English Standard Version
1 Samuel 28:23
23He 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.
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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)But Saul refused to eat anything. Then his advisers joined the woman in urging him to eat, so he finally yielded and got up from the ground and sat on the couch.
Context of 1 Samuel 28:23
21And 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. 22Now therefore, you also obey your servant. Let me set a morsel of bread before you; and eat, that you may have strength when you go on your way." 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. 24Now the woman had a fattened calf in the house, and she quickly killed it, and she took flour and kneaded it and baked unleavened bread of it, 25and she put it before Saul and his servants, and they ate. Then they rose and went away that night.
Read all of 1 Samuel 281 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 21:4And Ahab went into his house vexed 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 eat no food.
- Proverbs 25:20Whoever sings songs to a heavy heart is like one who takes off a garment on a cold day, and like vinegar on soda.
- 2 Kings 4:8One day Elisha went on to Shunem, where a wealthy woman lived, who urged him to eat some food. So whenever he passed that way, he would turn in there to eat food.
- Luke 14:23And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people to come in, that my house may be filled.
- Luke 24:29but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them.
- Acts 16:15And after she was baptized, and her household as well, she urged us, saying, "If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come to my house and stay." And she prevailed upon us.
- 2 Corinthians 5:14For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have 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
In the dictionaries
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
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