I Samuel 28:15 · Bible study
1 Samuel 28:15 Commentary: Samuel Confronts Saul from the Dead
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Is the apparition of Samuel real or a demonic deception? Explore the grammar, context, and debate over this pivotal moment in Saul's downfall.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Samuel confronts Saul from beyond the grave, confirming God's judgment and the king's irreversible downfall.
- Key words: “disturbed” (Hiphil of רגז, causative agitation); “bring up” (Hiphil infinitive of עלה, ascending from Sheol); “turned aside” (סור, Qal perfect, departure of God’s presence).
- Main debate: Whether the apparition is the literal Samuel raised by God, or a demonic impersonation permitted by God.
- Theological theme: Divine silence, final judgment, and the danger of seeking guidance outside God’s will.
- Best use: A somber caution against spiritual desperation and a call to seek God while He may be found.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me, to bring me up?” Saul answered, “I am very distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God has departed from me, and answers me no more, by prophets, or by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may make known to me what I shall do.”
KJV King James Version 1769
And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul answered, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Samuel saith unto Saul, `Why hast thou troubled me, to bring me up?' And Saul saith, `I have great distress, and the Philistines are fighting against me, God hath turned aside from me, and hath not answered me any more, either by the hand of the prophets, or by dreams; and I call for thee to let me know what I do.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Samuel said to Saul, Why hast thou disquieted me, to bring me up? And Saul said, I am sore distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and God is departed from me, and answers me no more, neither by prophets nor by dreams; therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known to me what I shall do.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Samuel said to Saul: Why hast thou disturbed my rest, that I should be brought up? And Saul said: I am in great distress: for the Philistines fight against me, and God is departed from me, and would not hear me, neither by the hand of prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayst shew me what I shall do.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y Samuel dijo á Saúl: ¿ Por qué me has inquietado haciéndome venir? Y Saúl respondió: Estoy muy congojado; pues los Filisteos pelean contra mí, y Dios se ha apartado de mí, y no me responde más, ni por mano de profetas, ni por sueños: por esto te he llamado, para que me declares qué tengo de hacer.
E Samuel disse a Saul: Por que me inquietaste fazendo-me vir? E Saul respondeu: Estou muito angustiado; pois os filisteus lutam contra mim, e Deus se afastou de mim, e não me responde mais, nem por meio de profetas, nem por sonhos: por isto te chamei, para que me declares o que tenho de fazer.
Samuel dit à Saül: Pourquoi m’ as-tu troublé, en me faisant monter? Saül répondit: Je suis dans une grande détresse: les Philistins me font la guerre, et Dieu s’ est retiré de moi; il ne m’ a répondu ni par les prophètes ni par des songes. Et je t’ ai appelé pour que tu me fasses connaître ce que je dois faire.
Samuel aber sprach zu Saul: Warum hast du mich unruhig gemacht, daß du mich heraufbringen läßt? Saul sprach: Ich bin sehr geängstet: die Philister streiten wider mich, und Gott ist von mir gewichen und antwortet mir nicht, weder durch Propheten noch durch Träume; darum habe ich dich lassen rufen, daß du mir weisest, was ich tun soll.
En Samuel zeide tot Saul: Waarom hebt gij mij onrustig gemaakt, mij doende opkomen? Toen zeide Saul: Ik ben zeer beangstigd, want de Filistijnen krijgen tegen mij, en God is van mij geweken, en antwoordt mij niet meer, noch door den dienst der profeten, noch door dromen; daarom heb ik u geroepen, dat gij mij te kennen geeft, wat ik doen zal.
E Samuele disse a Saul: “Perché mi hai tu disturbato, facendomi salire?” Saul rispose: “Io sono in grande angustia, poiché i Filistei mi fanno guerra, e Dio si è ritirato da me e non mi risponde più né mediante i profeti né per via di sogni; perciò t’ho chiamato perché tu mi faccia sapere quel che ho da fare”.
Zatem rzekł Samuel do Saula: Przecz mi nie dasz pokoju, wzbudzając mię? Odpowiedział mu Saul: Jestem uciśniony bardzo, gdyż Filistynowie walczą przeciwko mnie, a Bóg odstąpił odemnie, i nie odpowiada mi więcej, ani przez proroki, ani przez sny; przetoż przyzwałem cię, abyś mi oznajmił, co mam czynić.
И сказал Самуил Саулу: для чего ты тревожишь меня, чтобы я вышел? И отвечал Саул: тяжело мне очень; Филистимляне воюют против меня, а Бог отступил от меня и более не отвечает мне ни чрез пророков, ни во сне, [ни в видении]; потому я вызвал тебя, чтобы ты научил меня, что мне делать.
