I Samuel 10:11 · Bible study
1 Samuel 10:11 Commentary: Is Saul Among the Prophets? God's Surprising Call
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Why were people astonished at Saul's prophesying? This study examines how God's sovereign transformation breaks through human expectations.
Research Summary
- Meaning: The people's astonishment at Saul's prophesying shows that God's Spirit can transform and use the most unlikely person, breaking through human assumptions.
- Key words: 'Prophesied' (נִבָּא, Niphal perfect), likely includes inspired praise; 'from yesterday and three days ago' (מֵ/אִתְּמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם), an idiom for 'previously'.
- Main debate: Whether the prophesying here is ecstatic utterance or reasoned praise; most commentators (Gill, Keil, Cambridge) favour a form of worship or inspired song.
- Theological theme: God's sovereign freedom to choose and equip, the Spirit is not limited by human training, status, or expectation.
- Best use: A text for teaching on God's transformational power and for challenging any assumption that God only works through the religiously trained.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
All those who had formerly known Saul and saw him prophesying with the prophets asked one another, “What has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
WEB World English Bible 2000
When all who knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said to one another, “What is this that has come to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?”
KJV King James Version 1769
And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied with the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And it cometh to pass, all his acquaintance heretofore, see, and lo, with prophets he hath prophesied, and the people say one unto another, `What is this hath happened to the son of Kish? is Saul also among the prophets?'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And it came to pass, when all that knew him before saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that has happened to the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets?
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And all that had known him yesterday and the day before, seeing that he was with the prophets, and prophesied, said to each other: What is this that hath happened to the son of Cis? is Saul also among the prophets?
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y aconteció que, cuando todos los que le conocían de ayer y de antes, vieron como profetizaba con los profetas, el pueblo decía el uno al otro: ¿ Qué ha sucedido al hijo de Cis? ¿ Saúl también entre los profetas?
E aconteceu que, quando todos os que o conheciam de antes viram como profetizava com os profetas, o povo dizia o um ao outro: Que sucedeu ao filho de Quis? Saul também entre os profetas?
Tous ceux qui l’ avaient connu auparavant virent qu’ il prophétisait avec les prophètes, et l’ on se disait l’ un à l’ autre dans le peuple: Qu’ est-il arrivé au fils de Kis? Saül est-il aussi parmi les prophètes?
Da ihn aber sahen alle, die ihn vormals gekannt hatten, daß er mit den Propheten weissagte, sprachen sie alle untereinander: Was ist dem Sohn des Kis geschehen? Ist Saul auch unter den Propheten?
En het geschiedde, als een iegelijk, die hem van te voren gekend had, zag, dat hij, ziet, profeteerde met de profeten, zo zeide het volk, een ieder tot zijn metgezel: Wat is dit, dat den zoon van Kis geschied is? Is Saul ook onder de profeten?
Tutti quelli che l’avean conosciuto prima, lo videro che profetava coi profeti, e dicevano l’uno all’altro: “Che è mai avvenuto al figliuolo di Kis? Saul è anch’egli tra i profeti?”
Stało się tedy, że wszyscy, którzy go przedtem znali, ujrzeli, a oto, z prorokami prorokował; i mówili wszyscy jeden do drugiego: Cóż się stało synowi Cysowemu? Izali też Saul między prorokami?
Все знавшие его вчера и третьего дня, увидев, что он с пророками пророчествует, говорили в народе друг другу: что это сталось с сыном Кисовым? неужели и Саул во пророках?
素來 認識掃羅的，看見 他和 先知 一同受感說話， 就彼此 說：「基士 的兒子 遇見甚麼了？掃羅 也 列在先知中嗎？」
Now when Saul's old friends saw him among the band of prophets, the people said to one another, What has come to Saul, the son of Kish? Is even Saul among the prophets?
