1 Samuel 28:23

1 Samuel 28:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
• New International Version (NIV)He refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his men joined the woman in urging him, and he listened to them. He got up from the ground and sat on the couch.
• English Standard Version (ESV)He refused and said, "I will not eat." But his servants, together with the woman, urged him, and he listened to their words. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” So his servants, together with the woman, urged him; and he heeded their voice. Then he arose from the ground and sat on the bed.

Context of 1 Samuel 28:23

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.” But he refused and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants together with the woman urged him, and he [finally] listened to them. So he got up from the ground and sat on the bed. 24The woman had a fattened calf in the house; she quickly killed it, and took flour, kneaded it and baked unleavened bread. 25She brought it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they got up and went away that night.

1 Samuel 28:23 word by word

וַיְמָאֵ֗ן וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ לֹ֣א אֹכַ֔ל וַיִּפְרְצוּ־ב֤וֹ עֲבָדָיו֙ וְגַם־הָ֣אִשָּׁ֔ה וַיִּשְׁמַ֖ע לְקֹלָ֑ם וַיָּ֙קָם֙ מֵֽהָאָ֔רֶץ וַיֵּ֖שֶׁב אֶל־הַמִּטָּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But he refusedמָאֵןmâ'ên · to refuseH3985
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• I will not eatאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• But his servantsעֶ֫בֶד‛ebed · servant/slaveH5650
• together with the womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• compelledפָּרַץpârats · to break throughH6555
• him; and he hearkenedשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• unto their voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
• So he aroseקוּםqûm · to arise: riseH6965
• from the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• and satיָשַׁבyâshab · to dwellH3427
• upon the bedמִטָּהmiţţâh · bedH4296

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 28:23

• 1 Kings 21:4So Ahab [already upset by the Lord’s message] came into his house [feeling more] resentful and sullen because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him; for he had said, “I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers.” And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face, and would not eat any food.
• Proverbs 25:20Like one who takes off a garment in cold weather, or like [a reactive, useless mixture of] vinegar on soda, Is he who [thoughtlessly] sings [joyful] songs to a heavy heart.
• 2 Kings 4:8Now there came a day when Elisha went over to Shunem, where there was a prominent and influential woman, and she persuaded him to eat a meal. Afterward, whenever he passed by, he stopped there for a meal.
• Luke 14:23Then the master told the servant, ‘Go out into the highways and along the hedges, and compel them to come in, so that my house may be filled [with guests].
• Luke 24:29But they urged Him [not to go on], saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening, and the day has just about ended.” So He went inside to stay with them.
• Acts 16:15And when she was baptized, along with her household, she pleaded with us, saying, “If you have judged me and decided that I am faithful to the Lord [a true believer], come to my house and stay.” And she persuaded us.
• 2 Corinthians 5:14For the love of Christ controls and compels us, because we have concluded this, that One died for all, therefore all died;

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 28:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23I will not eat - It is no wonder that not only his strength, but also his appetite, had departed from him. And sat upon the bed - Beds or couches were the common places on which the ancients sat to take their repasts.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 23The bed - Rather, “the bench” or divan, such as in the East still runs along the wall, furnished with cushions, for those who sit at meals Esther 1:6; Ezekiel 23:41.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 28:23

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

In the dictionaries

• Along
• Bed
• David
• Disquiet
• Divination
• Warfare
• Witchcraft
• Astrology
• Chronicles, Books of
• Communion With Demons; Devils

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