撒母耳 對 掃羅 說：「你為甚麼 攪擾我，招我 上來呢？」掃羅 回答說：「我 甚 窘急；因為非利士人 攻擊 我， 神 也離開 我，不 再 藉 先知 或 夢 回答我。因此請 你上來，好指示我 應當怎樣 行。」
And Samuel said to Saul, Why have you made me come up, troubling my rest? And Saul in answer said, I am in great danger; for the Philistines are making war on me, and God has gone away from me and will no longer give me any answer, by the prophets or by dreams: so I have sent for you to make clear to me what I am to do.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 28:15
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree this verse records a supernatural confrontation between Saul and the figure of Samuel. The Cambridge Bible notes Samuel's complaint, “Why have you disturbed me?”, indicating disturbance from rest in Sheol. Matthew Henry frames it as a conference between Saul and Satan, while Adam Clarke suggests the woman's incantations had no effect; the prophet appeared by God's permission. John Gill argues this cannot be the true Samuel, because a soul at rest in Abraham's bosom is not subject to a medium's summons; instead, it is a demonic impersonation. Despite the debate over identity, all see this as a moment of final judgment: God has departed from Saul, and his desperate consultation confirms his spiritual isolation. The Hiphil verb hirgazta (disturbed) carries causative force, Saul's sin has agitated even the realm of the dead.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: High
Main views:
- Literal Samuel by God's permission: The text describes Samuel speaking and prophesying accurately; the medium's shock suggests divine intervention beyond her control (v.12).
- Demonic impersonation: Samuel's soul was at rest in Abraham's bosom and could not be disquieted by human incantation (Gill); the phrase 'bring up' implies a counterfeit.
- Psychological vision or divine vision: Saul's extreme distress may have produced a vision; the medium's role is secondary, and God used the event to deliver a true message.
What is clear: All agree that God had departed from Saul, that Saul's inquiry was forbidden, and that the message delivered was a true judgment from God.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Identity of the apparition | All agree that a supernatural figure appeared who spoke as Samuel and delivered God's judgment. | Some (Matthew Henry, Gill) argue it was a demon impersonating Samuel, reasoning that a saint at rest in heaven cannot be summoned by a medium. Others (Clarke, Cambridge Bible) hold that it was actually Samuel, allowed by God to appear for a final message. |
| Means of the apparition | Both views affirm that God permitted the event; the medium's power was not autonomous. | Clarke insists the woman's incantations had no effect and that angels prepared the way. Gill argues that the medium and the devil produced a deceptive vision. |
| Theological lesson | The passage teaches the seriousness of disobedience and the finality of divine judgment. | Some emphasize the danger of necromancy; others the tragedy of a king who had every opportunity to repent but persisted in rebellion. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits at the climax of Israel's darkest military and spiritual crisis. The Philistine army has massed against Saul; he is terrified (v.5). Earlier, Samuel had declared that God tore the kingdom from Saul because of his disobedience at Amalek (1 Samuel 15:28). Saul's attempts to inquire of Yahweh through prophets, dreams, and Urim had received no answer (v.6). This divine silence is more terrifying than any enemy.
In ancient Israel, the dead resided in Sheol, a shadowy underworld. Communication with the dead was strictly forbidden (Deuteronomy 18:10-12), and Saul himself had expelled mediums and spiritists from the land (v.3). That Saul now seeks a medium reveals his utter desperation. He disguises himself and travels to Endor, a village north of the Philistine camp. When the woman summons a spirit, the figure of Samuel appears. The woman screams (v.12), she did not expect a genuine visitation. The conversation that follows confirms God's irreversible judgment: Saul and his sons will die the next day. The backdrop of warfare, forbidden necromancy, and divine abandonment makes this one of the most haunting passages in Scripture.
Saul's stated reasons in verse 15, Philistines attacking, God departed, no answer by prophets or dreams, echo earlier biblical moments where God's Spirit leaves a leader. Judges 16:20 records that Samson did not know the Lord had departed from him. The same verb 'turn aside' (sar, Qal perfect) is used of Saul: God has turned away, and His appointed channels of guidance are sealed.
Textual Notes
The consulted commentaries and translations note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is stable across manuscript traditions. The main interpretative differences arise from theology, not textual uncertainty.
Reception History
Early Christian writers like Augustine saw the episode as proof that the dead can appear by divine permission, but warned against necromancy. Medieval interpreters often treated the apparition as a demonic illusion, arguing that saints in God's presence could not be summoned by a witch. The Reformation divided: Luther accepted it as a genuine appearance of Samuel, while Calvin viewed it as a divine act using a medium. Modern scholarship tends to emphasize the literary and theological function: the story demonstrates the tragic end of Saul, the consequences of rejecting God's word, and the sovereignty of God even over forbidden means.
