Bible Strands
1 Samuel 16:14
Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The narrator records a decisive turning point in Saul’s reign immediately following Samuel’s anointing of David. This moment marks the transfer of divine empowerment from the rejected king to the chosen successor.
The words — The Hebrew ר֫וּחַ (rûaḥ) functions here as both the Spirit of the LORD and a disruptive spirit, while סָרָה (sārâ) literally means “to depart” or “turn aside.” The text states that the Spirit of Yahweh withdrew from Saul and a ר֫וּחַ רָעָה (rûaḥ rā‘â), a harmful or distressing spirit, began to afflict him.
The thread — This sequence of divine withdrawal and spiritual affliction reappears in 1 Samuel 18:12, where Saul’s fear arises because the LORD had departed from him. It also parallels Psalm 51:11’s plea not to lose the Holy Spirit and Judges 9:23’s account of God sending a spirit of animosity.
Why it lands — The passage documents a concrete shift in divine presence: empowerment leaves Saul and begins with David. It requires the reader to acknowledge that spiritual authority and protection depend on covenant alignment, not royal status.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
Cross-references
- Psalms 51:11 Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.
- 1 Samuel 18:12 So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.
- Judges 9:23 God sent a spirit of animosity between Abimelech and the leaders of Shechem and caused them to treat Abimelech deceitfully,
- 1 Samuel 18:10 The next day a spirit of distress sent from God came upon Saul, and he prophesied inside the house while David played the harp as usual. Now Saul was holding a spear,
- 1 Samuel 28:15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
- Judges 16:20 Then she called out, “Samson, the Philistines are here!” When Samson awoke from his sleep, he thought, “I will escape as I did before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the LORD had departed from him.
- Acts 19:15 But one day the evil spirit responded, “Jesus I know, and I know about Paul, but who are you?”
- 1 Kings 22:22 And he replied, ‘I will go out and be a lying spirit in the mouths of all his prophets.’ ‘You will surely entice him and prevail,’ said the LORD. ‘Go and do it.’
- Hosea 9:12 Even if they raise their children, I will bereave them of each one. Yes, woe be to them when I turn away from them!
- 1 Samuel 11:6 When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger.