1 Samuel 28:17 kjv
And the LORD hath done to him, as he spake by me: for the LORD hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand, and given it to thy neighbor, even to David:
1 Samuel 28:17 nkjv
And the LORD has done for Himself as He spoke by me. For the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.
1 Samuel 28:17 niv
The LORD has done what he predicted through me. The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hands and given it to one of your neighbors?to David.
1 Samuel 28:17 esv
The LORD has done to you as he spoke by me, for the LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor, David.
1 Samuel 28:17 nlt
The LORD has done just as he said he would. He has torn the kingdom from you and given it to your rival, David.
1 Samuel 28 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 13:13-14 | "...Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord... thy kingdom shall not continue..." | Saul's first rejection for disobedience. |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | "...Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king." | Direct statement of God rejecting Saul. |
| 1 Sam 15:28 | "And Samuel said unto him, The Lord hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou." | The prophetic word, explicitly fulfilled here. |
| 1 Sam 16:1 | "And the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul... I have rejected him from reigning over Israel: fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse..." | God's instruction to seek Saul's successor. |
| 1 Sam 16:12-13 | "...And Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward." | David's anointing as the next king. |
| 1 Sam 28:16 | "Then said Samuel, Wherefore then dost thou ask of me, seeing the Lord is departed from thee, and is become thine enemy?" | Immediate context of God abandoning Saul. |
| 2 Sam 7:15-16 | "But My mercy shall not depart away from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away before thee." | Contrast of God's covenant with David vs Saul. |
| 1 Kgs 11:11 | "Wherefore the Lord said unto Solomon, Forasmuch as this is done of thee... I will surely rend the kingdom from thee, and will give it to thy servant." | Similar judgment for Solomon's disobedience. |
| 1 Chr 10:13-14 | "So Saul died for his transgression... he enquired not of the Lord: therefore he slew him, and turned the kingdom unto David the son of Jesse." | Chronicler's summary of Saul's demise. |
| Deut 18:10-12 | "There shall not be found among you... a necromancer, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a diviner... For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord." | Saul's act of consulting the medium condemned. |
| Num 23:19 | "God is not a man, that He should lie; neither the son of man, that He should repent: hath He said, and shall He not do it? or hath He spoken, and shall He not make it good?" | Emphasizes God's unwavering faithfulness to His word. |
| Psa 75:6-7 | "For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: He putteth down one, and setteth up another." | God's sovereignty over earthly rulers. |
| Psa 89:20-21 | "I have found David My servant; with My holy oil have I anointed him: With whom My hand shall be established..." | God's choice and establishment of David. |
| Psa 119:89-90 | "Forever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven... Thy faithfulness is unto all generations..." | The immutability and reliability of God's word. |
| Jer 1:12 | "...for I will hasten My word to perform it." | God's active fulfillment of His promises/threats. |
| Rom 9:15-16 | "For He saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy... So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." | God's sovereign choice in salvation and leadership. |
| Eph 1:11 | "...according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of His own will." | God's sovereign plan guiding all events. |
| Heb 4:12 | "For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword..." | The active and potent nature of God's word. |
| Jam 1:17 | "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." | God's unchanging character and consistency. |
| Prov 21:1 | "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water: he turneth it whithersoever he will." | God's ultimate control over human leaders. |
| Dan 4:17 | "...to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever He will..." | God's absolute sovereignty over kingdoms. |
1 Samuel 28 verses
1 Samuel 28 17 Meaning
This verse, spoken by the spirit of Samuel to King Saul, confirms God's decisive and irreversible judgment against Saul: the kingdom has been forcibly removed from his authority and bestowed upon his "neighbor," David. It emphasizes that this outcome is a direct fulfillment of what God had previously declared through Samuel Himself. It powerfully underscores the certainty of divine prophecies and the dire consequences of disobedience.
1 Samuel 28 17 Context
This verse is uttered by the spectral figure of Samuel during King Saul's desperate consultation with the medium of Endor. Having been abandoned by God (who no longer answered him through dreams, Urim, or prophets), Saul sought guidance through necromancy—an act explicitly forbidden in the Mosaic Law and abhorrent to God (Deut 18:10-12). The chapter vividly portrays Saul's deep anguish, fear of the Philistines, and spiritual destitution. When the spirit of Samuel appears, it does not offer comfort or new revelations, but rather reiterates God's established and unchanging judgment: that Saul's kingdom has been torn from him due to his past disobedience, especially at Gilgal (1 Sam 13) and with the Amalekites (1 Sam 15). The subsequent verses confirm the imminence of Saul's death and Israel's defeat, a direct fulfillment of God's long-standing decree and the tragic culmination of Saul's reign marked by spiritual decline and defiance.
1 Samuel 28 17 Word analysis
- And the Lord (וַיהוָה, waYHWH): The covenant name for God, emphasizing His personal involvement, faithfulness to His declarations, and supreme authority. This isn't just fate; it is the purposeful act of the Almighty God of Israel.
- hath done (עָשָׂה, asah): Past tense, perfect aspect. Signifies a completed action with enduring effects. God has definitively acted, and the outcome is settled and irrevocable.
