שָׁאוּל (sha.ul)
sha.ul
Saul
N:N-M-PQuick Reference
- Language
- Biblical Hebrew
- Testament
- Old Testament
- Occurrences
- 311 verses
- Root
- —
- Part of speech
- N:N-M-P
Word Overview
The name Sha’ul, rendered in English as Saul, is a proper noun meaning "asked for" or "desired." It functions as a passive participle derived from the Hebrew root sha’al, which means to request or inquire. This etymology provides a fitting introduction to the figure who appears most frequently under this name: the first king of Israel. His rise to power was directly linked to the people’s demand for a monarch, a request that God granted through the prophet Samuel (1 Samuel 8–9).
While the narrative focuses on Saul the Benjamite, son of Kish, the name appears elsewhere in Scripture with different bearers. Genesis 36:37 identifies an early king of Edom named Sha’ul, and genealogical lists in Numbers and Chronicles record other individuals, including a son of Simeon and a Levite. These references show that while the name was known among various tribes, it is overwhelmingly associated with the tragic arc of Israel’s first monarch in the books of Samuel.
The word occurs over three hundred times in the Hebrew Bible, concentrated heavily in 1 and 2 Samuel. This frequency underscores the central role Saul plays in the transition from the period of judges to the United Monarchy. Translators consistently use "Saul" for all instances, preserving the distinction between the Israelite king and his Edomite namesake through context rather than variation in the English text.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The name Sha’ul means "asked for" or "desired," a meaning that carries deep weight in the story of Israel’s first king. In 1 Samuel 9, we see Saul as an ordinary young man from a small tribe, searching for lost donkeys and feeling unworthy of attention. Yet God had set him apart long before he knew it. His story reminds us that our value does not come from our status or appearance, but from how God sees us.
While Saul’s reign ended in tragedy, his life highlights a quiet truth: God often works through those who feel small or overlooked. The narrative shows that being "desired" by God is not about human merit, but divine purpose. We can find comfort in knowing that the same God who called Saul also knows our names and has plans for our lives, even when we feel uncertain about the path ahead.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 311 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Saul321×
- and/ Saul21×
- to/ Saul14×
- Shaul5×
- [is] Saul3×
- of/ Saul2×
- and/ Shaul2×
- of/ Shaul1×
- from/ Saul1×
- and/ to/ Saul1×
- and/ [belonged] to/ Saul1×
- [was] Saul1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- שָׁא֔וּל70×
- שָׁא֖וּל53×
- שָׁאוּל֙44×
- שָׁא֗וּל33×
- שָׁא֑וּל27×
- שָׁא֜וּל22×
- שָׁא֣וּל21×
- שָׁא֛וּל17×
- שָׁאֽוּל\׃14×
- לְ/שָׁא֔וּל7×
- שָׁא֨וּל5×
- שָׁא֥וּל5×
Key Verses
-
I Samuel 9:2
He had a son whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.
This verse introduces Saul’s physical stature and humble origins, setting the stage for his unexpected calling despite his self-perception of insignificance.
-
I Samuel 9:17
When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people.”
God explicitly identifies Saul to Samuel as the one who will lead Israel, marking the moment divine choice overrides human expectation.
-
I Samuel 9:21
Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?”
Saul’s response reveals his deep insecurity about his tribe and family, highlighting the contrast between God’s high calling and Saul’s low self-view.
-
Genesis 36:37
Samlah died, and Shaul of Rehoboth by the river, reigned in his place.
This reference to an Edomite king named Shaul shows the name’s broader usage, though it serves mainly as a contextual backdrop to the primary narrative of Israel’s monarchy.