1 Samuel

1 Samuel 28:7–14

⁷Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.”

“There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied.

⁸So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”

⁹But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?”

¹⁰Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”

¹¹“Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked.

“Bring up Samuel,” he replied.

¹²But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

¹³“Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?”

“I see a god^b coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.

¹⁴“What does he look like?” asked Saul.

“An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.”

So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence.

Footnotes

b 28:13 Or I see a spirit or I see a divine being

Read all of 1 Samuel 28

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Samuel 28:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then Saul	שָׁא֜וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
said	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to his servants	לַעֲבָדָ֗יו	la·‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
Find	בַּקְּשׁוּ־	baq·qə·šū-	Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine plural	H1245 seek
me	לִי֙	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
a woman	אֵ֣שֶׁת	’ê·šeṯ	Noun - feminine singular construct	H802 woman, wife, female
who is	בַּעֲלַת־	ba·‘ă·laṯ-	Noun - feminine singular construct	H1172 mistress
a medium	א֔וֹב	’ō·wḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H178 skin-bottle, necromancer
so I can go	וְאֵלְכָ֥ה	wə·’ê·lə·ḵāh	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H1980 go, come, walk
and consult	וְאֶדְרְשָׁה־	wə·’eḏ·rə·šāh-	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative - first person common singular	H1875 resort to, seek
her	בָּ֑הּ	bāh	Preposition; third person feminine singular
There	הִנֵּ֛ה	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
a medium	א֖וֹב	’ō·wḇ	Noun - masculine singular	H178 skin-bottle, necromancer
at Endor	דּֽוֹר׃	dō·wr	Preposition; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H5874 En-Dor
his servants	עֲבָדָיו֙	‘ă·ḇā·ḏāw	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine singular	H5650 slave, servant
replied	וַיֹּאמְר֤וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say

1 Samuel 28:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Saul	שָׁא֗וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
disguised himself	וַיִּתְחַפֵּ֣שׂ	way·yiṯ·ḥap·pêś	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H2664 search
by putting on	וַיִּלְבַּשׁ֙	way·yil·baš	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3847 put on (a garment), wear, clothe, be clothed
different	אֲחֵרִ֔ים	’ă·ḥê·rîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H312 another
clothes	בְּגָדִ֣ים	bə·ḡā·ḏîm	Noun - masculine plural	H899 treachery
and he set out	וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ	way·yê·leḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk
with	עִמּ֔וֹ	‘im·mōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular	H5973 with
two	וּשְׁנֵ֤י	ū·šə·nê	Conjunctive waw; Number - masculine dual construct	H8147 two
of his men	אֲנָשִׁים֙	’ă·nā·šîm	Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
They came	וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the woman	הָאִשָּׁ֖ה	hā·’iš·šāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
at night	לָ֑יְלָה	lā·yə·lāh	Noun - masculine singular	H3915 twist, night, adversity
and Saul said	וַיֹּ֗אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
Consult	קָסוֹמִי	qå̄·sō·mī	Verb - Qal - Imperative - feminine singular	H7080 practise divination
a spirit	בָּא֔וֹב	bā·’ō·wḇ	Preposition, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H178 skin-bottle, necromancer
for me	לִי֙	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
Bring up	וְהַ֣עֲלִי	wə·ha·‘ă·lî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
for me	לִ֔י	lî	Preposition; first person common singular
the one	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
I name	אֹמַ֖ר	’ō·mar	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common singular	H559 utter, say

1 Samuel 28:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But the woman	הָֽאִשָּׁ֜ה	hā·’iš·šāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
replied	וַתֹּ֨אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
Surely	הִנֵּ֨ה	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
you	אַתָּ֤ה	’at·tāh	Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
know	יָדַ֙עְתָּ֙	yā·ḏa‘·tā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H3045 know
what	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
Saul	שָׁא֔וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
has done	עָשָׂ֣ה	‘ā·śāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
how	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
he has killed	הִכְרִ֛ית	hiḵ·rîṯ	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H3772 cut off, cut down
the mediums	הָאֹב֥וֹת	hā·’ō·ḇō·wṯ	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H178 skin-bottle, necromancer
and spiritists	הַיִּדְּעֹנִ֖י	hay·yid·də·‘ō·nî	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3049 familiar spirit
in	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the land	הָאָ֑רֶץ	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
Why	וְלָמָ֥ה	wə·lā·māh	Conjunctive waw; Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
have you	אַתָּ֛ה	’at·tāh	Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
set a trap	מִתְנַקֵּ֥שׁ	miṯ·naq·qêš	Verb - Hitpael - Participle - masculine singular	H5367 knock, strike
to get me killed	לַהֲמִיתֵֽנִי׃	la·hă·mî·ṯê·nî	Preposition-l; Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; first person common singular	H4191 die

1 Samuel 28:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then Saul	שָׁא֔וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
swore	וַיִּשָּׁ֤בַֽע	way·yiš·šā·ḇa‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Nifal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7650 swear
to her	לָהּ֙	lāh	Preposition; third person feminine singular
by the LORD	בַּֽיהוָ֖ה	Yah·weh	Preposition-b; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
As surely as the LORD	יְהוָ֕ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
lives	חַי־	ḥay-	Noun - masculine singular	H2416 alive, living
no	אִֽם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
punishment	עָוֺ֖ן	‘ā·wōn	Noun - common singular	H5771 iniquity, guilt, or punishment of iniquity
shall come upon you	יִקְּרֵ֥ךְ	yiq·qə·rêḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular; second person feminine singular	H7136 encounter, meet, befall
for	בַּדָּבָ֥ר	bad·dā·ḇār	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
this	הַזֶּֽה׃	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that

1 Samuel 28:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Whom	מִ֖י	mî	Interrogative	H4310 who?
shall I bring up	אַֽעֲלֶה־	’a·‘ă·leh-	Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
for you	לָּ֑ךְ	lāḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular
the woman	הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה	hā·’iš·šāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
asked	וַתֹּ֙אמֶר֙	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
Bring up	הַֽעֲלִי־	ha·‘ă·lî-	Verb - Hifil - Imperative - feminine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
Samuel	שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל	šə·mū·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8050 Samuel
he replied	וַיֹּ֕אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say

1 Samuel 28:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But when the woman	הָֽאִשָּׁה֙	hā·’iš·šāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
saw	וַתֵּ֤רֶא	wat·tê·re	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H7200 see
Samuel	שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל	šə·mū·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8050 Samuel
she cried out	וַתִּזְעַ֖ק	wat·tiz·‘aq	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H2199 cry, cry out, call
in a loud	גָּד֑וֹל	gā·ḏō·wl	Adjective - masculine singular	H1419 great
voice	בְּק֣וֹל	bə·qō·wl	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular	H6963 sound, voice
said	וַתֹּאמֶר֩	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
to Saul	שָׁא֧וּל	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
Why	לָ֥מָּה	lām·māh	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
have you deceived me	רִמִּיתָ֖נִי	rim·mî·ṯā·nî	Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular; first person common singular	H7411 cast, shoot
You	וְאַתָּ֥ה	wə·’at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
are Saul	שָׁאֽוּל׃	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul

1 Samuel 28:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Do not	אַל־	’al-	Adverb	H408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
be afraid	תִּֽירְאִ֖י	tî·rə·’î	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular	H3372 fear
the king	הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
replied	וַיֹּ֨אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
What	מָ֣ה	māh	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
do you see	רָאִ֑ית	rā·’îṯ	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular	H7200 see
I see	רָאִ֖יתִי	rā·’î·ṯî	Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular	H7200 see
a god	אֱלֹהִ֥ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
coming up	עֹלִ֥ים	‘ō·lîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
out of	מִן־	min-	Preposition	H4480 out of, from, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not
the earth	הָאָֽרֶץ׃	hā·’ā·reṣ	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H776 earth, land
the woman	הָֽאִשָּׁה֙	hā·’iš·šāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H802 woman, wife, female
answered	וַתֹּ֤אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say

1 Samuel 28:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
What	מַֽה־	mah-	Interrogative	H4100 what? how? aught
does he look like	תָּאֳר֔וֹ	tā·’o·rōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H8389 outline, form
asked Saul	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
An old	זָקֵן֙	zā·qên	Adjective - masculine singular	H2205 old
man	אִ֤ישׁ	’îš	Noun - masculine singular	H376 man
is coming up	עֹלֶ֔ה	‘ō·leh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
she replied	וַתֹּ֗אמֶר	wat·tō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H559 utter, say
And he is	וְה֥וּא	wə·hū	Conjunctive waw; Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
wearing	עֹטֶ֖ה	‘ō·ṭeh	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular	H5844 wrap oneself, enwrap envelop oneself
a robe	מְעִ֑יל	mə·‘îl	Noun - masculine singular	H4598 robe
So Saul	שָׁאוּל֙	šā·’ūl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H7586 Shaul
knew	וַיֵּ֤דַע	way·yê·ḏa‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H3045 know
that	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
it	ה֔וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
was Samuel	שְׁמוּאֵ֣ל	šə·mū·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8050 Samuel
and he bowed	וַיִּקֹּ֥ד	way·yiq·qōḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6915 bow down
facedown	אַפַּ֛יִם	’ap·pa·yim	Noun - md	H639 nostril, nose, face, anger
in reverence	וַיִּשְׁתָּֽחוּ׃ס	way·yiš·tā·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7812 bow down

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Samuel 28:7 Acts 16:16 · 1 Chronicles 10:13 · Joshua 17:11 · Psalm 83:10 · Habakkuk 2:3 · Leviticus 19:31 · Isaiah 8:19–20

1 Samuel 28:8 1 Chronicles 10:13 · Isaiah 8:19 · 2 Chronicles 18:29 · 2 Chronicles 35:22 · 1 Kings 22:30 · Deuteronomy 18:10–11

1 Samuel 28:9 1 Samuel 28:3

1 Samuel 28:10 2 Samuel 14:11

1 Samuel 28:14 1 Samuel 15:27

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.