I Samuel 28:20 · Bible study
1 Samuel 28:20 Commentary: Saul's Final Collapse of Strength
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Saul falls full length, terrified by Samuel's words; fasting and fear drain all strength, marking the finality of divine judgment and spiritual desolation.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Saul's physical collapse after hearing Samuel's words of judgment, caused by terror and fasting, symbolises the complete loss of strength, physical, emotional, and spiritual.
- Key words: "fullness of his stature" (melo qomato), a full-length prostration; "terrified exceedingly" (yare me'od); "no strength" (lo-koach).
- Main debate: Whether the collapse is purely psychological or also a sign of divine judgment; commentators agree it is both.
- Theological theme: The consequences of persistent disobedience and the terrifying reality of divine rejection; the fragility of human strength apart from God.
- Best use: A sobering case study in the downward spiral of sin and the importance of heeding God's word; also a call to compassion toward those in deep distress.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.
WEB World English Bible 2000
Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was terrified, because of Samuel’s words. There was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all day long or all night long.
KJV King James Version 1769
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.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
Then Saul fell straightway his full length upon 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.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Saul hasteth and falleth--the fulness of his stature--to the earth, and feareth greatly because of the words of Samuel; also power was not in him, for he had not eaten bread all the day, and all the night.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Saul fell straightway his full length 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.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And forthwith Saul fell all along on the ground; for he was frightened with the words of Samuel, and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all that day.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
En aquel punto cayó Saúl en tierra cuan grande era, y tuvo gran temor por las palabras de Samuel; que no quedó en él esfuerzo ninguno, porque en todo aquel día y aquella noche no había comido pan.
Naquele mesmo momento Saul caiu estendido ao chão, e teve grande temor pelas palavras de Samuel; que não restou nele esforço nenhum, porque em todo aquele dia e aquela noite não havia comido pão.
Aussitôt Saül tomba à terre de toute sa hauteur, et les paroles de Samuel le remplirent d’ effroi; de plus, il manquait de force, car il n’ avait pris aucune nourriture de tout le jour et de toute la nuit.
Da fiel Saul zur Erde, so lang er war, und erschrak sehr vor den Worten Samuels, daß keine Kraft mehr in ihm war; denn er hatte nichts gegessen den ganzen Tag und die ganze Nacht.
Toen viel Saul haastelijk ter aarde, zo lang als hij was, en hij vreesde zeer vanwege de woorden van Samuel; ook was er geen kracht in hem; want hij had den gehelen dag en den gehelen nacht geen brood gegeten.
Allora Saul cadde subitamente lungo disteso per terra, perché spaventato dalle parole di Samuele; ed era inoltre senza forza, giacché non avea preso cibo tutto quel giorno e tutta quella notte.
A natychmiast Saul upadł jako długi na ziemię, bo się zląkł bardzo słów Samuelowych, i siły nie było w nim, przeto że nic nie jadł przez cały dzień i przez całą noc.
Тогда Саул вдруг пал всем телом своим на землю, ибо сильно испугался слов Самуила; притом и силы не стало в нем, ибо он не ел хлеба весь тот день и всю ночь.