- to him (לוֹ, lo): Referring to Saul. The judgment is directed precisely at Saul personally, the disobedient king.
- as he spake (כַּאֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר, ka'asher dibber): "As he spoke." Underscores the fulfillment of prophecy. God's actions are consistent with His word; He brings to pass what He has declared.
- by me (בְּיָדִי, b'yadí): Lit. "by my hand." Samuel emphasizes his role as God's instrument and mouthpiece. This validates his previous prophecies (e.g., 1 Sam 15:28) and reiterates that he spoke by divine inspiration, not human opinion.
- for the Lord (כִּי יְהוָה, ki YHWH): "For YHWH." Reinforces that the entire action is solely initiated and executed by God. The following clause explains what YHWH has done.
- hath rent (קָרַע, qara`): A very strong verb meaning "to tear," "to rend violently," "to cut off." This same word was used when Samuel tore Saul's robe in 1 Sam 15:27-28, symbolically prophesying the tearing away of the kingdom. It implies a forceful, definitive, and painful separation, not a gentle transition.
- the kingdom (הַמַּמְלָכָה, hamamlakah): Refers to the political authority, royal dynasty, and spiritual leadership over Israel.
- out of thine hand (מִיָּדֶךָ, miyadekha): Lit. "from your hand." Implies removal of Saul's control, power, and authority. Saul is being dispossessed.
- and given it (וַיִּתְּנֶהָ, wayittenaha): "And He has given it." The transfer of authority is a direct act of divine bestowment. It’s God's prerogative to establish and remove rulers.
- to thy neighbour (לְרֵעֲךָ, lere`aka): "To your friend/associate/fellow." This term (often implying 'kinsman' or 'close acquaintance') emphasizes David's proximity, highlighting the irony and perhaps betrayal perceived by Saul, yet signifying God's choice was from among Saul's own people and sphere.
- even to David (לְדָוִד, ledavid): Explicitly identifies God's chosen successor. No ambiguity about who is receiving the kingdom.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- "And the Lord hath done to him, as he spake by me": This phrase highlights God's sovereignty and His unwavering commitment to His declared word. The events unfolding are not random but a direct fulfillment of prophecy, establishing the absolute authority of God's decree. Samuel's voice from beyond the grave serves as a definitive confirmation of divine purpose.
- "for the Lord hath rent the kingdom out of thine hand": This powerfully communicates the nature of the divine judgment. The kingdom is not simply changing hands but is being torn away. This verb choice (from qara`) denotes a forceful, decisive, and irreparable separation, underscoring the severity of God's judgment on Saul's disobedience and sin. It also makes it clear that Saul's downfall is a direct divine action, not merely a political or military consequence.
- "and given it to thy neighbour, even to David": This portion identifies the recipient of God's favor. It reveals the sovereign hand of God in orchestrating succession. The specificity ("David") eliminates any doubt, confirming God's earlier selection of David and bringing a prophetic pronouncement to its tangible culmination, solidifying David's divine right to rule.
1 Samuel 28 17 Bonus section
- Polemics Against Necromancy: The interaction with the "spirit of Samuel" here serves as a potent, though indirect, polemic against seeking the dead for counsel. The spirit offers no new revelation, comfort, or guidance for victory, only a reiteration of existing judgment and impending doom. This reinforces the futility and ultimate danger of violating God's prohibitions against such practices (Deut 18:10-12), as it only confirmed God's already-spoken verdict.
- God's Irrevocable Decrees: This verse illustrates a foundational theological principle: once God pronounces a judgment or an intent, particularly regarding His covenant people, it is unwavering and will inevitably be fulfilled. Saul's continuous sin, especially his presumption (1 Sam 13) and disobedience regarding Amalek (1 Sam 15), sealed his fate, and even desperate last-minute attempts could not alter God's decree.
- Divine Selection and Succession: The verse is not merely about Saul's loss but also about David's gain, divinely ordained. God did not simply remove a king but had already prepared and designated his successor. This underscores that kingship in Israel was by divine appointment, not mere hereditary right or popular acclaim.
1 Samuel 28 17 Commentary
1 Samuel 28:17 encapsulates the irreversible nature of God's judgment and the absolute certainty of His word. The spirit of Samuel, speaking to a desperate and disobedient Saul, does not offer hope but rather reaffirms the verdict previously delivered. God's promise to "rent" the kingdom from Saul (1 Sam 15:28) because of his rebellion and failure to obey utterly has now come to pass. This verse highlights several critical truths: God's sovereignty over kingdoms, His intolerance for persistent disobedience, and the unwavering faithfulness to His prophetic utterances. Saul's illicit attempt to seek guidance outside God's ordained channels only brings him face-to-face with the very judgment he had tried to outrun. The transfer of the kingdom from Saul's "hand" to "David" is God's doing, not human machination, sealing the end of the monarchy in Saul's line and inaugurating the Davidic dynasty by divine decree. The prophetic word spoken by God through Samuel stands firm and will always come to pass.