1 Samuel 9 – read and compare multiple versions of the Bible

World English Bible

1 Samuel 9 (WEBP)

[1] Now 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.
[2] He 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.
[3] The 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.”
[4] He 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.
[5] When 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.”
[6] The 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.”
[7] Then 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?”
[8] The 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.)
[10] Then Saul said to his servant, “Well said. Come! Let’s go.” So they went to the city where the man of God was.
[11] As 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?”
[12] They 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.
[13] As soon as you have come into the city, you will immediately find him before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he comes, because he blesses the sacrifice. Afterwards those who are invited eat. Now therefore go up; for at this time you will find him.”
[14] They went up to the city. As they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them to go up to the high place.
[15] Now Yahweh had revealed to Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
[16] “Tomorrow about this time I will send you a man out of the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over my people Israel. He will save my people out of the hand of the Philistines; for I have looked upon my people, because their cry has come to me.”
[17] When Samuel saw Saul, Yahweh said to him, “Behold, the man of whom I spoke to you! He will have authority over my people.”
[18] Then Saul approached Samuel in the gateway, and said, “Please tell me where the seer’s house is.”
[19] Samuel answered Saul and said, “I am the seer. Go up before me to the high place, for you are to eat with me today. In the morning I will let you go and will tell you all that is in your heart.
[20] As for your donkeys who were lost three days ago, don’t set your mind on them, for they have been found. For whom does all Israel desire? Is it not you and all your father’s house?”
[21] Saul answered, “Am I not a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? And my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me like this?”
[22] Samuel took Saul and his servant and brought them into the guest room, and made them sit in the best place among those who were invited, who were about thirty persons.
[23] Samuel said to the cook, “Bring the portion which I gave you, of which I said to you, ‘Set it aside.’”
[24] The cook took up the thigh, and that which was on it, and set it before Saul. Samuel said, “Behold, that which has been reserved! Set it before yourself and eat; because it has been kept for you for the appointed time, for I said, ‘I have invited the people.’” So Saul ate with Samuel that day.
[25] When they had come down from the high place into the city, he talked with Saul on the housetop.
[26] They arose early; and about daybreak, Samuel called to Saul on the housetop, saying, “Get up, that I may send you away.” Saul arose, and they both went outside, he and Samuel, together.
[27] As they were going down at the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us.” He went ahead, then Samuel said, “But stand still first, that I may cause you to hear God’s message.”

1 Samuel 9:8 A shekel is about 10 grams or about 0.35 ounces, so ¹⁄₄ shekel would be a small coin of about 2.5 grams.

Scripture quotations are taken from The World English Bible™ of eBible.org, 2020 stable text edition. It is in the public domain.

King James w/Strong’s #s

1 Samuel 9 (KJVS)

[1] Now 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.
[2] And 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.
[3] And 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.
[4] And 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.
[5] And 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.
[6] And 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. ()
[7] Then 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?
[8] And 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.) ()
[10] Then said Saul to his servant, Well said; () come, () let us go. () So they went () unto the city where the man of God was.
[11] And 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?
[12] And 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:
[13] as soon as ye be come () into the city, ye shall straightway find () him, before he go up () to the high place to eat: () for the people will not eat () until he come, () because he doth bless () the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat () that be bidden. () Now therefore get you up; () for about this time ye shall find () him.
[14] And they went up () into the city: and when they were come () into the city, behold, Samuel came out () against () them, for to go up () to the high place.
[15] Now the Lord had told () Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, () saying, ()
[16] To morrow about this time I will send () thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint () him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save () my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked () upon my people, because their cry is come () unto me.
[17] And when Samuel saw () Saul, the Lord said () unto him, Behold the man whom I spake () to thee of! this same shall reign () over my people.
[18] Then Saul drew near () to Samuel in the gate, and said, () Tell () me, I pray thee, where the seer’s () house is.
[19] And Samuel answered () Saul, and said, () I am the seer: () go up () before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat () with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, () and will tell () thee all that is in thine heart.
[20] And as for thine asses that were lost () three days ago, set () not thy mind on them; for they are found. () And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?
[21] And Saul answered () and said, () Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest () thou so to me?
[22] And Samuel took () Saul and his servant, and brought () them into the parlour, and made them sit () in the chiefest place among them that were bidden, () which were about thirty persons.
[23] And Samuel said () unto the cook, Bring () the portion which I gave () thee, of which I said () unto thee, Set () it by thee.
[24] And the cook took up () the shoulder, and that which was upon it, and set () it before Saul. And Samuel said, () Behold that which is left! () set () it before thee, and eat: () for unto this time hath it been kept () for thee since I said, () I have invited () the people. So Saul did eat () with Samuel that day.
[25] And when they were come down () from the high place into the city, Samuel communed () with Saul upon the top of the house.
[26] And they arose early: () and it came to pass about the spring () of the day, that Samuel called () Saul to the top of the house, saying, () Up, () that I may send thee away. () And Saul arose, () and they went out () both of them, he and Samuel, abroad.
[27] And as they were going down () to the end of the city, Samuel said () to Saul, Bid () the servant pass on () before us, (and he passed on,) () but stand () thou still a while, that I may shew () thee the word of God.