掃羅 猛然 仆倒，挺身 在地，因撒母耳 的話 甚是 懼怕；那一 晝 一 夜，沒有 吃 甚麼，就 毫無 氣力。
Then Saul went down flat on the earth, and was full of fear because of Samuel's words: and there was no strength in him, for he had taken no food all that day or all that night.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 28:20
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators agree that Saul's full-length fall and loss of strength result from a combination of terror at Samuel's words and physical exhaustion from fasting. Matthew Henry notes that Saul came fasting from the camp and continued fasting, not for want of food but for want of appetite. Gill adds that he fell 'as if he had been thunderstruck,' and the fast contributed to his weakness. Wesley suggests the possibility of contrition, though the text does not explicitly confirm it. The Cambridge Bible observes that 'terror of mind and exhaustion of body left him powerless.' The literal Hebrew 'fullness of his stature' (melo qomato) underscores the completeness of his collapse: he fell prone, entirely prostrate. Adam Clarke describes him as 'so overwhelmed that he swooned away.' The consensus sees this as the physical correlate of spiritual desolation: the king who rejected God's word now finds no strength to stand under its weight.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Low
What is clear: Saul physically collapsed from fear and exhaustion after hearing Samuel's pronouncement of judgment.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The cause of Saul's collapse | Commentators agree that both terror at Samuel's words and physical exhaustion from fasting contributed to his fall. | Some emphasize the psychological terror more heavily (Matthew Henry, Gill); others note the physical fasting as a key factor that made him vulnerable. Wesley raises the possibility of inner contrition, but most see primarily despair. |
| The significance of the fasting | All agree that not eating weakened Saul and left him unable to withstand the shock of the prophecy. | There is minor disagreement over whether the fast was intentional (a sign of distress) or simply neglect. Matthew Henry describes it as a lack of appetite due to fear; Gill attributes it to preoccupation with troubles. |
| The theological meaning of the scene | Across traditions, this verse is read as a warning against seeking guidance apart from God and as a demonstration of the consequences of persistent sin. | Some traditions emphasise the terror of divine judgment as a deterrent, while others focus on the pastoral tragedy of a king who has alienated himself from God and now reaps the results. The text itself leaves room for both warnings and compassion. |
Historical & Cultural Context
This verse sits at the climax of Saul's illicit visit to the medium of Endor (1 Samuel 28). Desperate because Yahweh would not answer him through dreams, Urim, or prophets (v.6), Saul disguised himself and travelled by night from Gilboa to Endor, a village near the Philistine camp at Shunem. The Philistine army had gathered for battle, and Saul's heart trembled greatly (v.5). Despite his own earlier ban on mediums (v.3), he forced the woman to summon Samuel's spirit.
Samuel's words (vv.16, 19) confirm the judgement: Yahweh has torn the kingdom from Saul and given it to David; tomorrow Saul and his sons will die in battle. The pronouncement strikes Saul like a physical blow. The phrase 'he fell with the fullness of his stature' (melo qomato) echoes the literal idiom: he toppled at his full height, a dramatic reversal for the man once described as taller than any other (1 Samuel 9:2). The narrator adds that he had eaten no bread all day and all night, a fast that may have been unintentional, born of anxiety rather than piety. The combination of sleepless journey, fasting, and the sheer weight of the prophecy leaves him utterly powerless.
Culturally, necromancy was strictly forbidden in Israel (Deuteronomy 18:10, 12). Saul's act of consulting a medium compounds his disobedience. The irony is sharp: the king who sought guidance ends up unable even to stand. His collapse prefigures his death on Mount Gilboa, as prophesied. The verse paints a portrait of complete desolation, physical, emotional, and spiritual, as the consequence of a life spent ignoring God's word.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for this verse. The Hebrew text is well established across manuscripts. Translations differ slightly in rendering the idiom for the fall: 'all along on the earth' (KJV), 'his full length' (WEB), 'flat on the ground' (BSB). These are stylistic choices rather than textual disagreements. The phrase 'fullness of his stature' (melo qomato) is a literal Hebrew idiom that all major versions reflect.
Reception History
This verse has been read historically as a tragic illustration of the end of a disobedient king. Early Jewish interpreters stressed the prohibition of necromancy and Saul's violation of his own ban. Christian writers have used the scene to warn against seeking guidance outside God's ordained means. In Puritan preaching, it was a stark example of the terror of the Lord for the unrepentant. More recently, it has been used to explore the pastoral reality of spiritual depression, the way guilt and isolation can manifest physically. The woman's subsequent care for Saul (vv.21, 25) is often noted as a surprising gesture of compassion in the midst of judgement.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- The King's Fear: Saul is terrified by Samuel's words, a fear rooted in the finality of divine judgement.
- The King's Weakness: No strength remains in him, partly because he had not eaten. Physical and spiritual weakness converge.
- The King's Fall: He falls full length to the earth, a picture of total defeat before the word of God.
Five-Point Outline
- Context of Crisis: Philistine threat, divine silence, and Saul's desperate turn to a medium (vv.1, 8).
- The Unwelcome Word: Samuel reiterates God's judgement, the kingdom is lost, and death awaits (vv.16, 19).