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 10:11
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators largely agree that this verse captures the amazement of Saul's neighbours at an unexpected transformation. The Cambridge Bible notes that Saul, a plain citizen known only for his stature and good looks, suddenly appeared among trained recipients of divine inspiration. Gill adds that the question 'Is Saul also among the prophets?' reflects wonder that a rustic herdsman, never instructed in the prophetic schools, could join the prophets in praise. Keil and Delitzsch observe that the astonishment presupposes Saul's previous life was entirely different from that of the disciples of the prophets. The shock is not disbelief in God's power but recognition that God has chosen someone utterly ordinary. All sources stress that the Spirit's coming is not limited by human pedigree or preparation.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: The people were astonished that Saul, with no prophetic training or background, was prophesying — a clear demonstration of God's unexpected and sovereign work.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Nature of 'prophesying' here | It involves being under the Spirit's influence, likely including worship, song, or inspired utterance. | Some (Gill, Targum) emphasize singing psalms; others (Keil) see it as a more general prophetic activity. All agree it is a visible, public act caused by the Spirit. |
| Saul's transformation | God gave Saul 'another heart' (v.9) and the Spirit came mightily upon him (v.10). The change is real and sudden. | Some traditions (Matthew Henry) stress a permanent change in character and direction; others note that Saul later disobeys, raising questions about the depth or duration of this transformation. Both view the initial gift as genuine. |
| Meaning of the proverb 'Is Saul also among the prophets?' | It became a saying expressing surprise that someone unexpected is included in a group or activity. | Some see it as neutral or positive (demonstrating God's surprising grace); others note it later carried a tone of irony given Saul's downfall. Both readings acknowledge the proverb originated from this event. |
Historical & Cultural Context
The scene takes place as Saul returns from meeting Samuel to Gibeah, his hometown (1 Samuel 10:10). The phrase 'from yesterday and three days ago' (Hebrew idiom from etmol and shilshom) means 'previously, in times past.' The band of prophets Saul encounters belonged to prophetic guilds that existed in Samuel's day, groups of men trained in music, worship, and perhaps ecstatic praise that accompanied the Spirit's work. The Hebrew verb translated 'prophesied' here (nibba’) likely included singing, chanting, or uttering inspired praise (Gill mentions the Targum's paraphrase: 'sang psalms and hymns with them').
Saul's background as a farmer from the tribe of Benjamin, a family of no special status, made his sudden appearance among these prophets startling. Wesley notes that Saul was 'a man never instructed, nor exercised in, nor inclined to these matters.' The people's reaction shows that prophecy was widely seen as a gift reserved for those with formal connection to prophetic communities. Yet the earlier narrative (v. 9) states God gave Saul 'another heart,' and the Spirit of God came mightily on him (v. 10). This is the theological hinge: the transformation is entirely God's work, not Saul's effort or training. The astonishment of the crowd becomes a testimony to divine freedom. As Matthew Henry puts it, 'A new fire was kindled in his breast.'
This episode also parallels later reactions to Jesus in Nazareth (Matthew 13:54-55) and to the apostles at Pentecost (Acts 2:7), where familiarity with a person's origins made divine work hard to accept.
Textual Notes
The supplied commentaries and textual sources note no significant variant readings for I Samuel 10:11. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscripts. The main textual discussion occurs in verse 12 regarding the reading of 'their father' vs. 'his father,' but this does not affect the verse at hand.
Reception History
This verse has been read across traditions as a vivid example of God's sovereign freedom in calling and equipping people. Early church writers saw it as a type of the Spirit being poured out on unexpected people, foreshadowing Pentecost. Jewish commentators often noted the irony: Saul, who later fell, was once genuinely touched by the Spirit. The phrase 'Is Saul also among the prophets?' became a proverbial expression in both Jewish and Christian circles for the surprising inclusion of an outsider in a spiritual work. During the Reformation, this text was cited to argue that spiritual gifts do not depend on human ordination or lineage but on God's direct action. In modern preaching, it is often used to encourage those who feel unqualified for God's service.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- God's transformation defies human categories. Saul was a farmer, not a prophet. The Spirit made him capable of something his neighbours never imagined. God still works through the unlikely, not the qualified.
- Familiarity can blind us to God's work. Those who 'knew him before' were the most surprised. Their knowledge of Saul's past kept them from seeing what God was doing now. Our assumptions about people can limit how we expect God to move.
- God's gifts are not earned. Saul did not train for prophecy. The Spirit came upon him as a gift. This points forward to the New Testament truth that the Spirit is given to all who believe, not to those who deserve it.
Five-point outline
- The context: Saul returns home after his anointing, and the Spirit falls on him (vv. 9-10).
