I Samuel 9:1-12 · Bible study
1 Samuel 9:1-12 Commentary: Mighty Man of Power
Hebrew · 10 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Does 'gibbor chayil' mean wealth or valor? Explore Saul's lineage, the search for donkeys, and God's quiet guidance in this passage.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Kish is a gibbor chayil, a man of wealth and/or military power, establishing Saul’s family as prominent yet from Benjamin, the smallest tribe.
- Key words: “mighty man” (H1368/H2428), “seer” (H7203), “prophet” (H5030), “present” (H8670), “fourth part of a shekel” (H7253/H8255).
- Main debate: Whether gibbor chayil emphasises wealth, military might, or both.
- Theological theme: God’s hidden providence guiding ordinary human decisions (search for donkeys) to accomplish His purpose.
- Best use: Narrative exposition on trusting God’s leading when plans fail; a reminder that God works through humble resources and unlikely coincidences.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
1Now there was a Benjamite, a powerful man, whose name was Kish son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah of Benjamin.
2And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.
3One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.”
4So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.
5When they reached the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant, “Come, let us go back, or my father will stop worrying about the donkeys and start worrying about us.”
6“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.”
7“If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”
8The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said, “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”
9(Formerly in Israel, a man on his way to inquire of God would say, “Come, let us go to the seer.” For the prophet of today was formerly called the seer.)
10“Good,” said Saul to his servant. “Come, let us go.” So they set out for the city where the man of God was.
11And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?”
12“Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.
WEB World English Bible 2000
1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
2He 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.
3The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Now take one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys.”
4He passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they weren’t there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them.
5When they had come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant who was with him, “Come! Let’s return, lest my father stop caring about the donkeys and be anxious for us.”
6The servant said to him, “Behold now, there is a man of God in this city, and he is a man who is held in honor. All that he says surely happens. Now let’s go there. Perhaps he can tell us which way to go.”
7Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what should we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our sacks, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
8The servant answered Saul again and said, “Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver. I will give that to the man of God, to tell us our way.”
9(In earlier times in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, he said, “Come! Let’s go to the seer;” for he who is now called a prophet was before called a seer.)
10Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said. Come! Let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said to them, “Is the seer here?”
12They answered them and said, “He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place.
KJV King James Version 1769
1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.
2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3And the asses of Kish Saul’s father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.
6And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
7Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
10Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
11And as they went up the hill to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
12And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:
ASV American Standard Version 1901
1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Becorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjamite, a mighty man of valor.
2And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a young man and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3And the asses of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4And he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
5When they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return, lest my father leave off caring for the asses, and be anxious for us.
6And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is a man that is held in honor; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can tell us concerning our journey whereon we go.
7Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?
8And the servant answered Saul again, and said, Behold, I have in my hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver: that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, Come, and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)
10Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; come, let us go. So they went unto the city where the man of God was.
11As they went up the ascent to the city, they found young maidens going out to draw water, and said unto them, Is the seer here?
12And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before thee: make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
1And there is a man of Benjamin, and his name is Kish, son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Bechorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, mighty of valour,
2and he hath a son, and his name is Saul, a choice youth and goodly, and there is not a man among the sons of Israel goodlier than he--from his shoulder and upward, higher than any of the people.
3And the asses of Kish, father of Saul, are lost, and Kish saith unto Saul his son, `Take, I pray thee, with thee, one of the young men, and rise, go, seek the asses.'
4And he passeth over through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passeth over through the land of Shalisha, and they have not found; and they pass over through the land of Shaalim, and they are not; and he passeth over through the land of Benjamin, and they have not found.
5They have come in unto the land of Zuph, and Saul hath said to his young man who is with him, `Come, and we turn back, lest my father leave off from the asses, and hath been sorrowful for us.'
6And he saith to him, `Lo, I pray thee, a man of God is in this city, and the man is honoured; all that he speaketh doth certainly come; now, we go there, it may be he doth declare to us our way on which we have gone.'
7And Saul saith to his young man, `And lo, we go, and what do we bring in to the man? for the bread hath gone from our vessels, and a present there is not to bring in to the man of God--what is with us?'
8And the young man addeth to answer Saul, and saith, `Lo, there is found with me a fourth of a shekel of silver: and I have given to the man of God, and he hath declared to us our way.'
9Formerly in Israel, thus said the man in his going to seek God, `Come and we go unto the seer,' for the `prophet' of to-day is called formerly `the seer.'