- Physical Collapse: Saul falls as if struck, his body responding to the terror of the message (v.20a).
- Exhaustion and Fasting: The narrator highlights the prolonged fast, both cause and symbol of his drained strength (v.20b).
- The Woman's Compassion: She and his servants plead with him to eat, and he eventually rises (vv.21, 25).
Illustration Hooks
- The physical collapse that can follow receiving devastating news, a terminal diagnosis, a failed marriage, or a lost job.
- An athlete pushing through a marathon without eating, then collapsing at the finish line.
- The experience of lying flat on the ground, unable to move, when the weight of circumstances becomes unbearable.
Questions Your Congregation Is Asking
- Is it wrong to feel completely overwhelmed by fear and anxiety?
- How do I respond when I sense God is silent, and every door seems closed?
- What does true repentance look like when I have repeatedly disobeyed?
Leading a Discussion
Saul's collapse at the end of 1 Samuel 28 is a sobering picture of what happens when a person persistently rejects God's guidance and then tries to bypass Him. This passage invites us to consider the physical and emotional weight of spiritual decisions. As you discuss, hold space for the reality that fear, exhaustion, and even physical symptoms can accompany spiritual distress.
Discussion Questions
- What does the verse tell us about Saul's condition, both his posture and his reasons for falling?
- Why do you think the narrator includes the detail that Saul had eaten nothing all day and all night? What does that add to the scene?
- What does Samuel's previous message (vv.16-19) reveal about why Saul ends up in this state?
- How does this verse show the connection between a person's spiritual state and their physical/emotional strength?
- In what ways have you experienced or observed fear or guilt affecting physical health?
- What might this passage say about the danger of seeking answers outside of God's guidance?
- How does Jesus' invitation to the weary and burdened (Matthew 11:28-30) speak into the kind of exhaustion Saul demonstrates?
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 25:37 | In the morning, when the wine had gone out of Nabal, his wife told him these things; and his heart died within him, and he became as a stone. |
| I Samuel 28:5 | When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. |
| Job 15:20 | the wicked man writhes in pain all his days, even the number of years that are laid up for the oppressor. |
| Job 15:24 | Distress and anguish make him afraid. They prevail against him, as a king ready to the battle. |
| Job 26:2 | “How have you helped him who is without power! How have you saved the arm that has no strength! |
| Psalms 50:21 | You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. I will rebuke you, and accuse you in front of your eyes. |
| Psalms 50:22 | “Now consider this, you who forget God, lest I tear you into pieces, and there be no one to deliver. |
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.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Clarke emphasizes the physical collapse: Saul did not just fall but fell his full length, overwhelmed by Samuel's dreadful message into a swoon. The woman had withdrawn, leaving Saul alone, and only later returned to offer him the basic help that common humanity required.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible Schools note that the phrase "all along" translates the Hebrew for "the fulness of his stature," emphasizing Saul's full-length collapse. Terror of mind and exhaustion of body together left him completely powerless.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Then Saul fell streight way all along on the earth, and was sore afraide because of the wordes of Samuel, so that there was no strength in him: for he had eaten no bread all the day nor all the night.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Saul collapsed from a combination of sheer terror at Samuel's words and prolonged fasting. The fear and lack of food together left Saul utterly without strength, unable even to rise.
Lange's Commentary Reformed 1857
Lange argues that the event was neither a real appearance of Samuel nor a demonic deception. He explains it as a psychological phenomenon: the woman, a professional necromancer, fell into an ecstatic trance and unconsciously identified herself with Samuel, uttering predictions that were natural inferences from Saul's desperate situation.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry highlights the bitter irony: Saul wanted to know what to do, but the forbidden source he consulted only told him what he had not done and what would happen to him. His collapse came not from holy fasting but from fear and a guilty conscience that killed his appetite. Looking for comfort anywhere outside God's appointed ways will end in similar disappointment.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley sees David's collapse as the reaction of a man already struck by the archers, utterly unable to bear the news. He stresses that all David's past sins likely surged into his memory at that moment, challenging anyone who claims David felt no true remorse until later.