New English Translation
1 Samuel 28:3
3Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented over him and had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. In the meantime Saul had removed the mediums and magicians from the land.
1 Samuel 28:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
- New International Version (NIV)Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in his own town of Ramah. Saul had expelled the mediums and spiritists from the land.
- English Standard Version (ESV)Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had mourned for him and buried him in Ramah, his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the necromancers out of the land.
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented for him and buried him in Ramah, in his own city. And Saul had put the mediums and the spiritists out of the land.
Context of 1 Samuel 28:3
1In those days the Philistines gathered their troops for war in order to fight Israel. Achish said to David, “You should fully understand that you and your men must go with me into the battle.” 2David replied to Achish, “That being the case, you will come to know what your servant can do!” Achish said to David, “Then I will make you my bodyguard from now on.” Now Samuel had died, and all Israel had lamented over him and had buried him in Ramah, his hometown. In the meantime Saul had removed the mediums and magicians from the land. 4The Philistines assembled; they came and camped at Shunem. Saul mustered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was absolutely terrified.
Read all of 1 Samuel 281 Samuel 28:3 word by word
וּשְׁמוּאֵ֣ל מֵ֔ת וַיִּסְפְּדוּ־לוֹ֙ כָּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּקְבְּרֻ֥הוּ בָרָמָ֖ה וּבְעִיר֑וֹ וְשָׁא֗וּל הֵסִ֛יר הָאֹב֥וֹת וְאֶת־הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖ים מֵהָאָֽרֶץ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- Now Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלshemû'êl · SamuelH8050
- was deadמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
- and all Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- had lamentedסָפַדsâphad · to mournH5594
- him, and buriedקָבַרqâbar · to buryH6912
- him in Ramahרָמָהrâmâh · RamahH7414
- even in his own cityעִיר‛îyr ‛âr ‛âyar · cityH5892
- And Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- had put awayסוּרsûr ώûr · to turn aside: removeH5493
- those that had familiar spiritsאוֹב'ôb · mediumH178
- and the wizardsיִדְּעֹנִיyidde‛ônîy · spiritistH3049
- out of the landאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: country/planetH776
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 28:3
- 1 Samuel 25:1Samuel died, and all Israel assembled and mourned him. They buried him at his home in Ramah. Then David left and went down to the desert of Paran.
- Isaiah 57:1The godly perish, but no one cares. Honest people disappear, when no one minds that the godly disappear because of evil.
- 1 Samuel 28:9But the woman said to him, “Look, you are aware of what Saul has done; he has removed the mediums and magicians from the land! Why are you trapping me so you can put me to death?”
- Exodus 22:18“You must not allow a sorceress to live.
- Leviticus 19:31Do not turn to the spirits of the dead and do not seek familiar spirits to become unclean by them. I am the Lord your God.
- Leviticus 20:6“‘The person who turns to the spirits of the dead and familiar spirits to commit prostitution by going after them, I will set my face against that person and cut him off from the midst of his people.
- Deuteronomy 18:10There must never be found among you anyone who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, anyone who practices divination, an omen reader, a soothsayer, a sorcerer,
- Acts 16:16Now as we were going to the place of prayer, a slave girl met us who had a spirit that enabled her to foretell the future by supernatural means. She brought her owners a great profit by fortune-telling.
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 28:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3Samuel was dead - And there was no longer a public accredited prophet to consult. Those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards - See the note on Leviticus 19:31, and Exodus 22:18.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3It does not appear when Saul had suppressed witchcraft; it was probably in the early part of his reign. Familiar spirits wizards - i. e. ventriloquists wise or cunning men. See Leviticus 19:31 note.Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 3had removed … from the land: Saul had either forced most mediums (people who claimed they could communicate with the spirits of the dead) to leave the land or put them to death. Or he had made necromancy (the practice of trying to speak with the dead) illegal (see study note on 1 Samuel 28:9).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 33. Now Samuel is dead, &c.--This event is here alluded to as affording an explanation of the secret and improper methods by which Saul sought information and direction in the present crisis of his affairs. Overwhelmed in perplexity and fear, he yet found the common and legitimate channels of communication with Heaven shut against him. And so, under the impulse of that dark, distempered, superstitious spirit which had overmastered him, he resolved, in…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 28:3
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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