Sam 28 is exceptionally rare in the Old Testament, which otherwise consistently condemns attempts to contact the dead (Deut 18:10-12, Lev 19:31). This particular event does not endorse necromancy, but rather demonstrates God's unique sovereign power. It showcases that even in extreme human rebellion and the use of forbidden means, God can still intervene, not to approve sin, but to deliver a final, unavoidable message of judgment. This distinct event confirms Saul's tragic spiritual state—so utterly cut off from God that his last recourse was to a condemned practice, which ironically led him directly into an inescapable divine confrontation.

1 Samuel 28 12 Commentary

1 Samuel 28:12 is a dramatic turning point, unveiling the futility of Saul's desperation and God's sovereign, inescapable judgment. The medium's shrieking terror immediately separates this event from common occult practices; she was genuinely astonished and frightened by the appearance of the true Samuel, confirming an undeniable supernatural occurrence beyond her manipulation. This unique divine intervention, not a success for necromancy, serves to underscore God's unwavering commitment to His previous decree of Saul's rejection. The medium's sudden realization of Saul's identity reveals the profound implication: only a king who had forsaken God to this degree could prompt such an extraordinary and condemning visitation. It exemplifies God's ability to use any means, even in contexts of sin, to convey His will and judgment.