New International Version
1 Samuel 10:12
12A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “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?
- English Standard Version (ESV)And a man of the place answered, "And who is their father?" Therefore it became a proverb, "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 he and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a procession of prophets met him; the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he joined in their prophesying. 11When all those who had formerly known him saw him prophesying with the prophets, they asked each other, “What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?” A man who lived there answered, “And who is their father?” So it became a saying: “Is Saul also among the prophets?” 13After Saul stopped prophesying, he went to the high place. 14Now Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant, “Where have you been?” “Looking for the donkeys,” he said. “But 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 will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.
- John 6:45It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard the Father and learned from him comes to me.
- John 7:16Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.
- James 1:17Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
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
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