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

18You did not obey the Lord and did not carry out his burning anger against Amalek; therefore the Lord has done this to you today. 19The Lord will also hand Israel over to the Philistines along with you. Tomorrow you and your sons will be with me, and the Lord will hand Israel’s army over to the Philistines.” Immediately, Saul fell flat on the ground. He was terrified by Samuel’s words and was also weak because he had not eaten anything all day and all night. 21The woman came over to Saul, and she saw that he was terrified and said to him, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do. 22Now please listen to your servant. Let me set some food in front of you. Eat and it will give you strength so you can 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 camp, he was afraid and his heart pounded.
• 1 Samuel 25:37In the morning when Nabal sobered up, his wife told him about these events. His heart died and he became a stone.
• Job 15:20A wicked person writhes in pain all his days, throughout the number of years reserved for the ruthless.
• Job 26:2How you have helped the powerless and delivered the arm that is weak!
• Psalms 50:21You have done these things, and I kept silent; you thought I was just like you. But I will rebuke you and lay out the case before you.

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