English Standard Version
1 Samuel 10:12
12And a man of the place answered, "And who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?"
1 Samuel 10:12 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
- New International Version (NIV)A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
- New King James Version (NKJV)Then a man from there answered and said, “But who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
- New Living Translation (NLT)And one of those standing there said, “Can anyone become a prophet, no matter who his father is?” So that is the origin of the saying “Is even Saul a prophet?”
Context of 1 Samuel 10:12
10When they came to Gibeah, behold, a group of prophets met him, and the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied among them. 11And when all who knew him previously saw how he prophesied with the prophets, the people said to one another, "What has come over the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?" And a man of the place answered, "And who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" 13When he had finished prophesying, he came to the high place. 14Saul's uncle said to him and to his servant, "Where did you go?" And he said, "To seek the donkeys. And when we saw they were not to be found, we went to Samuel."
Read all of 1 Samuel 101 Samuel 10:12 word by word
וַיַּ֨עַן אִ֥ישׁ מִשָּׁ֛ם וַיֹּ֖אמֶר וּמִ֣י אֲבִיהֶ֑ם עַל־כֵּן֙ הָיְתָ֣ה לְמָשָׁ֔ל הֲגַ֥ם שָׁא֖וּל בַּנְּבִאִֽים׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 10:12
- Isaiah 54:13All your children shall be taught by the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.
- John 6:45It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
- John 7:16So Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me.
- James 1:17Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 10:12
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12But who is their father? - The Septuagint, in its principal editions, adds ; is it not Kish? This makes the sense more complete.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12But who is their father - This is a very obscure phrase. If by “father” be intended the head or leader (compare 1 Chronicles 25:6; 2 Kings 2:12) of the prophets, the question means: “What kind of leader can they have to admit such a person as Saul into the company?” Some versions read “Who is his father?” in the sense: “Who would have expected Kish to have a son among the prophets?” (Compare Matthew 13:54-55.)Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 9-16Verses 9-16 The signs Samuel had given Saul, came to pass punctually; he found that God had given him another heart, another disposition of mind. Yet let not an outward show of devotion, and a sudden change for the present, be too much relied on; Saul among the prophets was Saul still. His being anointed was kept private. He leaves it to God to carry on his own work by Samuel, and sits still, to see how the matter will fall.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12“And who is their father?” So the saying became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” Unlike priests and kings, prophets did not inherit their role. People might wonder why Saul, with a wealthy, famous father, would join a group with no notable background.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1212. But who is their father?--The Septuagint reads, "Who is his father?" referring to Saul the son of Kish.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 10:12
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 10
- 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
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries