Bible Strands
1 Samuel 19:21
When this was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they began to prophesy as well. So Saul tried again and sent messengers a third time, and even they began to prophesy.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul receives reports of David's whereabouts and repeatedly dispatches additional messengers to capture him, but each group is overcome by the Spirit and begins to prophesy instead of carrying out the arrest. (1 Samuel 19:20–22)
The words — The Hebrew וַ/יִּֽתְנַבְּא֖וּ (va/i.yit.na.be.'U) translates literally as "and they prophesied," while מַלְאָכִ֣ים אֲחֵרִ֔ים (mal.'a.Khim 'a.che.Rim) means "other messengers." These terms emphasize the escalating repetition of Saul's failed interception attempts.
The thread — The narrative tracks Saul's third attempt to send messengers after the first two groups prophesy, directly continuing the sequence initiated in 1 Samuel 19:20 and concluded in 1 Samuel 19:22 when Saul himself travels to Ramah.
Why it lands — The text records a concrete pattern of human orders being overridden by divine compulsion, requiring the reader to observe how Saul's repeated commands are systematically neutralized before any interpretation of divine protection or human stubbornness is applied.
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 when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.
Cross-references
- 2 Kings 1:9 Then King Ahaziah sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. So the captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on top of a hill, and said to him, “Man of God, the king declares, ‘Come down!’”
- Proverbs 27:22 Though you grind a fool like grain with mortar and a pestle, yet his folly will not depart from him.
- Jeremiah 13:23 Can the Ethiopian change his skin, or the leopard his spots? Neither are you able to do good—you who are accustomed to doing evil.
- 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.