1 Samuel 28 14

1 Samuel 28:14 kjv

And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.

1 Samuel 28:14 nkjv

So he said to her, "What is his form?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle." And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down.

1 Samuel 28:14 niv

"What does he look like?" he asked. "An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.

1 Samuel 28:14 esv

He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.

1 Samuel 28:14 nlt

"What does he look like?" Saul asked. "He is an old man wrapped in a robe," she replied. Saul realized it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him.

1 Samuel 28 verses

1 Samuel 28 14 Meaning

The verse describes the visual information provided by the medium of Endor to King Saul regarding the entity she perceives emerging from the ground. It details two primary identifiers: the entity's age, described as an "old man," and its distinctive attire, "wrapped in a robe." This description serves to immediately confirm the entity's identity as Samuel, given Samuel's recognizable age and specific prophetic mantle known throughout Israel.

1 Samuel 28 14 Context

This verse occurs at a critical juncture in King Saul's life, as narrated in 1 Samuel chapter 28. Saul is on the brink of battle with the Philistines (1 Sam 28:4) and is in profound despair because the Lord has ceased to answer him—neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets (1 Sam 28:6). Desperate and abandoned by God, Saul resorts to the forbidden practice of necromancy, seeking out a medium at Endor despite having previously purged such practices from the land. After an initial reluctance born of fear, the medium, assured by Saul's oath, attempts to call forth Samuel. Immediately following the medium's outcry of seeing something extraordinary, Saul asks for a description of what she sees. Verse 14 provides the medium's response, setting the stage for the dramatic and fateful prophecy that follows from the appearance of "Samuel" in the subsequent verses.

1 Samuel 28 14 Word analysis

• Then he said to her, "What does he look like?": This indicates Saul's immediate and anxious demand for information, as he cannot see the spiritual manifestation himself, only the medium can. Saul needs a concrete description to identify the entity.
• "An old man (אִישׁ זָקֵן, ish zaqen) is coming up (עֹלֶה, oleḥ)...":
  • אִישׁ זָקֵן (ish zaqen): "A man, old." This precise phrasing conveys the perception of the figure as distinctly aged, implying a known individual advanced in years. Samuel, the prophet, would indeed have been an old man at the time of his death. The descriptor carries connotations of wisdom, dignity, and recognition.
  • עֹלֶה (oleḥ): "Coming up" or "ascending." This participle indicates a movement from below to above, suggesting an emergence from the earth, the grave, or the realm of the dead (Sheol). It implies a non-natural, supernatural appearance, consistent with the summoning of a spirit.
• "...wrapped (מְעֻטָּף, m'uṭṭaf) in a robe (מְעִיל, m'il).":
  • מְעֻטָּף (m'uṭṭaf): "Wrapped" or "covered." This describes the manner in which the robe is worn, possibly indicating a shrouded, veiled, or completely encompassing garment, suggesting dignity, or perhaps a slight obscuring aspect of a spiritual manifestation.
  • מְעִיל (m'il): "A robe" or "mantle." This specific term refers to an outer garment, often of distinction or symbolic meaning. Samuel was famously associated with his prophetic mantle (1 Sam 15:27), making this detail the key identifier for Saul. The robe represented Samuel's prophetic office, authority, and identity.

• Words-Group Analysis:
  • "An old man... coming up": This phrase combines the nature of the entity (old man) with its mode of appearance (coming up from below), confirming its spiritual, rather than earthly, origin and distinct age.
  • "wrapped in a robe": This is the primary visual cue, instantly recognizable to Saul. The robe serves as the distinct uniform or characteristic attire that identified the appearing entity as the prophet Samuel.

1 Samuel 28 14 Bonus section

The immediate recognition by Saul based solely on the description, particularly the robe, underscores the significance of the prophet's mantle as an iconic identifier. While scholarly debate persists whether the entity was truly Samuel, a demon disguised as Samuel, or a trick, the biblical narrative unequivocally portrays it as Samuel's spirit for the purpose of communicating the divine judgment. The narrative uses the medium's perception to drive the plot forward. This event powerfully demonstrates God's consistent refusal to communicate with Saul through legitimate means and the dire consequences of turning to forbidden sources for spiritual guidance, emphasizing that seeking guidance outside of God's established means is futile and carries divine judgment. Saul's state of utter abandonment, having lost the direct presence of the Holy Spirit, further underscores the gravity of his choices.

1 Samuel 28 14 Commentary

1 Samuel 28:14 provides the pivotal description that allows Saul to identify the spiritual being as Samuel, even though Saul cannot see it directly. The medium's description, "an old man coming up, wrapped in a robe," is potent and deliberate. The phrase "old man" signals wisdom, gravitas, and age, characteristic of Samuel at his passing. Crucially, "coming up" denotes a supernatural emergence, explicitly from the realm of the dead, highlighting the illicit and ominous nature of the event. The most powerful identifier is "wrapped in a robe" (me'il), the distinctive mantle Samuel wore, which symbolized his prophetic office and unique relationship with God. This visual cue connects the manifestation immediately and unmistakably to Samuel for both the medium and Saul. This verse emphasizes Saul's desperation and the direct violation of God's commands regarding necromancy, setting the stage for the severe judgment delivered in the following verses.