1 Samuel 9:1a Or, the son of a man of Jemini
1 Samuel 9:1b Or, substance
1 Samuel 9:7a Heb. is gone out of etc.
1 Samuel 9:7b Heb. is with us?
1 Samuel 9:10 Heb. Thy word is good
1 Samuel 9:11 Heb. in the ascent of the city
1 Samuel 9:12 Or, feast
1 Samuel 9:13 Heb. to day
1 Samuel 9:15 Heb. revealed the ear of Samuel
1 Samuel 9:17 Heb. restrain in
1 Samuel 9:20 Heb. today three days
1 Samuel 9:21 Heb. according to this word?
1 Samuel 9:24 Or, reserved
1 Samuel 9:27 Heb. to day

Scripture quotations from The Authorized King James Version of the Holy Bible, using the standardized text of 1769. It is in the public domain.

Greek Bible (LXX/BYZ)

1 Samuel 9 (BYZ)

[1] Καὶ () ἦν () ἀνὴρ () ἐξ () υἱῶν () Βενιαμιν, () καὶ () ὄνομα () αὐτῷ () Κις () υἱὸς () Αβιηλ υἱοῦ () Σαρεδ υἱοῦ () Βαχιρ υἱοῦ () Αφεκ υἱοῦ () ἀνδρὸς () Ιεμιναίου, ἀνὴρ () δυνατός. ()
[2] Καὶ () τούτῳ () υἱός, () καὶ () ὄνομα () αὐτῷ () Σαουλ, () εὐμεγέθης, ἀνὴρ () ἀγαθός, () καὶ () οὐκ () ἦν () ἐν () υἱοῖς () Ισραηλ () ἀγαθὸς () ὑπὲρ () αὐτόν, () ὑπὲρ () ὠμίαν καὶ () ἐπάνω () ὑψηλὸς () ὑπὲρ () πᾶσαν () τὴν () γῆν. ()
[3] Καὶ () ἀπώλοντο () αἱ () ὄνοι () Κις () πατρὸς () Σαουλ, () καὶ () εἶπεν Κις () πρὸς () Σαουλ () τὸν () υἱὸν () αὐτοῦ () Λαβὲ () μετὰ () σεαυτοῦ () ἓν () τῶν () παιδαρίων () καὶ () ἀνάστητε () καὶ () πορεύθητε () καὶ () ζητήσατε () τὰς () ὄνους. ()
[4] Καὶ () διῆλθον () δι’ () ὄρους () Εφραιμ () καὶ () διῆλθον () διὰ () τῆς () γῆς () Σελχα καὶ () οὐχ () εὗρον· () καὶ () διῆλθον () διὰ () τῆς () γῆς () Εασακεμ, καὶ () οὐκ () ἦν· () καὶ () διῆλθον () διὰ () τῆς () γῆς () Ιακιμ καὶ () οὐχ () εὗρον. ()
[5] Αὐτῶν () ἐλθόντων () εἰς () τὴν () Σιφ καὶ () Σαουλ () εἶπεν τῷ () παιδαρίῳ () αὐτοῦ () τῷ () μετ’ () αὐτοῦ () Δεῦρο () καὶ () ἀναστρέψωμεν, () μὴ () ἀνεὶς () ὁ () πατήρ () μου () τὰς () ὄνους () φροντίζῃ () περὶ () ἡμῶν. ()
