I Samuel 10:12 · Bible study
1 Samuel 10:12 Commentary: Who Is Their Father? The Source of Prophecy
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
What does 'Who is their father?' reveal about the source of prophetic inspiration and the origin of this famous proverb?
Research Summary
- Meaning: The rhetorical question “Who is their father?” identifies God, not human lineage, as the source of prophecy; the proverb then becomes a shorthand for unexpected divine action.
- Key words: av (father, H0001), can mean originator or patron; mashal (proverb, H4912), a byword or aphorism; gam (also, H1571), emphasizes the surprising inclusion of Saul.
- Main debate: Whether the Hebrew text should read “their father” (MT) or “his father” (LXX, Vulgate). Most commentators prefer the MT and interpret “their father” as God.
- Theological theme: God’s sovereign freedom to bestow the Spirit on whomever He chooses, independent of social standing or religious training.
- Best use: Teaching on divine calling, the nature of spiritual gifts, and how Scripture uses proverbs to preserve the memory of grace breaking into ordinary life.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then a man who lived there replied, “And who is their father?” So the saying became a proverb: “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
WEB World English Bible 2000
One from the same place answered, “Who is their father?” Therefore it became a proverb, “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
KJV King James Version 1769
And one of the same place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And one of the same place answered and said, And who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And a man thence answereth and saith, `And who is their father?' therefore it hath been for a simile, `Is Saul also among the prophets?'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And a man of that place answered and said, But who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And one answered another, saying: And who is their father? therefore it became a proverb: Is Saul also among the prophets?
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y alguno de allí respondió, y dijo: ¿ Y quién es el padre de ellos? Por esta causa se tornó en proverbio: ¿ También Saúl entre los profetas?
E algum dali respondeu, e disse: E quem é o pai deles? Por esta causa se tornou em provérbio: Também Saul entre os profetas?
Quelqu’ un de Guibea répondit: Et qui est leur père? De là le proverbe: Saül est-il aussi parmi les prophètes?
Und einer daselbst antwortete und sprach: Wer ist ihr Vater? Daher ist das Sprichwort gekommen: Ist Saul auch unter den Propheten?
Toen antwoordde een man van daar, en zeide: Wie is toch hun vader? Daarom is het tot een spreekwoord geworden: Is Saul ook onder de profeten?
E un uomo del luogo rispose, dicendo: “E chi è il loro padre?” Di qui venne il proverbio: “Saul e anch’egli tra i profeti?”
I odpowiedział mąż niektóry stamtąd, i rzekł: I któż jest ojcem ich? przetoż weszło to w przypowieść: Izali i Saul między prorokami?
И отвечал один из бывших там и сказал: а у тех кто отец? Посему вошло в пословицу: "неужели и Саул во пророках?"
那地方 有一個人 說：「這些人的父親 是誰呢？」此後 有 句俗語說：「掃羅 也 列在先知中嗎？」
And one of the people of that place said in answer, And who is their father? So it became a common saying, Is even Saul among the prophets?
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 10:12
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that the question “Who is their father?” turns the crowd’s surprise away from Saul’s humble background and toward the divine origin of prophecy. Gill and Keil & Delitzsch argue that “their father” points to God himself: the prophets have no human lineage for their gift; God is their ultimate source and teacher. Wesley echoes this, noting that the gift comes by inspiration, not parentage or education. The Cambridge Bible adds that the retort rebukes the astonishment: if the prophets themselves did not receive their ability by birth, then Saul’s inclusion is no mystery. Barnes offers a variant interpretation, suggesting “father” might mean the head or leader of the prophetic school (compare 1 Chronicles 25:6), but even he concludes the force is the same, the gift is not limited to a particular family. A minority textual tradition (Septuagint, Vulgate) reads “Who is his father?” referring to Kish, but the majority of commentators (Keil, Gill, Cambridge) dismiss this as a later harmonization. The proverb “Is Saul also among the prophets?” enters the language as a standard expression for something startling and unexpected. The shared conviction: God’s Spirit moves freely, unconstrained by human expectations.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- God as Father: The MT reading 'their father' is taken to mean God, the ultimate source of prophetic inspiration (Gill, Keil, Wesley, Cambridge).
- Human leader of the prophets: Barnes notes that 'father' can designate the head of a prophetic school (compare 1 Chronicles 25:6, 2 Kings 2:12), so the question asks who their human teacher is.
