And Saul's uncle said unto him and to his servant, Whither went ye? And he said, To seek the asses: and when we saw that they were no where, we came to Samuel.

1 SAMUEL 10:14KJV
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1 Samuel 10:14 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 10:14 mean?

1 Samuel 10:14 describes a moment when Saul’s uncle asks Saul and his servant where they have been, and Saul replies that they were looking for the lost donkeys but, after not finding them, they went to see Samuel. The verse shows Saul giving a straightforward account of his actions without mentioning the deeper events that happened with Samuel.

In this verse, Saul’s uncle (a relative, not his father) is curious about Saul’s recent activities, since Saul has just returned from a significant journey. Saul’s answer focuses only on the practical matter of searching for the donkeys and omits any mention of Samuel anointing him or speaking about kingship. This exchange sets up the tension between Saul’s ordinary life and the extraordinary calling he has just received from Samuel.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 10:14

  • דּוֹד (dod, "uncle"): The word used for “uncle” here specifically means a father’s brother, highlighting a close family relationship. This detail shows that Saul is being questioned by someone who knows him well and has a reason to be interested in his activities.
  • בָּקַשׁ (baqash, "seek"): This verb means to search or look for something diligently. It emphasizes that Saul and his servant were actively trying to find the lost donkeys, not just wandering.
  • אֲתוֹנוֹת (atonot, "asses"): The Hebrew word here refers to female donkeys, which were valuable animals in ancient Israel. Their loss would have been a serious concern for Saul’s family, explaining why Saul was sent to look for them.

Why 1 Samuel 10:14 matters

  • This verse highlights Saul’s humility and caution; he does not reveal the private message Samuel gave him about becoming king, showing that he is not eager to boast or draw attention to himself.
  • The conversation with Saul’s uncle connects the ordinary concerns of daily life (lost animals) with the much larger story of God’s plans for Israel, showing how the two can overlap.
  • The verse sets up the following events, where Saul’s new role will eventually become public, but for now remains a secret between him, Samuel, and God.

Where else these words appear

“Whither” Hebrew H575 · used in 8 verses

  • Genesis 37:30 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go?
  • 1 Kings 2:42 And the king sent and called for Shimei, and said unto him, Did I not make thee to swear by the LORD, and protested unto thee, saying, Know for a certain, on the day thou goest out, and walkest abroad any whither, that thou shalt surely die? and thou saidst unto me, The word that I have heard is good.
  • 2 Kings 6:6 And the man of God said, Where fell it? And he shewed him the place. And he cut down a stick, and cast it in thither; and the iron did swim.

“asses” Hebrew H860 · used in 28 verses

  • Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
  • Numbers 22:28 And the LORD opened the mouth of the ass, and she said unto Balaam, What have I done unto thee, that thou hast smitten me these three times?
  • 1 Samuel 10:2 When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

“where” Hebrew H369 · used in 29 verses

  • Genesis 2:5 And every plant of the field before it was in the earth, and every herb of the field before it grew: for the LORD God had not caused it to rain upon the earth, and there was not a man to till the ground.
  • 2 Chronicles 20:25 And when Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away the spoil of them, they found among them in abundance both riches with the dead bodies, and precious jewels, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away: and they were three days in gathering of the spoil, it was so much.
  • Isaiah 41:24 Behold, ye are of nothing, and your work of nought: an abomination is he that chooseth you.

“uncle” Hebrew H1730 · used in 53 verses

  • Leviticus 10:4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.
  • Song of Solomon 2:3 As the apple tree among the trees of the wood, so is my beloved among the sons. I sat down under his shadow with great delight, and his fruit was sweet to my taste.
  • Song of Solomon 6:1 Whither is thy beloved gone, O thou fairest among women? whither is thy beloved turned aside? that we may seek him with thee.