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

18Because thou obeyedst not the voice of Yhwh, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath Yhwh done this thing unto thee this day. 19Moreover Yhwh will also deliver Israel with thee into the hand of the Philistines: and to morrow shalt thou and thy sons be with me: Yhwh also shall deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines. 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. 21And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me. 22Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.

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

• 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 28:5And when Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.
• 1 Samuel 25:37But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.
• Job 15:20The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor.
• Job 26:2How hast thou helped him that is without power? how savest thou the arm that hath no strength?
• Psalms 50:21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.

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