1 Samuel 10:12

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?

And one {H376} of the same place answered {H6030} and said {H559}, But who is their father {H1}? Therefore it became a proverb {H4912}, Is Saul {H7586} also among the prophets {H5030}?

Someone in the crowd answered, "Must prophets' fathers be special?" So it became an expression -"Is Sha'ul a prophet, too?"

Then a man who lived there replied, โ€œAnd who is their father?โ€ So the saying became a proverb: โ€œIs Saul also among the prophets?โ€

And one of the same place answered and said, And who is their father? Therefore it became a proverb, Is Saul also among the prophets?

Commentary

1 Samuel 10:12 KJV describes a pivotal moment in the early reign of King Saul, capturing the astonishment of those who witnessed him prophesying among a company of prophets. This unexpected event quickly became a popular proverb, highlighting God's surprising ways of working and empowering individuals.

Context

This verse follows closely after Samuel's anointing of Saul as the first king of Israel (1 Samuel 10:1). As part of the signs confirming his anointing, Samuel prophesied that Saul would meet a company of prophets and that the Spirit of the Lord would come upon him, causing him to prophesy and be "turned into another man" (1 Samuel 10:6). When Saul encountered these prophets, the Spirit of God indeed came upon him, and he joined in their prophetic utterances. The onlookers, knowing Saul's background as a humble son of Kish from the tribe of Benjamin, were utterly surprised by this display of spiritual power.

Key Themes

  • Divine Empowerment and Transformation: The most prominent theme is God's ability to equip and transform individuals for His purposes. Saul, not from a prophetic lineage or known for spiritual fervor, was supernaturally enabled to prophesy. This demonstrates that God's Spirit bestows gifts as He wills, often upon those least expected by human standards.
  • God's Unconventional Choices: The proverb "Is Saul also among the prophets?" highlights God's tendency to choose and use individuals from unexpected places or backgrounds. This resonates with the broader biblical principle that God often uses the humble or seemingly unqualified to accomplish His mighty works (see 1 Corinthians 1:27).
  • The Nature of Prophecy: The initial question, "But who is their father?" suggests a common understanding that prophetic ability might be hereditary or learned within a specific school of prophets led by a "father" figure. Saul's spontaneous prophecy challenged this notion, emphasizing that the true source of prophetic inspiration is the Spirit of God Himself, who transcends human lineage or training.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word for "prophet" is navi (ื ึธื‘ึดื™ื), meaning one who speaks for God or delivers a divine message. The rhetorical question, "Is Saul also among the prophets?" (ื”ึฒื’ึทื ืฉึธืืื•ึผืœ ื‘ึทึผื ึฐึผื‘ึดื™ืึดื™ื), expresses profound surprise and perhaps a touch of disbelief from the onlookers. It implies that Saul's participation in prophetic activity was entirely out of character and against common expectation, making the event truly remarkable.

Significance and Application

1 Samuel 10:12 serves as a powerful reminder that God is not limited by human expectations, social standing, or our past experiences. He can empower anyone He chooses for His divine purposes:

  • Embrace God's Surprising Work: This passage encourages believers to remain open to God working in unexpected ways through unexpected people. We should not limit God based on our preconceived notions of who is "qualified" or "unqualified" to be used by Him.
  • Divine Calling and Equipping: For individuals, it offers reassurance that a divine calling often comes with divine equipping. If God calls you to a task, He will provide the necessary gifts and abilities, even if they seem foreign to your natural disposition or prior experience.
  • The Enduring Power of a Proverb: The fact that this event became a proverb highlights its memorable and impactful nature. It speaks to the power of a single, surprising event to shape cultural understanding and language. The proverb later reappears in a different, more somber context in 1 Samuel 19:24, showing its enduring relevance even as Saul's spiritual life declined.
Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Isaiah 54:13

    And all thy children [shall be] taught of the LORD; and great [shall be] the peace of thy children.

  • John 6:45

    It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

  • John 7:16

    Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

  • James 1:17

    Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
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