King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 9:11 Mean?

1 Samuel 9:11 in the King James Version says “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 s...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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? the hill: Heb. in the ascent of the city”

1 Samuel 9:11 · KJV

Context

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. Well said: Heb. Thy word is good

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? the hill: Heb. in the ascent of the city

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: sacrifice: or, feast

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. this time: Heb. to day

Read 1 Samuel 9 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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?

The encounter with young women drawing water follows a biblical pattern of significant meetings at wells, though here the element is subtle rather than romantic (cf. Genesis 24; 29; Exodus 2). Their 'going up' (olim) to the city built on a hill reflects both geography and spiritual symbolism, as ascent often accompanies approach to sacred space or divine encounter. The maidens' presence at the water source indicates late afternoon, the customary time for this daily task. Saul's question 'Is the seer here?' uses the older term discussed in verse 9, suggesting either his rural dialect or the term's continued common usage despite the narrator's later note. These young women, like the servant earlier, become unwitting instruments of providence, positioned at precisely the right moment to direct Israel's future king toward his anointing.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Drawing water was primarily women's work, performed in late afternoon when temperatures cooled. Wells and springs were social gathering points where news spread and strangers could make inquiries. The hill-city topography was common in ancient Israel, with settlements built on elevated ground for defensive purposes and water sources typically located at lower elevations.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do ordinary people in our daily encounters sometimes serve as divine messengers without knowing it?
  2. What does the biblical pattern of significant encounters at water sources suggest about God's use of common routines?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 15 words
הֵ֗מָּה1 of 15
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

עֹלִים֙2 of 15

“And as they went up”

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

בְּמַֽעֲלֵ֣ה3 of 15

“the hill”

H4608

an elevation, i.e., (concretely) acclivity or platform; abstractly (the relation or state) a rise or (figuratively) priority

הָעִ֔יר4 of 15

“to the city”

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

וְהֵ֙מָּה֙5 of 15
H1992

they (only used when emphatic)

מָֽצְא֣וּ6 of 15

“they found”

H4672

properly, to come forth to, i.e., appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e., find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

נְעָר֔וֹת7 of 15

“young maidens”

H5291

a girl (from infancy to adolescence)

יֹֽצְא֖וֹת8 of 15

“going out”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

לִשְׁאֹ֣ב9 of 15

“to draw”

H7579

to bale up water

מָ֑יִם10 of 15

“water”

H4325

water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen

וַיֹּֽאמְר֣וּ11 of 15

“and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

לָהֶ֔ן12 of 15
H0
הֲיֵ֥שׁ13 of 15

“unto them Is”

H3426

there is or are (or any other form of the verb to be, as may suit the connection)

בָּזֶ֖ה14 of 15
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

הָֽרֹאֶֽה׃15 of 15

“the seer”

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

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 9:11 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 9:11 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Genesis 24:11Exodus 2:16Genesis 24:18-20Judges 5:11

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