[6] Καὶ () εἶπεν αὐτῷ () τὸ () παιδάριον () Ἰδοὺ () δὴ () ἄνθρωπος () τοῦ () θεοῦ () ἐν () τῇ () πόλει () ταύτῃ, () καὶ () ὁ () ἄνθρωπος () ἔνδοξος, () πᾶν, () ὃ () ἐὰν () λαλήσῃ, () παραγινόμενον () παρέσται· () καὶ () νῦν () πορευθῶμεν, () ὅπως () ἀπαγγείλῃ () ἡμῖν () τὴν () ὁδὸν () ἡμῶν, () ἐφ’ () ἣν () ἐπορεύθημεν () ἐπ’ () αὐτήν. ()
[7] Καὶ () εἶπεν Σαουλ () τῷ () παιδαρίῳ () αὐτοῦ () τῷ () μετ’ () αὐτοῦ () Καὶ () ἰδοὺ () πορευσόμεθα, () καὶ () τί () οἴσομεν () τῷ () ἀνθρώπῳ () τοῦ () θεοῦ; () Ὅτι () οἱ () ἄρτοι () ἐκλελοίπασιν () ἐκ () τῶν () ἀγγείων () ἡμῶν, () καὶ () πλεῖον () οὐκ () ἔστιν () μεθ’ () ἡμῶν () εἰσενεγκεῖν () τῷ () ἀνθρώπῳ () τοῦ () θεοῦ () τὸ () ὑπάρχον ἡμῖν. ()
[8] Καὶ () προσέθετο () τὸ () παιδάριον () ἀποκριθῆναι () τῷ () Σαουλ () καὶ () εἶπεν Ἰδοὺ () εὕρηται () ἐν () τῇ () χειρί () μου () τέταρτον () σίκλου ἀργυρίου, () καὶ () δώσεις () τῷ () ἀνθρώπῳ () τοῦ () θεοῦ, () καὶ () ἀπαγγελεῖ () ἡμῖν () τὴν () ὁδὸν () ἡμῶν. ()
[9] Καὶ () ἔμπροσθεν () ἐν () Ισραηλ () τάδε () ἔλεγεν () ἕκαστος () ἐν () τῷ () πορεύεσθαι () ἐπερωτᾶν () τὸν () θεόν () Δεῦρο () πορευθῶμεν () πρὸς () τὸν () βλέποντα· () ὅτι () τὸν () προφήτην () ἐκάλει () ὁ () λαὸς () ἔμπροσθεν () Ὁ () βλέπων. ()
[10] Καὶ () εἶπεν Σαουλ () πρὸς () τὸ () παιδάριον () αὐτοῦ () Ἀγαθὸν () τὸ () ῥῆμα, () δεῦρο () καὶ () πορευθῶμεν. () Καὶ () ἐπορεύθησαν () εἰς () τὴν () πόλιν, () οὗ () ἦν () ἐκεῖ () ὁ () ἄνθρωπος () τοῦ () θεοῦ. ()
[11] Αὐτῶν () ἀναβαινόντων () τὴν () ἀνάβασιν τῆς () πόλεως () καὶ () αὐτοὶ () εὑρίσκουσιν () τὰ () κοράσια () ἐξεληλυθότα () ὑδρεύσασθαι ὕδωρ () καὶ () λέγουσιν () αὐταῖς () Εἰ () ἔστιν () ἐνταῦθα ὁ () βλέπων; ()
[12] Καὶ () ἀπεκρίθη () τὰ () κοράσια () αὐτοῖς () καὶ () λέγουσιν () αὐτοῖς () Ἔστιν, () ἰδοὺ () κατὰ () πρόσωπον () ὑμῶν· () νῦν () διὰ () τὴν () ἡμέραν () ἥκει () εἰς () τὴν () πόλιν, () ὅτι () θυσία () σήμερον () τῷ () λαῷ () ἐν () Βαμα·