10And Saul saith to his young man, `Thy word is good; come, we go;' and they go unto the city where the man of God is .
11They are going up in the ascent of the city, and have found young women going out to draw water, and say to them, `Is the seer in this place ?'
12And they answer them and say, `He is; lo, before thee! haste, now, for to-day he hath come in to the city, for the people hath a stated sacrifice in a high place.
Darby Darby Bible 1890
1And there was a man of Benjamin whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, the son of a Benjaminite, a mighty man of wealth.
2And he had a son whose name was Saul, choice and comely; and there was not among the children of Israel a comelier person than he; from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
3And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost; and Kish said to Saul his son, Take, I pray, one of the young men with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.
4And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found [them] not; and they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there; and they passed through the land of Benjamin, and they found [them] not.
5They had come to the land of Zuph when Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come and let us return; lest my father give up the asses, and be anxious about us.
6And he said to him, Behold now, a man of God is in this city, and the man is held in honour; all that he says comes surely to pass. Let us now go thither: perhaps he will shew us the way that we should go.
7And Saul said to his servant, But if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and we have no present to give to the man of God: what have we?
8And the servant answered Saul again and said, Behold, I have here at hand the fourth part of a shekel of silver; that will I give to the man of God, to tell us our way.
9(In former time in Israel, when a man went to ask counsel of God, he said, Come and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was in former time called a Seer.)
10And Saul said to his servant, Well said: come, let us go. So they went to the city where the man of God was.
11As they went up the ascent to the city, they met maidens going forth to draw water; and they said to them, Is the seer here?
12And they answered them and said, He is; behold, he is before thee: make haste now, for he came to-day to the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
1Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Cis, the son of Abiel, the son of Seror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphia, the son of a man of Jemini, valiant and strong.
2And he had a son whose name was Saul, a choice and goodly man, and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he appeared above all the people.
3And the asses of Cis, Saul's father, were lost: and Cis said to his son Saul: Take one of the servants with thee, and arise, go, and seek the asses. And when they had passed through Mount Ephraim,
4And through the land of Salisa, and had not found them, they passed also through the land of Salim, and they were not there: and through the land of Jemini, and found them not.
5And when they were come to the land of Suph, Saul said to the servant that was with him: Come, let us return, lest perhaps my father forget the asses, and be concerned for us.
6And he said to him: Behold there is a man of God in this city, a famous man: all that he saith, cometh certainly to pass. Now, therefore, let us go thither, perhaps he may tell us of our way, for which we are come.
7And Saul said to his servant: Behold we will go: but what shall we carry to the man of God? the bread is spent in our bags: and we have no present to make to the man of God, nor any thing at all.
8The servant answered Saul again, and said: Behold there is found in my hand the fourth part of a sicle of silver, let us give it to the man of God, that he may tell us our way.
9Now in time past in Israel, when a man went to consult God, he spoke thus: Come, let us go to the seer. For he that is now called a prophet, in time past was called a seer.
10And Saul said to his servant: Thy word is very good, come let us go. And they went into the city, where the man of God was.
11And when they went up the ascent to the city, they found maids coming out to draw water, and they said to them: Is the seer here?
12They answered and said to them: He is: behold he is before you, make haste now: for he came to day into the city, for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 9:1
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 phrase gibbor chayil (גִּבּוֹר חָיִל) in verse 1 identifies Kish as a man of high standing, but they differ on the emphasis. Jamieson-Fausset-Brown reads it as “great wealth and substance,” while the Cambridge Bible notes that possession of a drove of asses and several servants “indicates that Kish was a man of substance.” Barnes and Gill allow for both wealth and military prowess, noting the genealogical links to Gibeon’s first settlers. Matthew Henry ties Kish’s prominence to Saul’s later election: God chose a king from a notable family, yet from the small tribe of Benjamin. The consensus is that Kish was a man of means and influence, whether primarily through wealth or through valorous deeds.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Wealth interpretation: Jamieson-Fausset-Brown and Cambridge Bible note that Kish owned many asses and servants, suggesting material prosperity; the phrase can parallel ‘great man’ in Job 1:3 and II Samuel 19:32.
- Valor/military interpretation: Gill and some older commentators read ‘gibbor chayil’ as a mighty warrior, pointing to the military context later (Saul fighting Philistines) and parallel uses in Joshua and Judges.
