1 Samuel 9:20

1 Samuel 9:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?
• New International Version (NIV)As for the donkeys you lost three days ago, do not worry about them; they have been found. And to whom is all the desire of Israel turned, if not to you and your whole family line?”
• English Standard Version (ESV)As for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not set your mind on them, for they have been found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for you and for all your father's house?"
• New King James Version (NKJV)But as for your donkeys that were lost three days ago, do not be anxious about them, for they have been found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on you and on all your father’s house?”

Context of 1 Samuel 9:20

18Just then Saul approached Samuel at the gateway and asked, “Can you please tell me where the seer’s house is?” 19“I am the seer!” Samuel replied. “Go up to the place of worship ahead of me. We will eat there together, and in the morning I’ll tell you what you want to know and send you on your way. And don’t worry about those donkeys that were lost three days ago, for they have been found. And I am here to tell you that you and your family are the focus of all Israel’s hopes.” 21Saul replied, “But I’m only from the tribe of Benjamin, the smallest tribe in Israel, and my family is the least important of all the families of that tribe! Why are you talking like this to me?” 22Then Samuel brought Saul and his servant into the hall and placed them at the head of the table, honoring them above the thirty special guests.

1 Samuel 9:20 word by word

וְלָאֲתֹנ֞וֹת הָאֹבְד֣וֹת לְךָ֗ הַיּוֹם֙ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת הַיָּמִ֔ים אַל־תָּ֧שֶׂם אֶֽת־לִבְּךָ֛ לָהֶ֖ם כִּ֣י נִמְצָ֑אוּ וּלְמִי֙ כָּל־חֶמְדַּ֣ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֲל֣וֹא לְךָ֔ וּלְכֹ֖ל בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיךָ׃ סRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And as for thine assesאָתוֹן'âthôn · she-assH860
• that were lostאָבַד'âbad · to perishH6
• threeשָׁלֹשׁshâlôsh shâlôsh shelôshâh shelôshâh · threeH7969
• daysיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• setשׂוּםώûm ώîym · to set: makeH7760
• not thy mindלֵבlêb · heartH3820
• on them; for they are foundמָצָאmâtsâ' · to findH4672
• all the desireחֶמְדָּהchemdâh · desireH2532
• of Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
• not on thee, and on all thy father’sאָב'âb · fatherH1
• houseבַּ֫יִתbayith · house: householdH1004

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 9:20

• 1 Samuel 9:3One day Kish’s donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, “Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.”
• 1 Samuel 4:20She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. “Don’t be afraid,” they said. “You have a baby boy!” But she did not answer or pay attention to them.
• 1 Chronicles 29:3“And now, because of my devotion to the Temple of my God, I am giving all of my own private treasures of gold and silver to help in the construction. This is in addition to the building materials I have already collected for his holy Temple.
• Psalms 62:10Don’t make your living by extortion or put your hope in stealing. And if your wealth increases, don’t make it the center of your life.
• Colossians 3:2Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.
• 1 Samuel 8:5“Look,” they told him, “you are now old, and your sons are not like you. Give us a king to judge us like all the other nations have.”
• 1 Samuel 12:13All right, here is the king you have chosen. You asked for him, and the Lord has granted your request.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 9:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20As for thine asses - Thus he shows him that he knew what was in his heart, God having previously revealed these things to Samuel. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? - Saul understood this as implying that he was chosen to be king.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. 1-27Saul became powerful through three main events: Samuel secretly anointed him (1 Samuel 9:1–10:16). He was chosen by casting lots (1 Samuel 10:17–27). He defeated the Ammonites (1 Samuel 11:1–15). See also study note on 1 Samuel 13:1–16:13.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 18-2018-20. Tell me, I pray thee, where the seer's house is--Satisfying the stranger's inquiry, Samuel invited him to the feast, as well as to sojourn till the morrow; and, in order to reconcile him to the delay, he assured him that the strayed asses had been recovered.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 9:20

• Prophets

In the dictionaries

• Israel
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Herdsman
• Samuel, Books of
• Saul
• Spring
• High Place
• Judges, Period of
• Samuel

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