1 Samuel 9 5

1 Samuel 9:5 kjv

And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.

1 Samuel 9:5 nkjv

When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us return, lest my father cease caring about the donkeys and become worried about us."

1 Samuel 9:5 niv

When they reached the district of Zuph, Saul said to the servant who was with him, "Come, let's go back, or my father will stop thinking about the donkeys and start worrying about us."

1 Samuel 9:5 esv

When they came to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, "Come, let us go back, lest my father cease to care about the donkeys and become anxious about us."

1 Samuel 9:5 nlt

Finally, they entered the region of Zuph, and Saul said to his servant, "Let's go home. By now my father will be more worried about us than about the donkeys!"

1 Samuel 9 verses

1 Samuel 9 5 Meaning

When Saul and his servant reached the land of Zuph, after their long and unfruitful search for his father's lost donkeys, Saul expressed a change in his priority. He suggested to his servant that they should abandon their search and return home. His concern had shifted from merely recovering the lost animals to preventing his father, Kish, from ceasing his worry over the donkeys and instead becoming anxious about the well-being and whereabouts of Saul and his servant.

1 Samuel 9 5 Context

First Samuel chapter 9 sets the stage for the anointing of Israel's first king, Saul. The chapter opens with a description of Saul as a handsome and tall young man from the tribe of Benjamin. The immediate context of verse 5 begins with Kish, Saul's father, losing his donkeys and sending Saul and a servant to search for them. Their search takes them through various territories (Mount Ephraim, the land of Shalisha, Shalim, Benjamin) without success. Verse 5 finds them at the boundary of the land of Zuph, near Ramah, a significant moment of decision for Saul. He recognizes the futility of their continued search and shifts his immediate concern from the lost property to the emotional distress his father might be experiencing due to their prolonged absence and lack of contact. This decision to turn back leads directly to the servant's suggestion to consult "the man of God" in the nearby city, unknowingly guiding Saul into a divinely orchestrated encounter with Samuel. Historically, this period was characterized by Israel's desire for a king "like all the nations," moving away from the judgeship and direct theocracy, a theme which unfolds immediately after Saul's encounter with Samuel.

1 Samuel 9 5 Word analysis

• And when they were come:
  • The Hebrew is wayyiḇō’û (וַיָּבֹאוּ), meaning "and they came" or "and they entered."
  • This verb of motion highlights a turning point in their physical journey and, by extension, in Saul's immediate priorities. They have traveled far and wide.
  • Significance: It marks a moment of transition from continuous search to a decision point.
• to the land of Zuph:
  • lĕ’ereṣ-ṣūp̄ (לְאֶרֶץ צוּף), referencing a geographical region, likely associated with Samuel's hometown of Ramah.
  • Significance: While Saul and his servant perceive this location as simply part of their unproductive search, it is precisely where divine providence has led them, unknowingly placing them on the doorstep of Samuel, the prophet of God. This detail, seemingly incidental, is crucial to the unfolding of God's plan for Saul's anointing.
• Saul said:
  • Saul, despite being dispatched by his father, takes initiative in decision-making here, demonstrating a degree of leadership and responsibility, even at this early stage.
• to his servant that was with him:
  • ’el-na‘ărōw ’ăšer ‘immô (אֶל-נַעֲרוֹ אֲשֶׁר עִמּוֹ). The "young man" or "attendant" is Saul's companion and a witness to his concern. The servant plays a pivotal role in the next verse by suggesting they consult the prophet.
  • Significance: Highlights the presence of a companion, without whom the redirection to Samuel might not have occurred, demonstrating God's use of seemingly minor characters and coincidences.
• Come, let us turn back:
  • lēḵâ nāšûḇâ (לֵכָה נָשׁוּבָה), "Go, let us return."
  • This phrase indicates discouragement and the perceived failure of their original mission to find the donkeys. It signifies a strategic retreat based on pragmatism.
• lest my father cease to care for the asses, and become anxious about us:
  • pen-yeḥdal ’ābî mimmennû, wəḥāraḡ ‘ālênû (פֶּן-יֶחְדַּל אָבִי מֵהָאֲתֹנוֹת וְדָאַג לָנוּ). This is the core expression of Saul's internal thought and concern.
    • yeḥdal (יֶחְדַּל): From ḥādal (חָדַל), "to cease, stop, refrain." Saul implies his father might stop the search for donkeys due to extended time.
    • wəḥāraḡ (וְדָאַג): From dā’aḡ (דָּאַג), "to be anxious, to worry, to be afraid." The worry shifts from the property (donkeys) to the persons (Saul and the servant).
  • Original Context & Cultural Detail: In the ancient Near East, property, including livestock like donkeys, represented wealth and status (donkeys were common pack animals and beasts of burden, signifying economic importance). However, filial piety and family well-being were paramount. Saul's concern demonstrates his understanding of his father's affection and worry, showing Saul as responsible, empathetic, and initially focused on his family's welfare. This reveals a positive aspect of Saul's character before the burdens and corrupting influences of kingship set in. It also contrasts the immediate practical task (finding donkeys) with a deeper human concern (father's anxiety).
  • Biblical Boundary/Limitation: Saul's worry here is natural and commendable filial concern. It is not presented as an unhealthy anxiety or a lack of trust in God (like in Matt 6:25-34 regarding earthly needs), but rather as a prudent and caring consideration for his father. This shifts his focus from the specific task (donkey search) to a broader, more significant human relationship, indirectly leading him towards God's divine appointment.

1 Samuel 9 5 Bonus section

• The detail of "the land of Zuph" highlights how divine plans are often enacted within specific geographical contexts, bringing the human actors to the precise location appointed by God. Ramah, Samuel's hometown, was located in this region, emphasizing the intentionality of their seemingly aimless wanderings.
• Saul's worry for his father demonstrates an aspect of his initial character that suggests humility and submission to parental authority, which are qualities of a good leader (in contrast to his later independent and disobedient actions).
• The entire narrative surrounding the lost donkeys is a testament to the providential working of God. A small, domestic crisis serves as the catalyst for the inauguration of the monarchy in Israel, an event of immense national and theological significance. It reminds us that no detail is too small for God's purposes.

1 Samuel 9 5 Commentary

1 Samuel 9:5 offers a concise yet insightful glimpse into Saul's character and the unfolding of God's sovereign plan through seemingly mundane events. After a persistent, fruitless search for his father's lost donkeys, Saul reaches a point of decision. His practicality and filial concern surface as he suggests returning home, driven not merely by the futility of their quest but by a deeper apprehension that his father, Kish, might cease to worry about the donkeys and instead direct his anxiety towards the welfare of his absent son and servant.

This verse reveals Saul's thoughtful and responsible nature at this stage. He possesses an empathy for his father's potential emotional distress, valuing the well-being of his family above a prolonged search for lost property. This displays a relatable human quality, underscoring that Saul was, initially, a commendable individual before the anointing. His concern, born out of responsibility, ironically acts as a divinely guided pivot point. The decision to turn back, aimed at alleviating his father's potential anxiety, positions him perfectly to be led by his servant to consult the prophet Samuel in the land of Zuph, thereby fulfilling God's secret appointment to make Saul Israel's first king. This passage beautifully illustrates how God uses ordinary human circumstances, responsibilities, and even worries to lead individuals to their intended destinies, often in ways they neither expect nor understand.