1 Samuel 28:20

1 Samuel 28:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.
• New International Version (NIV)Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, and was dreadfully afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day or all night.

Context of 1 Samuel 28:20

18The Lord has done this to you today because you refused to carry out his fierce anger against the Amalekites. 19What’s more, the Lord will hand you and the army of Israel over to the Philistines tomorrow, and you and your sons will be here with me. The Lord will bring down the entire army of Israel in defeat.” Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night. 21When the woman saw how distraught he was, she said, “Sir, I obeyed your command at the risk of my life. 22Now do what I say, and let me give you a little something to eat so you can regain your strength for the trip back.”

1 Samuel 28:20 word by word

וַיְמַהֵ֣ר שָׁא֗וּל וַיִּפֹּ֤ל מְלֹא־קֽוֹמָתוֹ֙ אַ֔רְצָה וַיִּרָ֥א מְאֹ֖ד מִדִּבְרֵ֣י שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל גַּם־כֹּ֙חַ֙ לֹא־הָ֣יָה ב֔וֹ כִּ֣י לֹ֤א אָכַל֙ לֶ֔חֶם כָּל־הַיּ֖וֹם וְכָל־הַלָּֽיְלָה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Then Saulשָׁאוּלshâ'ûl · SaulH7586
• fellנָפַלnâphal · to fall: fallH5307
• straightwayמָהַרmâhar · to hastenH4116
• allמְלֹאmelô' melô' melô · fullnessH4393
• alongקוֹמָהqômâh · heightH6967
• on the earthאֶ֫רֶץ'erets · land: soilH776
• and was soreמְאֹדme'ôd · muchH3966
• afraidיָרֵאyârê' · to fearH3372
• because of the wordsדָּבָרdâbâr · wordH1697
• of Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלshemû'êl · SamuelH8050
• and there was no strengthכֹּחַkôach kôach · strengthH3581
• in him; for he had eatenאָכַל'âkal · to eatH398
• no breadלֶ֫חֶםlechem · foodH3899
• all the dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• nor all the nightלַ֫יְלָהlayil lêyl layelâh · nightH3915

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 28:20

• 1 Samuel 28:5When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear.
• 1 Samuel 25:37In the morning when Nabal was sober, his wife told him what had happened. As a result he had a stroke, and he lay paralyzed on his bed like a stone.
• Job 15:20“The wicked writhe in pain throughout their lives. Years of trouble are stored up for the ruthless.
• Job 26:2“How you have helped the powerless! How you have saved the weak!
• Psalms 50:21While you did all this, I remained silent, and you thought I didn’t care. But now I will rebuke you, listing all my charges against you.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 28:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth - Literally, he fell with his own length, or with the fullness of his stature. He was so overwhelmed with this most dreadful message, that he swooned away, and thus fell at his own length upon the ground. The woman, being terrified, had probably withdrawn to some distance at the first appearance of the prophet; and Saul was left alone with Samuel. After some short time, the woman came again unto Saul…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 28:20

• En-Dor
• Familiar Spirits
• Samuel
• Saul
• Sorcery
• Witchcraft

In the dictionaries

• Samuel
• Saul
• Paul, Saul
• Along
• David
• Disquiet
• Divination
• Magic
• Warfare
• Witchcraft

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