[13] ὡς () ἂν () εἰσέλθητε () τὴν () πόλιν, () οὕτως () εὑρήσετε () αὐτὸν () ἐν () τῇ () πόλει () πρὶν () ἀναβῆναι () αὐτὸν () εἰς () Βαμα τοῦ () φαγεῖν, () ὅτι () οὐ () μὴ () φάγῃ () ὁ () λαὸς () ἕως () τοῦ () εἰσελθεῖν () αὐτόν, () ὅτι () οὗτος () εὐλογεῖ () τὴν () θυσίαν, () καὶ () μετὰ () ταῦτα () ἐσθίουσιν () οἱ () ξένοι· () καὶ () νῦν () ἀνάβητε, () ὅτι () διὰ () τὴν () ἡμέραν () εὑρήσετε () αὐτόν. ()
[14] Καὶ () ἀναβαίνουσιν () τὴν () πόλιν. () Αὐτῶν () εἰσπορευομένων () εἰς () μέσον () τῆς () πόλεως () καὶ () ἰδοὺ () Σαμουηλ () ἐξῆλθεν () εἰς () ἀπάντησιν () αὐτῶν () τοῦ () ἀναβῆναι () εἰς () Βαμα.
[15] Καὶ () κύριος () ἀπεκάλυψεν () τὸ () ὠτίον () Σαμουηλ () ἡμέρᾳ () μιᾷ () ἔμπροσθεν () τοῦ () ἐλθεῖν () πρὸς () αὐτὸν () Σαουλ () λέγων ()
[16] Ὡς () ὁ () καιρὸς () αὔριον () ἀποστελῶ () πρὸς () σὲ () ἄνδρα () ἐκ () γῆς () Βενιαμιν, () καὶ () χρίσεις () αὐτὸν () εἰς () ἄρχοντα () ἐπὶ () τὸν () λαόν () μου () Ισραηλ, () καὶ () σώσει () τὸν () λαόν () μου () ἐκ () χειρὸς () ἀλλοφύλων· () ὅτι () ἐπέβλεψα () ἐπὶ () τὴν () ταπείνωσιν () τοῦ () λαοῦ () μου, () ὅτι () ἦλθεν () βοὴ () αὐτῶν () πρός () με. ()
[17] Καὶ () Σαμουηλ () εἶδεν () τὸν () Σαουλ· () καὶ () κύριος () ἀπεκρίθη () αὐτῷ () Ἰδοὺ () ὁ () ἄνθρωπος, () ὃν () εἶπά () σοι () Οὗτος () ἄρξει () ἐν () τῷ () λαῷ () μου. ()
[18] Καὶ () προσήγαγεν () Σαουλ () πρὸς () Σαμουηλ () εἰς () μέσον () τῆς () πόλεως () καὶ () εἶπεν Ἀπάγγειλον () δὴ () ποῖος () ὁ () οἶκος () τοῦ () βλέποντος. ()
[19] Καὶ () ἀπεκρίθη () Σαμουηλ () τῷ () Σαουλ () καὶ () εἶπεν Ἐγώ () εἰμι () αὐτός· () ἀνάβηθι () ἔμπροσθέν () μου () εἰς () Βαμα καὶ () φάγε () μετ’ () ἐμοῦ () σήμερον, () καὶ () ἐξαποστελῶ () σε () πρωῒ () καὶ () πάντα () τὰ () ἐν () τῇ () καρδίᾳ () σου () ἀπαγγελῶ () σοι· ()
[20] καὶ () περὶ () τῶν () ὄνων () σου () τῶν () ἀπολωλυιῶν () σήμερον () τριταίων μὴ () θῇς () τὴν () καρδίαν () σου () αὐταῖς, () ὅτι () εὕρηνται· () καὶ () τίνι () τὰ () ὡραῖα () τοῦ () Ισραηλ; () Οὐ () σοὶ () καὶ () τῷ () οἴκῳ () τοῦ () πατρός () σου; ()
