New English Translation
1 Samuel 9:21
21Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and is not my family clan the smallest of all the tribes of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in this way?”
1 Samuel 9:21 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
- New International Version (NIV)Saul answered, “But am I not a Benjamite, from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why do you say such a thing to me?”
- English Standard Version (ESV)Saul answered, "Am I not a Benjaminite, from the least of the tribes of Israel? And is not my clan the humblest of all the clans of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then have you spoken to me in this way?"
- New King James Version (NKJV)And Saul answered and said, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak like this to me?”
Context of 1 Samuel 9:21
19Samuel replied to Saul, “I am the seer! Go up in front of me to the high place! Today you will eat with me and in the morning I will send you away. I will tell you everything that you are thinking. 20Don’t be concerned about the donkeys that you lost three days ago, for they have been found. Whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you, and all your father’s family?” Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjaminite, from the smallest of Israel’s tribes, and is not my family clan the smallest of all the tribes of Benjamin? Why do you speak to me in this way?” 22Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the room and gave them a place at the head of those who had been invited. There were about thirty people present. 23Samuel said to the cook, “Give me the portion of meat that I gave to you – the one I asked you to keep with you.”
Read all of 1 Samuel 91 Samuel 9:21 word by word
וַיַּ֨עַן שָׁא֜וּל וַיֹּ֗אמֶר הֲל֨וֹא בֶן־יְמִינִ֤י אָ֙נֹכִי֙ מִקַּטַנֵּי֙ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וּמִשְׁפַּחְתִּי֙ הַצְּעִרָ֔ה מִכָּֽל־מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת שִׁבְטֵ֣י בִנְיָמִ֑ן וְלָ֙מָּה֙ דִּבַּ֣רְתָּ אֵלַ֔י כַּדָּבָ֖ר הַזֶּֽה׃ סRead the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
- answeredעָנָה‛ânâh · to answerH6030
- and saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- not I a Benjamiteבֶּן־יְמִינִיben-yemîynîy ben-ha-yemînîy ben-'îysh yemîynîy · BenjaminiteH1145
- of the smallestקָטָןqâţân qâţôn · smallH6996
- of the tribesשֵׁ֫בֶטshêbeţ · tribeH7626
- of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- and my familyמִשְׁפָּחָהmishpâchâh · familyH4940
- the leastצָעִירtsâ‛îyr tsâ‛ôr · littleH6810
- of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
- wherefore then speakestדָבַרdâbar · to speak: speakH1696
- thou soדָּבָרdâbâr · ChroniclesH1697
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 9:21
- Judges 20:46That day twenty-five thousand sword-wielding Benjaminites fell in battle, all of them capable warriors.
- Psalms 68:27There is little Benjamin, their ruler, and the princes of Judah in their robes, along with the princes of Zebulun and the princes of Naphtali.
- 1 Samuel 10:27But some wicked men said, “How can this man save us?” They despised him and did not even bring him a gift. But Saul said nothing about it.
- 1 Samuel 15:17Samuel said, “Is it not true that when you were insignificant in your own eyes, you became head of the tribes of Israel? The Lord chose you as king over Israel.
- 1 Samuel 18:18David said to Saul, “Who am I? Who are my relatives or the clan of my father in Israel that I should become the king’s son-in-law?”
- Judges 6:14Then the Lord himself turned to him and said, “You have the strength. Deliver Israel from the power of the Midianites! Have I not sent you?”
- Hosea 13:1When Ephraim spoke, there was terror; he was exalted in Israel, but he became guilty by worshiping Baal and died.
- Luke 14:11For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- Ephesians 3:8To me – less than the least of all the saints – this grace was given, to proclaim to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 9:21
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 21Am not I a Benjamite - This speech of Saul is exceedingly modest; he was now becomingly humble; but who can bear elevation and prosperity? The tribe of Benjamin had not yet recovered its strength, after the ruinous war it had with the other tribes, Judges 20:29-46.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 21The tribe of Benjamin, originally the smallest of all the tribes Numbers 1:36, if Ephraim and Manasseh are reckoned as one tribe, had been nearly annihilated by the civil war recorded in Judges 20. It had of course not recovered from that terrible calamity in the time of Saul, and was doubtless literally much the smallest tribe at that time. Nothing could be more improbable, humanly speaking, than that this weak tribe should give a ruler to the mighty…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 18-27Verses 18-27 Samuel, that good prophet, was so far from envying Saul, or bearing him any ill-will, that he was the first and most forward to do him honour. Both that evening and early the next morning, Samuel communed with Saul upon the flat roof of the house. We may suppose Samuel now convinced Saul that he was the person God had fixed upon for the government, and of his own willingness to resign. How different are the purposes of the Lord for us, from…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 21the smallest tribe: Saul tried to downplay Benjamin's importance, but they were strong warriors (Judges 20:14–31; see study note on 1 Samuel 10:17). What better tribe to lead in battle? least of all the clans: See 1 Samuel 9:1.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 9:21
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 9
- 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
New English Translation — © 1996-2016 Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C.
Commentaries