New Living Translation
1 Samuel 10:12
12And 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?”
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?”
- 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?”
Context of 1 Samuel 10:12
10When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. 11When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?” 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?” 13When Saul had finished prophesying, he went up to the place of worship. 14“Where have you been?” Saul’s uncle asked him and his servant. “We were looking for the donkeys,” Saul replied, “but we couldn’t find them. So we went to Samuel to ask him where they were.”
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 54:13I will teach all your children, and they will enjoy great peace.
- John 6:45As it is written in the Scriptures, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.
- John 7:16So Jesus told them, “My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me.
- James 1:17Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
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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