[21] Καὶ () ἀπεκρίθη () Σαουλ () καὶ () εἶπεν Οὐχὶ () ἀνδρὸς () υἱὸς () Ιεμιναίου ἐγώ () εἰμι () τοῦ () μικροῦ () σκήπτρου φυλῆς () Ισραηλ () καὶ () τῆς () φυλῆς () τῆς () ἐλαχίστης () ἐξ () ὅλου () σκήπτρου Βενιαμιν; () Καὶ () ἵνα () τί () ἐλάλησας () πρὸς () ἐμὲ () κατὰ () τὸ () ῥῆμα () τοῦτο; ()
[22] Καὶ () ἔλαβεν () Σαμουηλ () τὸν () Σαουλ () καὶ () τὸ () παιδάριον () αὐτοῦ () καὶ () εἰσήγαγεν () αὐτοὺς () εἰς () τὸ () κατάλυμα () καὶ () ἔθετο () αὐτοῖς () τόπον () ἐν () πρώτοις () τῶν () κεκλημένων () ὡσεὶ () ἑβδομήκοντα () ἀνδρῶν. ()
[23] Καὶ () εἶπεν Σαμουηλ () τῷ () μαγείρῳ Δός () μοι () τὴν () μερίδα, () ἣν () ἔδωκά () σοι, () ἣν () εἶπά () σοι () θεῖναι () αὐτὴν () παρὰ () σοί. ()
[24] Καὶ () ὕψωσεν () ὁ () μάγειρος τὴν () κωλέαν καὶ () παρέθηκεν () αὐτὴν () ἐνώπιον Σαουλ· () καὶ () εἶπεν Σαμουηλ () τῷ () Σαουλ () Ἰδοὺ () ὑπόλειμμα, παράθες () αὐτὸ () ἐνώπιόν σου () καὶ () φάγε, () ὅτι () εἰς () μαρτύριον () τέθειταί () σοι () παρὰ () τοὺς () ἄλλους· () ἀπόκνιζε. Καὶ () ἔφαγεν () Σαουλ () μετὰ () Σαμουηλ () ἐν () τῇ () ἡμέρᾳ () ἐκείνῃ. ()
[25] Καὶ () κατέβη () ἐκ () τῆς () Βαμα ἐν () τῇ () πόλει· () καὶ () διέστρωσαν τῷ () Σαουλ () ἐπὶ () τῷ () δώματι, ()
[26] καὶ () ἐκοιμήθη. Καὶ () ἐγένετο () ὡς () ἀνέβαινεν () ὁ () ὄρθρος, () καὶ () ἐκάλεσεν () Σαμουηλ () τὸν () Σαουλ () ἐπὶ () τῷ () δώματι () λέγων () Ἀνάστα, () καὶ () ἐξαποστελῶ () σε· () καὶ () ἀνέστη () Σαουλ, () καὶ () ἐξῆλθεν () αὐτὸς () καὶ () Σαμουηλ () ἕως () ἔξω. ()
[27] Αὐτῶν () καταβαινόντων () εἰς () μέρος () τῆς () πόλεως () καὶ () Σαμουηλ () εἶπεν τῷ () Σαουλ () Εἰπὸν τῷ () νεανίσκῳ () καὶ () διελθέτω () ἔμπροσθεν () ἡμῶν, () καὶ () σὺ () στῆθι () ὡς () σήμερον () καὶ () ἄκουσον () ῥῆμα () θεοῦ. ()

Old Testament scripture quotations and versification from Septuaginta, edited by Alfred Rahlfs (Stuttgart: Württembergische Bibelanstalt, 1935). New Testament quotations are from the Byzantine Text (Guardian Press, Inc., Robinson-Pierpont Byzantine Textform, 2026). Both are in the public domain.