- Combined interpretation: Many modern scholars see no sharp divide: wealth and military ability often overlapped in tribal leadership; both fit Saul’s later role as king.
What is clear: Kish was a man of high status in Benjamin, and this family prominence contributed to Saul’s suitability for kingship.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning of gibbor chayil (v.1) | Kish was a man of high standing, likely wealthy and possibly a warrior. | Some commentators (e.g., Jamieson-Fausset-Brown, Cambridge) emphasise wealth and substance; others (e.g., Gill, Matthew Henry) allow for military valour as well. |
| Historical accuracy of the seer/prophet gloss (v.9) | The verse is an editorial note explaining an obsolete term. | Most accept it as a later insertion; some (e.g., Wesley) suggest Samuel himself may have added it in old age. |
| Appropriateness of the gift to the prophet | Gifts were customary when approaching a superior; the servant’s quarter shekel was a small but acceptable present. | Clarke and Gill stress it was not a fee for prophecy but a token of respect; others see it as analogous to later honouraria for teachers. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Donkeys were a primary means of transport and farm labor in ancient Israel, valuable enough to justify a multi-day search. Kish’s family likely let the animals range freely during harvest (common in pastoral regions), leading to the straying described in verse 3.
Saul’s route through the hill country of Ephraim, Shalisha, Shaalim, and Benjamin shows the difficulty of finding lost stock; these districts may represent a circular journey covering about thirty miles (Clarke; Cambridge Bible). The “land of Zuph” (v.5) points to Samuel’s home region, where he had a dwelling alongside his circuit (Calmet, cited in Clarke).
The custom of approaching a superior with a gift (v.7) is well documented (Barnes; Clarke). Saul’s concern about having no present reflects ordinary courtesy, not bribery. The servant’s quarter shekel (v.8), worth roughly sixpence, was a small but acceptable token.
Verse 9 explains the shift from “seer” to “prophet.” Both terms refer to one who receives divine revelation, but “seer” (רֹאֶה) emphasizes the visionary aspect, while “prophet” (נָבִיא) stresses the spokesman role. The gloss suggests a later editorial hand but preserves the developing vocabulary of Israel’s religious life (Barnes; Cambridge Bible). The sacrifice at the “high place” (בָּמָה, v.12) was a pre‑temple practice; Samuel blessed the offering before the invited guests ate (v.13; Lange).
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for I Samuel 9:1, 12. The Septuagint reads “you will give it” in verse 8 instead of “I will give it,” and verse 9 has minor adjustments in the Syriac, but none affect the passage’s meaning.
Reception History
From the early church onward, this passage has been read as an example of God’s providential guidance through everyday circumstances. The sixteenth‑century Geneva Bible emphasized Kish’s “mightie in power” as a mark of God’s use of the nobility. Matthew Henry (1710) saw in the lost donkeys a pattern of divine appointment: “God brings about His own purposes even by the loss of a few asses.” The gloss in verse 9 attracted attention from later editors like Barnes and the Cambridge Bible, who discussed its redactional character. In modern preaching, the story is often used to illustrate that God’s will can be discerned through ordinary events and that a single servant’s suggestion can redirect history.
Preaching This Verse
Three‑point outline
- Ordinary circumstances, extraordinary purpose. Lost donkeys lead to a king. Kish’s wealth (gibbor chayil) and Saul’s handsome stature set the stage, but it is a servant’s suggestion that directs them to the prophet.
- God works through human initiative. The servant’s knowledge of “a man of God” and his willingness to give a quarter shekel show how small acts of wisdom serve God’s larger plan.
- Inquiry as worship. The people had a sacrifice that day. Saul’s search for donkeys becomes a search for God’s word. Our everyday errands can become encounters with the Lord.
Five‑point outline
- Kish the prominent Benjamite (v.1, 2). His wealth or valor (gibbor chayil) gives Saul a credible background for leadership.
- A lost treasure (v.3, 5). The lost donkeys launch a journey that seems futile but is divinely orchestrated.
- The servant’s resourcefulness (v.6, 8). He knows the prophet, proposes a visit, and supplies the gift.
- The gloss on “seer” (v.9). A note for later readers, reminding us that God’s revelation adapts its forms.
- Providential timing (v.10, 12). The young women’s news that Samuel had “come today” shows that God’s timing matches human need.
Illustration hooks
- A modern search for a lost pet that unexpectedly leads to a new friendship or career opportunity.