- Kish as father (variant reading): The Septuagint and Vulgate read 'his father,' making the question refer to Saul's father Kish and essentially meaning 'Is anyone surprised that Kish's son is a prophet?'
What is clear: The proverb became a fixture in Israelite speech to express surprise when someone unexpected takes up an unusual role, and the context links the event to the sovereign work of God’s Spirit.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Textual reading, 'their father' vs 'his father' | The Masoretic Text reads 'their father' (אֲבִי/הֶם), which is preserved in most English translations. | The Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac and Arabic read 'his father' (referring to Kish). Some commentators (Adam Clarke, Barnes) note this, while others (Keil & Delitzsch, Gill) reject it as a later simplification. |
| Meaning of 'father' in context | The word 'father' (av) points to the source or origin of prophetic inspiration. | Interpretations vary: (1) God as divine Father and teacher (Gill, Wesley, Keil); (2) human head or leader of the prophetic school (Barnes); (3) the Septuagint reading makes it refer to Kish, Saul's father (a minority view). |
| Nature of the prophetic guild | The band of prophets was a recognized group in Samuel's time, characterized by ecstatic worship and prophecy. | Some see them as a formal school with human leaders (Barnes), while others emphasize that their gift was not hereditary but directly from God (Keil, Cambridge). |
| Function of the proverb | The proverb 'Is Saul also among the prophets?' became a standard expression of surprise at an unexpected event. | Disagreement exists over whether it originally carried a mocking tone or a neutral sense of wonder. The context suggests the crowd's initial tone is mostly astonishment, not hostility. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This scene takes place just after Samuel anoints Saul as Israel’s first king (1 Samuel 10:1). The “band of prophets” Saul meets on his way back to Gibeah belongs to a loose community of inspired men, often called “sons of the prophets,” who lived under Samuel’s oversight. These groups are known from the stories of Elijah and Elisha: they gathered in settlements and engaged in ecstatic worship accompanied by music and prophecy (1 Samuel 10:5). The Spirit of God “came mightily on” Saul, and he joined their prophesying, likely a form of praise or inspired speech.
Saul’s neighbors in Gibeah knew him as a tall, unremarkable young man from a modest family. His father Kish was a wealthy landowner but not a prophet or priest. To see the son of Kish suddenly speaking in the ecstatic style of the prophets was bewildering. The response “Who is their father?” is a pointed rhetorical question. On the surface it asks, “Do these prophets have a special father who makes them unique?” The implied answer is no. That meaning is reinforced by the lexical range of av (father: H0001), which can include “originator or patron of a class.” The man from Gibeah could be saying the prophets have no exclusive founder; their inspiration comes directly from God, and therefore God can give it to Saul as well.
The saying quickly became a common proverb, a mashal (H4912), a pithy comparison or byword. It appears again in 1 Samuel 19:24 when Saul prophesies a second time. Over centuries, “Is Saul also among the prophets?” was used whenever an unlikely person achieved something remarkable. The question preserves the memory of the day God broke through social expectations to demonstrate that His Spirit is not bounded by human categories of class or training.
Textual Notes
The main textual variant involves the reading of “father.” The Masoretic Text (MT) reads a.vi.Hem (their father, plural suffix). However, the Septuagint, Vulgate, Syriac and Arabic read “his father” (אֲבִיהוּ), shifting the focus to Saul’s father Kish. Adam Clarke notes that the Septuagint adds ou Kies; “is it not Kish?” to make the meaning explicit. Barnes and Keil & Delitzsch discuss this variant; Keil argues strongly against it, calling it an unnecessary alteration that weakens the theological point. The MT is widely preferred among modern commentators. No other significant textual variants are identified in the supplied sources.
Reception History
Christians have read this verse as a demonstration of the Spirit’s freedom to call and equip the unlikely. The Cambridge Bible points out the parallel with the astonishment at Jesus in Capernaum (Matthew 13:54, 55), where people asked, “Is not this the carpenter’s son?”, echoing the same surprise at how God works through ordinary origins. In the broader church tradition, the proverb has been cited to illustrate the doctrine of vocation: God calls people from every walk of life, not only from religious elites. The same saying appears later in 1 Samuel 19:24, reinforcing its proverbial status. Jewish tradition also preserves the phrase as a reminder that the prophetic spirit transcends social class, a theme later taken up by Amos (Amos 7:14, 15), who protests he is neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet, yet is called. Across history, the verse has served to humble human categories and magnify divine sovereignty.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- The shock of the unexpected. The crowd’s question reveals how deeply people depend on familiar categories. Saul “the son of Kish” had no place in their mental map of what a prophet looks like. Their surprised question mirrors our own surprise when God works outside our expectations.
