Bible Strands

1 Samuel 9:27

As they were going down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, “Tell the servant to go on ahead of us, but you stay for a while, and I will reveal to you the word of God.” So the servant went on.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — Samuel speaks to Saul as they descend toward the city's edge following their early morning encounter on the roof.

The words — The Hebrew יֽוֹרְדִים (yor.Dim) literally means "were going down," marking their physical descent. This action moves toward בִּ/קְצֵ֣ה (bi/k.Tzeh), the "edge of" the city, establishing the boundary where public travel ends and private instruction begins.

The thread — The sequence of commanded movement followed by a delayed message appears in 1 Samuel 20:38 and 2 Kings 9:5. Jesus later echoes this structural pattern in John 15:14, tying obedience to the reception of divine instruction.

Why it lands — The text requires the reader to observe that revelation is deliberately paused after initial contact. Readers must note the explicit command to wait before the speaker discloses the word of God.

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

הֵ֗מָּהHe.mahtheyיֽוֹרְדִים֙yor.Dim[were] going downבִּקְצֵ֣הbi/k.Tzehat/ [the] edge ofהָעִ֔ירha./'Irthe/ cityוּשְׁמוּאֵ֞לu./she.mu.'Eland/ Samuelאָמַ֣ר'a.Marhe saidאֶל־'el-toשָׁא֗וּלsha.'UlSaulאֱמֹ֥ר'e.Morsayלַנַּ֛עַרla./Na.'arto the/ servantוְיַעֲבֹ֥רve./ya.'a.Vorso/ he may pass onלְפָנֵ֖ינוּle./fa.Nei./nu<to>/ before/ usוַֽיַּעֲבֹ֑רva/i.ya.'a.Vorand/ he passed onוְאַתָּה֙ve./'a.Tahand/ youעֲמֹ֣ד'a.Modremainכַּיּ֔וֹםka/i.Yomas the/ dayוְאַשְׁמִיעֲךָ֖ve./'ash.mi.'a./Khaso/ I may make hear/ youאֶת־'et-<obj.>דְּבַ֥רde.Var[the] word ofאֱלֹהִֽים׃ פ'E.lo.HimGod

King James Version

And as they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.

Cross-references

People named

SaulSamuel