- A cash‑strapped traveler or student who discovers they have just enough to pay for crucial advice or assistance.
- A church potluck where a casual conversation reveals a deep need and a way to help.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Does God still speak through everyday events like lost livestock? How can we learn to see His hand in frustrations?
- Why is it okay to offer a gift to a spiritual leader? Does that parallel giving to pastors or missionaries today?
- What does it mean to “inquire of God” in an age when we have the Bible and prayer available to all?
Leading a Discussion
This passage reads like a slow‑burn drama. Ordinary people go looking for donkeys and stumble into God’s anointing. The question at the heart of the story is simple yet profound: when our plans run dry, do we know where to turn for direction?
Discussion questions
- What does the description of Kish as a “mighty man of power” (gibbor chayil) tell you about Saul’s family background? Would this have helped or hindered Saul as king?
- Why does the narrator spend time listing the districts Saul and the servant searched? What effect does that have on the story’s tension?
- Saul is ready to give up (v.5). The servant suggests consulting the man of God. What does this say about the value of listening to those who serve under us?
- Saul worries about having no gift (v.7). In what ways do we feel unworthy or ill‑equipped when we approach God or His servants? How does the servant’s quarter shekel challenge that?
- Verse 9 stops the narrative to explain an old term (“seer”). Why do you think the editor included this note? What does it teach us about how Scripture was shaped over time?
- How do the young women’s words (v.12) reveal God’s careful timing? Can you recall a time when a casual conversation redirected your life?
- If you were writing a one‑sentence theme for I Samuel 9:1, 12, what would it be? How does God’s providence in lost donkeys encourage you to trust Him in small matters?
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 14:51 | Kish was the father of Saul, and Ner the father of Abner was the son of Abiel. |
| I Samuel 25:2 | There was a man in Maon whose possessions were in Carmel; and the man was very great. He had three thousand sheep and a thousand goats; and he was shearing his sheep in Carmel. |
| II Samuel 19:32 | Now Barzillai was a very aged man, even eighty years old. He had provided the king with sustenance while he stayed at Mahanaim, for he was a very great man. |
| I Chronicles 8:30 | with his firstborn son Abdon, Zur, Kish, Baal, Nadab, |
| I Chronicles 8:33 | Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. |
| I Chronicles 9:36 | His firstborn son was Abdon, then Zur, Kish, Baal, Ner, Nadab, |
| I Chronicles 9:39 | Ner became the father of Kish. Kish became the father of Saul. Saul became the father of Jonathan, Malchishua, Abinadab, and Eshbaal. |
| Job 1:3 | His possessions also were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the children of the east. |
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
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What the Commentators Say
7 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Barnes' Notes on the Bible Protestant 1832
Barnes points out that the note about the quarter shekel is a later editorial insertion, added to explain an older term. He sees this as clear evidence that later compilers of the biblical text carefully preserved the exact wording of the earlier contemporary narratives they used.
Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Anglican 1880
The Cambridge Bible notes that Saul's father is described with a Hebrew phrase meaning both "valiant man" and "wealthy man," combining personal courage with family standing. Saul's own name means "asked," fitting the moment when Israel requested a king. His physical stature is highlighted as a natural qualification for kingship in a warlike age.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill stresses that the description of Saul's exceptional height and fine appearance refers only to his outward form, not to moral character or spiritual qualities. He notes that the people desired a king who looked imposing like other nations, and Saul's physical stature perfectly matched that superficial expectation.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Commentary Protestant 1871
JFB notes that Saul's self-deprecating words were ordinary affected humility common among Eastern people, not genuine modesty. The search for the donkeys was a routine task, but God's providence turned an ordinary errand into a divinely guided encounter. This underscores how God works through everyday circumstances.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stress that the lengthy account of Saul's search for the donkeys serves to highlight God's miraculous intervention. The narrative demonstrates that Saul did not seek the throne and Samuel did not choose him personally; God alone elected Saul as king, ruling out any human ambition or influence.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry draws attention to the irony that Israel's first king came from Benjamin, the smallest and most diminished tribe, like a root out of dry ground. For him this shows God giving greater honor to the part that lacked, raising up Saul from near obscurity to the throne at once.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley highlights that true honour comes from knowing God and serving His kingdom, not from outward stature or noble birth. He also notes that God sometimes condescends to reveal even small matters like lost donkeys, to keep His people from seeking heathen divination. This shows God's care for humble details.