1 Samuel 28:20

1 Samuel 28:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
• New International Version (NIV)Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, and was dreadfully afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day or all night.

Context of 1 Samuel 28:20

18Because you did not obey the voice of the Lord and did not execute His fierce wrath on Amalek, therefore the Lord has done this thing to you this day. 19Moreover, the Lord will also put Israel along with you into the hands of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me [among the dead]. Indeed, the Lord will put the army of Israel into the hands of the Philistines.” Then Saul immediately fell full length on the earth [floor of the medium’s house], and was very afraid because of Samuel’s words; and he was thoroughly exhausted because he had not eaten all day and all night. 21The woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly troubled, and she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed you, and I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to everything you said to me. 22So now, please listen to the voice of your maidservant, and let me set a piece of bread before you, and eat, so that you may have strength when you go on your way.”

1 Samuel 28:20 word by word

וַיְמַהֵ֣ר שָׁא֗וּל וַיִּפֹּ֤ל מְלֹא־קֽוֹמָתוֹ֙ אַ֔רְצָה וַיִּרָ֥א מְאֹ֖ד מִדִּבְרֵ֣י שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל גַּם־כֹּ֙חַ֙ לֹא־הָ֣יָה ב֔וֹ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אָכַל֙ לֶ֔חֶם כָּל־הַיּ֖וֹם וְכָל־הַלָּֽיְלָה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• straightwayמָהַרmâhar · to hastenH4116
• allמְלֹאmelô' melô' melô · fullnessH4393
• alongקוֹמָהqômâh · heightH6967
• on the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• and was soreמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• afraidיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• because of the wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• of Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלshemû'êl · SamuelH8050
• and there was no strengthכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• in him; for he had eatenאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• no breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899
• all the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• nor all the nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 28:20

• 1 Samuel 28:5When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and badly shaken.
• 1 Samuel 25:37But in the morning, when Nabal was sober, and his wife told him these things, his heart died within him and he became [paralyzed and helpless] like a stone.
• Job 15:20The wicked man writhes with pain all his days, And numbered are the years stored up for him, the ruthless one.
• Job 26:2“What a help you are to the weak (powerless)! How you have saved the arm that is without strength!
• Psalms 50:21These things you have done and I kept silent; You thought that I was just like you. Now I will reprimand and denounce you and state the case in order before your eyes.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 28:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth - Literally, he fell with his own length, or with the fullness of his stature. He was so overwhelmed with this most dreadful message, that he swooned away, and thus fell at his own length upon the ground. The woman, being terrified, had probably withdrawn to some distance at the first appearance of the prophet; and Saul was left alone with Samuel. After some short time, the woman came again unto Saul…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 20-25Verses 20-25 Those that expect any good counsel or comfort, otherwise than from God, and in the way of his institutions, will be as wretchedly disappointed as Saul. Though terrified even to despair, he was not humbled. He confessed not his sins, offered no sacrifices, and presented no supplications. He does not seem to have cared about his sons or his people, or to have attempted any escape; but in sullen despair he rushed upon his doom. God sets up a few…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 28:20

• En-Dor
• Familiar Spirits
• Samuel
• Saul
• Sorcery
• Witchcraft

In the dictionaries

• Samuel
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Along
• David
• Disquiet
• Divination
• Magic
• Warfare
• Witchcraft

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 28

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings