1 Samuel 9 18

1 Samuel 9:18 kjv

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is.

1 Samuel 9:18 nkjv

Then Saul drew near to Samuel in the gate, and said, "Please tell me, where is the seer's house?"

1 Samuel 9:18 niv

Saul approached Samuel in the gateway and asked, "Would you please tell me where the seer's house is?"

1 Samuel 9:18 esv

Then Saul approached Samuel in the gate and said, "Tell me where is the house of the seer?"

1 Samuel 9:18 nlt

Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, "Can you please tell me where the seer's house is?"

1 Samuel 9 verses

1 Samuel 9 18 Meaning

This verse captures the pivotal moment when Saul, searching for his father's lost donkeys, unknowingly encounters Samuel, the highly esteemed prophet and judge. Saul, recognizing Samuel as an older, authoritative figure (though not as the prophet Samuel specifically), politely inquires about the location of "the seer's house." Unbeknownst to Saul, he is speaking directly to the very "seer" appointed by God to reveal His plan for Israel's future leadership—a plan that intimately involves Saul himself. This seemingly ordinary request about lost donkeys becomes a divine appointment orchestrated by God's perfect timing and sovereign design, leading to Saul's anointing as the first king of Israel.

1 Samuel 9 18 Context

This verse occurs as Saul, a young man from the tribe of Benjamin, is on a seemingly mundane journey with his servant to find his father's lost donkeys. Having exhausted their search without success, his servant suggests seeking a "man of God" in a nearby city who might reveal their whereabouts. Unbeknownst to Saul, God had already prepared Samuel for this encounter, revealing to him the day before that He would send a man who would be anointed king over Israel. Thus, when Saul approaches Samuel in the city gate, he does so as a simple seeker of lost animals, utterly unaware that he is about to meet the divine instrument for his own royal destiny and the future of his nation. The historical backdrop is the late period of Judges, a time of spiritual decline and national longing for a king, a transition Samuel was tasked to manage. The "city gate" was a prominent public meeting place, market, and judicial center, making it a natural setting for a public encounter like this.

1 Samuel 9 18 Word analysis

• Then Saul approached Samuel:
  • וַיִּגַּשׁ (vayyiggaš): "And he approached/drew near." From the verb נָגַשׁ (nagash), this signifies an intentional, active movement towards someone. It implies an initiation of encounter, a transition from simply being present to engaging directly, marking a pivotal moment in the narrative.
  • שָׁאוּל (Sha'ul): Saul, whose name means "asked (of God)." At this point, he is an unassuming young man, primarily noted for his impressive physical stature and good looks (1 Sam 9:2). He is from a humble, largely insignificant clan within the tribe of Benjamin (1 Sam 9:21), unaware of the momentous divine calling awaiting him.
  • שְׁמוּאֵל (Sh'mu'el): Samuel, whose name means "heard by God" or "name of God." He is the last judge of Israel, a highly revered prophet, and a spiritual leader of great authority (1 Sam 7:15-17). He bridges the era of the Judges and the establishment of the monarchy.
• in the gate:
  • בְּתוֹךְ הַשָּׁעַר (bəṯōḵ haššāʿar): "in the midst of the gate" or simply "in the gate." The city gate in ancient Near Eastern culture was the central public space for communal life, justice, and commerce. Judges convened there (Deut 21:19), business was conducted (Ruth 4:1-11), and news was disseminated. Encountering someone "in the gate" implies a public setting, suggesting transparency in Samuel's prophetic activities and the providential nature of this widely visible encounter, even if its ultimate meaning was private at that moment.
• and said, 'Please tell me where the seer's house is.':
  • וַיֹּאמֶר (vayyōmer): "And he said." This is a standard narrative verb for initiating speech.
  • הַגִּידָה לִּי נָא (haggidah-llī nāʾ): "Please tell me." הַגִּידָה (haggidah) is an imperative from the verb נָגַד (nagad), meaning "to tell, declare, make known." The particle נָא (naʾ) serves as an entreaty, akin to "please" or "I pray you," indicating Saul's politeness and respectful address towards the elder Samuel.
  • הָרֹאֶה (hārrōʾeh): "the seer." Derived from the verb רָאָה (ra'ah), meaning "to see," a seer was one who received divine revelations or visions. 1 Sam 9:9 explicitly clarifies the evolution of the term: "Formerly in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he would say, 'Come, let us go to the seer,' for today's 'prophet' was formerly called a 'seer.'" This highlights the long-standing practice of seeking divine guidance through a designated individual and emphasizes Samuel's specific gift of divine sight or foresight.

• "Saul approached Samuel in the gate": This phrase beautifully illustrates God's sovereign orchestration. Saul's mundane search leads him directly to Samuel in the very public setting of the city gate, a meeting that appears coincidental but is divinely appointed. This shows that even ordinary activities can lead to encounters of profound spiritual significance, orchestrated by a God who works through everyday circumstances to fulfill His greater plan. The setting implies a degree of legitimacy and public recognition for Samuel, even if Saul did not fully know his identity.
• "Please tell me where the seer's house is": This humble, deferential request from Saul, though showing respect for the figure of "the seer," highlights the dramatic irony of the situation. Saul, directly addressing the greatest seer in Israel, doesn't recognize him but asks for directions to someone else. This reveals Saul's initial unpretentiousness and his limited understanding of God's instruments, serving to emphasize God's choice of an ordinary, un-assuming individual for an extraordinary role. It demonstrates that God's plans are often hidden from human wisdom and revealed through unexpected paths.

1 Samuel 9 18 Bonus section

This verse subtly introduces the theme of God's "election by surprise." Saul is not seeking a kingdom or special status; he is merely looking for lost animals. This humble and unexpected background for the future king contrasts sharply with later narratives where kings are often from prominent families or already demonstrate leadership qualities. It foreshadows the nature of God's calling, often choosing the meek, the humble, or those unaware of their true potential to fulfill His will. It also underscores the crucial role of spiritual authority and divine revelation ("the seer") in leading God's people, establishing the foundational principle that Israel's kingship would not be solely a political office but one under prophetic guidance.

1 Samuel 9 18 Commentary

1 Samuel 9:18 portrays a moment pregnant with divine purpose hidden within human normalcy. Saul's humble inquiry about a "seer's house" for a trivial matter—lost donkeys—leads him directly into God's sovereign plan for Israel's first king. His lack of recognition of Samuel, the prophet who stood before him, underscores the common and unassuming nature of how God often begins His great works. The encounter in the public "gate" symbolizes that this pivotal transition for Israel, though privately revealed to Samuel, was taking place in plain sight under God's watchful eye. This verse serves as a powerful reminder that God works in mysterious ways, using ordinary people, unexpected paths, and even simple errands to accomplish His profound purposes in history and in individual lives.