King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 10:10 Mean?

1 Samuel 10:10 in the King James Version says “And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and ...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 10 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.”

1 Samuel 10:10 · King James Version

Holy Spirit

Context

8

And thou shalt go down before me to Gilgal; and, behold, I will come down unto thee, to offer burnt offerings, and to sacrifice sacrifices of peace offerings: seven days shalt thou tarry, till I come to thee, and shew thee what thou shalt do.

9

And it was so, that when he had turned his back to go from Samuel, God gave him another heart: and all those signs came to pass that day. back: Heb. shoulder gave: Heb. turned

10

And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

11

And it came to pass, when all that knew him beforetime saw that, behold, he prophesied among the prophets, then the people said one to another, What is this that is come unto the son of Kish? Is Saul also among the prophets? one: Heb. a man to his neighbour

12

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? of: Heb. from thence

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Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

The third sign's fulfillment marks Saul's public spiritual authentication. The Hebrew 'ruach elohim' (Spirit of God) explicitly identifies the source of his prophetic experience. The term 'prophesied' (yitnabbei') in the hithpael form suggests reflexive or habitual action - he was prophesying among them, participating fully in their ecstatic worship. This corporate prophetic experience integrated Saul into Israel's spiritual leadership before his political elevation. The Spirit's coming demonstrated that kingship in Israel was fundamentally spiritual, not merely political. Yet the text's emphasis on external manifestation (prophesying) rather than internal fruit (righteousness, justice) foreshadows a pattern in Saul's life: dramatic spiritual experiences without corresponding character transformation. The Spirit who enabled prophesying would later depart when Saul persisted in disobedience (16:14), demonstrating that charismatic gifts depend on continued obedience.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Prophetic bands in Israel engaged in corporate worship that included musical accompaniment and proclamation. This differed from the solitary prophetic experience of later writing prophets like Isaiah or Jeremiah. The phenomenon authenticated God's presence and activity but was not unique to those with saving faith.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do you distinguish between genuine Spirit empowerment and emotional religious experience?
  2. Why might someone have powerful spiritual experiences yet lack true saving faith?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 13 words
וַיָּבֹ֤אוּ1 of 13

“And when they came”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

שָׁם֙2 of 13
H8033

there (transferring to time) then; often thither, or thence

הַגִּבְעָ֔תָה3 of 13

“thither to the hill”

H1389

a hillock

וְהִנֵּ֥ה4 of 13
H2009

lo!

חֶֽבֶל5 of 13

“behold a company”

H2256

ruin

נְבִאִ֖ים6 of 13

“of prophets”

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man

לִקְרָאת֑וֹ7 of 13

“met”

H7125

an encountering, accidental, friendly or hostile (also adverbially, opposite)

וַתִּצְלַ֤ח8 of 13

“came”

H6743

to push forward, in various senses (literal or figurative, transitive or intransitive)

עָלָיו֙9 of 13
H5921

above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications

ר֣וּחַ10 of 13

“him and the Spirit”

H7307

wind; by resemblance breath, i.e., a sensible (or even violent) exhalation; figuratively, life, anger, unsubstantiality; by extension, a region of the

אֱלֹהִ֔ים11 of 13

“of God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֖א12 of 13

“upon him and he prophesied”

H5012

to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)

בְּתוֹכָֽם׃13 of 13

“among”

H8432

a bisection, i.e., (by implication) the center

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 10:10 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 10:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

1 Samuel 10:5-61 Samuel 19:20-24

Places in This Verse

Gibeah 1Settlement · Modern: Tel el Ful · 31.82°N, 35.23°E45 verses across 6 books
View all places in 1 Samuel 10 →

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