Bible Strands
1 Samuel 19:23
So Saul went to Naioth in Ramah. But the Spirit of God came upon even Saul, and he walked along prophesying until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Saul travels to Naioth in Ramah to locate Samuel and David after his messengers report their whereabouts. At this moment, he is actively pursuing his target while the narrative records a sudden shift in divine activity.
The words — The Hebrew verb וַיֵּלֶךְ (va.yelekh) literally means "and he went," and the particle גַּם (gam) translates to "also" or "even." These terms mark the unexpected extension of a prophetic phenomenon onto Saul himself.
The thread — The Spirit’s sudden arrival upon a non-prophet parallels 1 Samuel 10:10 and Numbers 24:2, where divine empowerment interrupts human plans. This sequence reflects the principle in Proverbs 16:9 that the Lord ultimately determines a person’s steps.
Why it lands — The text states that the Spirit of God came upon Saul and he prophesied until he arrived at Naioth. It requires the reader to acknowledge that divine sovereignty can override human pursuit, rendering earthly intentions secondary to God’s direct action.
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 he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.
Cross-references
- Proverbs 16:9 A man’s heart plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.
- 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.
- Numbers 24:2 When Balaam looked up and saw Israel encamped tribe by tribe, the Spirit of God came upon him,
- 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.
- Numbers 23:5 Then the LORD put a message in Balaam’s mouth, saying, “Return to Balak and give him this message.”
- Proverbs 21:1 The king’s heart is a waterway in the hand of the LORD; He directs it where He pleases.
- Matthew 7:22 Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’
- John 11:51 Caiaphas did not say this on his own. Instead, as high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation,
- 1 Corinthians 13:2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have absolute faith so as to move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.