Preaching This Verse
Three-point outline
- Silence from heaven (v.15a). God no longer answers Saul by prophets or dreams. Prolonged silence can be a form of judgment.
- Desperate detour (v.15b). Saul turns to a medium, one whom he himself outlawed. When legitimate channels close, the heart seeks illegitimate ones.
- A final, unwanted word (v.15c). Samuel's appearance confirms that Saul's course is set. The very prophet who once guided him now pronounces doom.
Five-point outline
- The desperation of a rejected king, Saul's progression from courage to panic.
- The closed means of revelation, prophets, dreams, Urim all silent.
- The forbidden shortcut, consulting the dead rather than the living God.
- The confrontation with Samuel, disturbing the dead, receiving judgment.
- The irreversible verdict, death coming the next day.
Illustration hooks
- A patient who ignores a doctor's early warnings until the illness is terminal, then seeks any cure, no matter how dangerous.
- A student who neglects studying all semester and, the night before the exam, tries to cheat or take a desperate shortcut.
- A relationship that has been neglected for years: one partner tries to force a final conversation after the other has already emotionally left.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Is it ever permissible to contact the dead or seek guidance from mediums? What does this passage say about that?
- Why did God allow the apparition at all, even if it was a demonic deception?
- Does this story mean the dead can observe or interact with the living? What does it reveal about the state of the dead?
Leading a Discussion
This passage confronts us with a king who has lost all connection with God and turns to forbidden means for guidance. As you study together, trace the progression from silence to despair to disobedience.
Discussion questions
- Why does the medium scream when she sees the apparition (v.12)? What does her shock suggest about her expectations?
- How does Saul describe his distress in verse 15? What does his list, Philistines, God departed, no answer, reveal about his spiritual state?
- What legitimate means of divine guidance had Saul neglected before consulting the medium? How might he have used them earlier?
- Samuel's question “Why have you disturbed me?” implies that the dead are at rest. How does this shape our understanding of mortality and the afterlife?
- What are the strengths and weaknesses of the two main views, that this was the real Samuel, or a demonic impersonation?
- What does Saul's action teach us about the danger of seeking guidance outside God's prescribed channels?
- How can a believer guard against spiritual desperation when God seems silent?
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)
| Judges 16:20 | She said, “The Philistines are upon you, Samson!” He awoke out of his sleep, and said, “I will go out as at other times, and shake myself free.” But he didn’t know that Yahweh had departed from him. |
| I Samuel 16:13 | Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the middle of his brothers. Then Yahweh’s Spirit came mightily on David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up and went to Ramah. |
| I Samuel 16:14 | Now Yahweh’s Spirit departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from Yahweh troubled him. |
| I Samuel 18:12 | Saul was afraid of David, because Yahweh was with him, and had departed from Saul. |
| I Samuel 23:2 | Therefore David inquired of Yahweh, saying, “Shall I go and strike these Philistines?” Yahweh said to David, “Go strike the Philistines, and save Keilah.” |
| I Samuel 23:4 | Then David inquired of Yahweh yet again. Yahweh answered him, and said, “Arise, go down to Keilah; for I will deliver the Philistines into your hand.” |
| I Samuel 23:9 | David knew that Saul was devising mischief against him. He said to Abiathar the priest, “Bring the ephod here.” |
| I Samuel 23:10 | Then David said, “O Yahweh, the God of Israel, your servant has surely heard that Saul seeks to come to Keilah to destroy the city for my sake. |
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
5 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke insists that Samuel's complaint was directed at Saul, not the woman, because her incantations had no real effect. God had already sent the prophet through angelic means. Saul sought Samuel as a familiar advisor, hoping God would answer through his former teacher when He refused through other channels.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The commentator points out that Samuel's complaint about being disturbed from his rest in Sheol stems from the unnatural nature of the event. Although Samuel came as God's messenger, the root cause of this disturbing mission was Saul's own sin.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill argues the apparition could not be the real Samuel, since Samuel's soul rests in heavenly bliss beyond the reach of any witch or demon. The spirit's words about being "brought up" and its willingness to serve Saul through forbidden means betray this as an impostor, likely a demon.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry calls this a conference between Saul and Satan, not between Saul and the prophet. He highlights the unequal contest: Saul disguised himself but Satan recognized him at once, while Satan disguised himself as Samuel and Saul never saw through it.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley stresses the fatal mistake of calling on Samuel rather than turning to God directly. By the time the person cries out, God has already decreed judgment, and no late appeal can reverse what He has determined. The one who waits too long finds the door of mercy shut.