King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 19:24 Mean?

1 Samuel 19:24 in the King James Version says “And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and a... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 19 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? lay: Heb. fell

1 Samuel 19:24 · KJV


Context

22

Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

23

And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24

And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets? lay: Heb. fell


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

Saul's stripping off clothes and prophesying before Samuel, lying 'naked all that day and all that night,' represents complete exposure and humiliation. The repeated proverb 'Is Saul also among the prophets?' now carried ironic weight - the prophet-rejecting king lay helpless before the prophet. This vulnerable state gave David safe passage to escape while teaching that no power can ultimately resist God's purposes.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

'Naked' likely means stripped of royal robes, reduced to undergarments - symbolic dethronement. The duration ('all that day and all that night') exceeded normal prophetic experience. The popular proverb gained new meaning - from surprised praise (10:12) to ironic commentary.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God sometimes strip away pretense and power from those who oppose His purposes?
  2. What does Saul's humiliating experience teach about the ultimate futility of resisting divine will?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 22 words
וַיִּפְשַׁ֨ט1 of 22

And he stripped off

H6584

to spread out (i.e., deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e., unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.)

הֲגַ֥ם2 of 22

also

H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

ה֜וּא3 of 22
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

בְּגָדָ֗יו4 of 22

his clothes

H899

a covering, i.e., clothing

וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֤א5 of 22

and prophesied

H5012

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

הֲגַ֥ם6 of 22

also

H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

הוּא֙7 of 22
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

לִפְנֵ֣י8 of 22

before

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל9 of 22

Samuel

H8050

shemuel, the name of three israelites

וַיִּפֹּ֣ל10 of 22

in like manner and lay down

H5307

to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)

עָרֹ֔ם11 of 22

naked

H6174

nude, either partially or totally

כָּל12 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַיּ֥וֹם13 of 22

all that day

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

הַה֖וּא14 of 22
H1931

he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo

וְכָל15 of 22
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַלָּ֑יְלָה16 of 22

and all that night

H3915

properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity

עַל17 of 22
H5921

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

כֵּן֙18 of 22
H3651

properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner

יֹֽאמְר֔וּ19 of 22

Wherefore they say

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

הֲגַ֥ם20 of 22

also

H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

שָׁא֖וּל21 of 22

Is Saul

H7586

shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites

בַּנְּבִיאִֽם׃22 of 22

also among the prophets

H5030

a prophet or (generally) inspired man


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 19:24 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 19:24 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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