Bible Strands
1 Samuel 19:20
he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul dispatches royal agents to seize David at Naioth in Ramah, but the messengers encounter Samuel leading a prophetic group and are compelled by the Spirit of God to prophesy.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיִּשְׁלַח (va.yishlach) literally means "and he sent," marking Saul’s command to fetch David. The noun מַלְאָכִים (mal’akhim) identifies the royal messengers who carry out the arrest order.
The thread — The text records a pattern of divine interruption that the New Testament links to John 7:32 and foreshadows the universal Spirit outpouring in Joel 2:28.
Why it lands — The passage states that human authority cannot override divine action, requiring the reader to recognize that God’s sovereign will determines the outcome of political pursuits.
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
And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.
Cross-references
- Joel 2:28 And afterward, I will pour out My Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
- 1 Samuel 10:5 After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.
- John 7:32 When the Pharisees heard the crowd whispering these things about Jesus, they and the chief priests sent officers to arrest Him.
- 1 Samuel 10:10 When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, a group of prophets met him. Then the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he prophesied along with them.
- 1 Corinthians 14:24 But if an unbeliever or uninstructed person comes in while everyone is prophesying, he will be convicted and called to account by all,
- 1 Samuel 19:11 Then Saul sent messengers to David’s house to watch him and kill him in the morning. But David’s wife Michal warned him, “If you do not run for your life tonight, tomorrow you will be dead!”
- 1 Samuel 19:14 When Saul sent the messengers to seize David, Michal said, “He is ill.”
- 1 Corinthians 14:3 But he who prophesies speaks to men for their edification, encouragement, and comfort.
- Numbers 11:25 Then the LORD came down in the cloud and spoke to him, and He took some of the Spirit that was on Moses and placed that Spirit on the seventy elders. As the Spirit rested on them, they prophesied—but they never did so again.
- John 7:45 Then the officers returned to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why didn’t you bring Him in?”