- The reaction: everyone who knew Saul was shocked at what they saw (v. 11).
- The question: 'Is Saul also among the prophets?' reveals their underlying assumption that prophecy belongs to a special class.
- The answer (v. 12, next verse): 'Who is their father?', a reminder that prophecy does not come by birth but by God's sovereign choice.
- The lasting proverb: this question became a saying, showing that God's surprising choices leave a permanent mark on memory.
Illustration hooks
- A quiet accountant at church suddenly leads an outdoor mission trip to a difficult area. People who have known him for years are stunned: 'Is he really doing this?' The transformation is unmistakable.
- A teenager raised in a non-religious home begins reading Scripture and praying publicly. Old friends wonder where this came from, not knowing the Spirit has been at work.
Questions your congregation is asking
- If God can transform Saul so suddenly, why does it seem like He moves so slowly in my life, or in the lives of people I'm praying for?
- Does this mean that anyone can be used by God, even if they have no formal training? Where does preparation and study fit in?
Leading a Discussion
This passage challenges us to see God's freedom in choosing and transforming people. The crowd's question reveals both their surprise and their assumption that some people belong to God's work and others do not. As you discuss, reflect on where you may have limited your expectations of what God can do in someone's life.
Discussion questions
- Why were the people so surprised to see Saul prophesying? What did they assume about who could be a prophet?
- In verse 9, God gave Saul 'another heart.' How does that phrase shape your understanding of the change in Saul?
- The question 'Is Saul also among the prophets?' became a proverb. What does that say about how God's work can become part of a community's memory?
- How does this story compare to the reaction of Jesus' hometown in Matthew 13:54-55? What keeps people from accepting that God works through the familiar?
- Can you think of a time when God surprised you by using someone you would not have expected? What did that teach you about God?
- If the Spirit can come upon Saul without his seeking it, what does that say about God's initiative in our lives? How does that affect how you pray for others?
- How can your small group become more open to God surprising you through people you might overlook?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| I Samuel 19:24 | He also stripped off his clothes. He also prophesied before Samuel and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Therefore they say, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” |
| Matthew 13:54 | Coming into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? |
| Matthew 13:55 | Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother called Mary, and his brothers James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? |
| John 7:15 | The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How does this man know letters, having never been educated?” |
| John 9:8 | Therefore the neighbors and those who saw that he was blind before said, “Isn’t this he who sat and begged?” |
| John 9:9 | Others were saying, “It is he.” Still others were saying, “He looks like him.” He said, “I am he.” |
| Acts 2:7 | They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? |
| Acts 2:8 | How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge commentary highlights that Saul's transformation into a prophet came directly from God, not from any human training or background. The neighbors' surprise and the resulting proverb show that divine inspiration can overtake even an ordinary citizen, making him a king and deliverer regardless of his former life or family credentials.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
The Geneva Note points out the people's startled reaction to Saul's unexpected transformation. Their question reveals amazement that a man of ordinary origin, the son of Kish, now stands among the prophets, showing a dramatic change that none could have predicted.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill highlights the astonishment of those who knew Saul as an ordinary farmer and herdsman, never trained in the prophets' schools, now leading praise as fluently as any of them. He draws a direct parallel: the same wonder that greeted Saul's prophetic role later greeted Saul of Tarsus, a persecutor, suddenly preaching the gospel.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch interprets the retort “who is their father?” as a claim that the prophets did not inherit their gift by birth, meaning God could freely give the same spirit to Saul. They reject the textual variant “his father” because Gibeah’s residents knew Saul’s father well, making that question meaningless.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange stresses that Samuel anointed Saul with the same sacred oil used for priests, not ordinary oil. This links the king to the priestly consecration, marking him as holy and set apart for God's service. The kiss that followed was a sign of human homage and recognition of his royal dignity.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry emphasizes that the most significant sign Saul received was not an external one but an internal transformation: God gave him a new heart. All his old concerns about the donkeys vanished, replaced entirely by the responsibilities of a king—war, justice, and public safety. This new fire in his breast was unfamiliar and complete.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley points out that Saul's ignorance of these matters was not merely a gap in knowledge. He had never been taught them, never practiced them, and had no natural bent toward them at all.