- The source of the gift. “Who is their father?” redirects attention from human origin to divine freedom. The gift of prophecy, like every spiritual gift, comes from God, not from family, education, or status. This is the theological heart of the episode.
- The lasting proverb. The saying outlived Saul. It became a way to name the shock of grace: God chooses whomever He pleases. The proverb reminds every generation that divine calling can break every mold.
Five-point outline
- A changed heart. Verse 9 says God gave Saul “another heart.” The prophetic event flows from that interior transformation (the Spirit brings the capacity, not just the act).
- A public sign. The prophesying is visible, audible, undeniable. The community witnesses a new reality.
- Human skepticism. “What is this that has come to the son of Kish?” The question is honest, it names the gap between past expectation and present reality.
- A divine answer. “Who is their father?” The answer is the Lord. The same God who filled the prophets can also fill Saul.
- A proverbial memory. The church today still uses “Is Saul also among the prophets?” when we see unexpected grace. The story becomes our story.
Illustration hooks
- The untrained worship leader who suddenly leads a congregation into deep prayer, those who knew her only as a quiet nurse are amazed.
- A reluctant volunteer at a shelter who discovers a gift for teaching Scripture; even they didn’t expect it.
- The moment a non-traditional candidate is called to pastoral ministry, and the congregation must adjust their assumptions about who God uses.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God only use people with formal training or a “religious” background?
- How do I know whether an unexpected spiritual experience is from God or just emotion?
- Why do some people seem to be given spiritual gifts suddenly while others serve faithfully for years without such visible signs?
Leading a Discussion
This short verse opens a window into how God’s Spirit can surprise even the people who think they know someone best. As you discuss, keep the focus on the movement from human astonishment to divine explanation. The aim is not to evaluate Saul but to recognize how the story reshapes our understanding of God’s freedom.
Discussion questions
- What do the people’s words in verse 11 tell you about their assumptions concerning Saul and the prophets?
- The man from Gibeah answers with a question: “Who is their father?” What answers does the text itself suggest for that question? (Consider the meaning of av as “originator” or “patron.”)
- How does that single question reframe the whole situation? What would be lost if the man had simply said, “Don’t be surprised”?
- The account says the saying “became a proverb.” What makes a particular moment stay in a community’s memory as a proverb? What kind of truth does this proverb preserve?
- The same proverb appears again in 1 Samuel 19:24 when Saul prophesies before David. How does the repeated use of the proverb reinforce its meaning?
- In your life or in your church, when have you been surprised by whom God uses? What did that moment teach you about God’s freedom?
- How does this passage encourage you to hold your own expectations about spiritual gifts and calling more loosely? What would change if you took the answer “God is their Father” seriously?
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)
| Isaiah 54:13 | All your children will be taught by Yahweh, and your children’s peace will be great. |
| John 6:45 | It is written in the prophets, ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Therefore everyone who hears from the Father and has learned, comes to me. |
| John 7:16 | Jesus therefore answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. |
| James 1:17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation nor turning shadow. |
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
9 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
But who is their father? - The Septuagint, in its principal editions, adds ου Κεις; is it not Kish? This makes the sense more complete.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes highlights the ambiguity of the phrase "who is their father." He notes it could mean the head of the prophets, questioning what kind of leader would admit someone like Saul. Alternatively, it could mean "who is his father," expressing surprise that Kish's son would be among the prophets.
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 explains that the question "But who is their father?" reveals the lowly origin of the prophets, which made Saul's joining them astonishing. Out of this surprise, the proverb "Is Saul also among the prophets?" became a common saying among the people.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill explains that the question "who is their father?" points to God, not human parents, as the true source of prophetic gifts. Since the Lord alone teaches prophets, He could raise up Saul from a common background without formal training. This is the force of the proverb "Is Saul also among the prophets?" applied to anyone of low origin raised to unexpected dignity.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB points out a textual difference in this question. The Hebrew text reads "Who is their father?" but the Septuagint reads "Who is his father?" making it a direct reference to Saul as the son of Kish. This alternate reading gives the question a personal focus on Saul.
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.
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 emphasizes that the phrase "Who is their father?" points to God alone as the source of prophetic inspiration, not human training or descent. He notes that this saying became a common proverb, used whenever something surprising or unforeseen occurred.