King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 9:13 Mean?

1 Samuel 9:13 in the King James Version says “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 pe... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 9 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

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

1 Samuel 9:13 · KJV


Context

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

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, told: Heb. revealed the ear of Samuel


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

The maidens provide remarkably precise instructions, revealing both Samuel's central role in community worship and the specific window of opportunity available to Saul. The phrase 'the people will not eat until he come' establishes Samuel's priestly function: he blessed (barak) the sacrifice, consecrating the meal for sacred consumption. This detail shows Samuel functioning in a quasi-priestly capacity despite being an Ephraimite, authorized by his prophetic office and the disrupted state of the Levitical priesthood. The expression 'they that be bidden' (qeru'im, 'the called ones' or 'invited guests') introduces the concept of divine invitation that becomes significant when Samuel seats Saul in the place of honor. The repeated urgency, 'get you up,' propels the narrative forward toward its climax while reminding readers that divine appointments operate within human time constraints.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Blessing food before eating was standard Israelite practice, with the blessing acknowledging God as provider and consecrating the meal. Samuel's priestly functions reflect the transitional period when normal Levitical structures were disrupted. The invited guests likely included civic and religious leaders of the community, making Saul's later prominence at the feast even more remarkable.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does Samuel's role in blessing the sacrifice reflect the integration of prophetic and priestly functions?
  2. What does being among 'those who are invited' to God's table mean in your spiritual life?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 30 words
בֹּא֔וֹ1 of 30

As soon as ye be come

H935

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

הָעִ֣יר2 of 30

into the city

H5892

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

כֵ֖ן3 of 30

ye shall straightway

H3651

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

תִּמְצְא֥וּן4 of 30

find

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

אֹת֡וֹ5 of 30
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

בְּטֶרֶם֩6 of 30
H2962

properly, non-occurrence; used adverbially, not yet or before

עֲל֔וּ7 of 30

Now therefore get you up

H5927

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

הַבָּמָ֜תָה8 of 30

to the high place

H1116

an elevation

יֹֽאכְל֣וּ9 of 30

they eat

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

כִּ֠י10 of 30
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

לֹֽא11 of 30
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

יֹֽאכְל֣וּ12 of 30

they eat

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

הָעָם֙13 of 30

for the people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

עַד14 of 30
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

בֹּא֔וֹ15 of 30

As soon as ye be come

H935

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

כִּי16 of 30
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

הוּא֙17 of 30
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

יְבָרֵ֣ךְ18 of 30

because he doth bless

H1288

to kneel; by implication to bless god (as an act of adoration), and (vice-versa) man (as a benefit); also (by euphemism) to curse (god or the king, as

הַזֶּ֔בַח19 of 30

the sacrifice

H2077

properly, a slaughter, i.e., the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)

אַֽחֲרֵי20 of 30

and afterwards

H310

properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses)

כֵ֖ן21 of 30

ye shall straightway

H3651

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

יֹֽאכְל֣וּ22 of 30

they eat

H398

to eat (literally or figuratively)

הַקְּרֻאִ֑ים23 of 30

that be bidden

H7121

to call out to (i.e., properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of applications)

וְעַתָּ֣ה24 of 30
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

עֲל֔וּ25 of 30

Now therefore get you up

H5927

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

כִּֽי26 of 30
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

אֹת֥וֹ27 of 30
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

כְהַיּ֖וֹם28 of 30

for about this time

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

תִּמְצְא֥וּן29 of 30

find

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

אֹתֽוֹ׃30 of 30
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)


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 9:13 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 9:13 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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