1 Samuel 28:21

1 Samuel 28:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.
• New International Version (NIV)When the woman came to Saul and saw that he was greatly shaken, she said, “Look, your servant has obeyed you. I took my life in my hands and did what you told me to do.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And the woman came to Saul, and when she saw that he was terrified, she said to him, "Behold, your servant has obeyed you. I have taken my life in my hand and have listened to what you have said to me.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And the woman came to Saul and saw that he was severely troubled, and said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice, and I have put my life in my hands and heeded the words which you spoke to me.

Context of 1 Samuel 28:21

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.” 20Immediately, 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. The 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.” 23He refused, saying, “I won’t eat,” but when his servants and the woman urged him, he listened to them. He got up off the ground and sat on the bed.

1 Samuel 28:21 word by word

וַתָּב֤וֹא הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֶל־שָׁא֔וּל וַתֵּ֖רֶא כִּי־נִבְהַ֣ל מְאֹ֑ד וַתֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלָ֗יו הִנֵּ֨ה שָׁמְעָ֤ה שִׁפְחָֽתְךָ֙ בְּקוֹלֶ֔ךָ וָאָשִׂ֤ים נַפְשִׁי֙ בְּכַפִּ֔י וָֽאֶשְׁמַע֙ אֶת־דְּבָרֶ֔יךָ אֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּ֖רְתָּ אֵלָֽי׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And the womanאִשָּׁה'ishshâh nâshîym · womanH802
• cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• unto Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• and sawרָאָהrâ'âh · to see: seeH7200
• that he was soreמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• troubledבָּהַלbâhal · to dismayH926
• and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• unto him, Behold, thine handmaidשִׁפְחָהshiphchâh · maidservantH8198
• hath obeyedשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: obeyH8085
• thy voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voice: messageH6963
• and I have putשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: putH7760
• my lifeנֶ֫פֶשׁnephesh · soul: lifeH5315
• in my handכַּףkaph · palmH3709
• and have hearkenedשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
• unto thy wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• which thou spakestדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 28:21

• 1 Samuel 19:5He took his life in his hands when he struck down the Philistine, and the Lord brought about a great victory for all Israel. You saw it and rejoiced, so why would you sin against innocent blood by killing David for no reason?”
• Judges 12:3When I saw that you weren’t going to deliver me, I took my life in my own hands and crossed over to the Ammonites, and the Lord handed them over to me. Why then have you come today to fight against me?”
• Job 13:14I will put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 28:21

• 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 28:21

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

In the dictionaries

• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Along
• David
• Disquiet
• Divination
• Warfare
• Witchcraft
• Astrology
• Chronicles, Books of

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