King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou [art] Saul.
Complete Jewish Bible:
When the woman saw Sh'mu'el, she let out a shriek. Then the woman said to Sha'ul, "Why have you deceived me? You yourself are Sha'ul!"
Berean Standard Bible:
But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”
American Standard Version:
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And when the woman{H802} saw{H7200} Samuel{H8050}, she cried{H2199} with a loud{H1419} voice{H6963}: and the woman{H802} spake{H559} to Saul{H7586}, saying{H559}, Why hast thou deceived{H7411} me? for thou art Saul{H7586}.
Cross-References (KJV):
1 Samuel 28:3
- Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.
1 Kings 14:5
- And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he [is] sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself [to be] another [woman].
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 1 Samuel 28:12
1 Samuel 28:12 is a verse set within the broader narrative of King Saul's desperate search for guidance in the face of an impending battle with the Philistines. The historical context is the period of the United Monarchy in Israel, when Saul is king, and his successor, David, has already been anointed by the prophet Samuel but not yet crowned.
In this verse, a medium or witch from Endor is asked by Saul to conjure the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel. Saul, who had previously banned all mediums and necromancers from the land, resorts to this forbidden practice out of sheer desperation after being abandoned by God and receiving no answer through traditional prophetic channels. When the medium succeeds in bringing forth what she believes to be Samuel's spirit, she is terrified because she recognizes both Samuel and Saul, understanding that the king had deceived her by concealing his identity.
The themes present in this verse include the gravity of Saul's desperation, the depth of his isolation, and the consequences of disobedience to God's commands. It also highlights the tension between the Israelite religion, which condemned necromancy, and the pagan practices it sought to eliminate. The verse underscores the dramatic irony of Saul's situation: in his attempt to seek counsel from the supernatural, he only confirms his downfall, as the summoned Samuel rebukes him and foretells his imminent demise. This episode serves as a poignant illustration of the human tendency to resort to forbidden means when feeling abandoned or desperate, as well as the inevitable consequences that follow such actions within the moral framework of the biblical narrative.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H802
There are 729 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִשָּׁה
Transliteration: ʼishshâh
Pronunciation: ish-shaw'
Description: feminine of אִישׁ or אֱנוֹשׁ; irregular plural, נָשִׁים;(used in the same wide sense as אֱנוֹשׁ); a woman; (adulter) ess, each, every, female, [idiom] many, [phrase] none, one, [phrase] together, wife, woman. Often unexpressed in English. - Strong's Number: H7200
There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָאָה
Transliteration: râʼâh
Pronunciation: raw-aw'
Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions. - Strong's Number: H8050
There are 120 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שְׁמוּאֵל
Transliteration: Shᵉmûwʼêl
Pronunciation: sehm-oo-ale'
Description: from the passive participle of שָׁמַע and אֵל; heard of God; Shemuel, the name of three Israelites; Samuel, Shemuel. - Strong's Number: H2199
There are 73 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זָעַק
Transliteration: zâʻaq
Pronunciation: zaw-ak'
Description: a primitive root; to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly; assemble, call (together), (make a) cry (out), come with such a company, gather (together), cause to be proclaimed. - Strong's Number: H1419
There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: גָּדוֹל
Transliteration: gâdôwl
Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very. - Strong's Number: H6963
There are 436 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: קוֹל
Transliteration: qôwl
Pronunciation: kole
Description: or קֹל; from an unused root meaning to call aloud; a voice or sound; [phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell. - Strong's Number: H559
There are 4434 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אָמַר
Transliteration: ʼâmar
Pronunciation: aw-mar'
Description: a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude); answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [idiom] plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), [idiom] still, [idiom] suppose, talk, tell, term, [idiom] that is, [idiom] think, use (speech), utter, [idiom] verily, [idiom] yet. - Strong's Number: H7586
There are 335 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁאוּל
Transliteration: Shâʼûwl
Pronunciation: shaw-ool'
Description: passive participle of שָׁאַל; asked; Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two Israelites; Saul, Shaul. - Strong's Number: H7411
There are 12 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: רָמָה
Transliteration: râmâh
Pronunciation: raw-maw'
Description: a primitive root; to hurl; specifically, to shoot; figuratively, to delude or betray (as if causing to fall); beguile, betray, (bow-) man, carry, deceive, throw.