And the Spirit of the LORD will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.

1 SAMUEL 10:6KJV
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1 Samuel 10:6 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 10:6 mean?

1 Samuel 10:6 says that the Spirit of the LORD will come powerfully upon Saul, causing him to prophesy with a group of prophets and be changed into a different person. This verse describes a dramatic transformation in Saul, marking him out for a special role through a visible sign of God’s power.

The prophet Samuel is speaking to Saul, who has just been privately anointed as Israel’s first king. Samuel tells Saul that he will meet a group of prophets, and when the Spirit of the LORD (God’s empowering presence) comes upon him, Saul will join them in prophesying—an act that shows God’s direct influence. This moment is meant to confirm Saul’s new calling and show others that God is at work in him.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 10:6

  • רוּחַ (ruach, H7307): This word means "spirit," "wind," or "breath." Here, it refers to the Spirit of the LORD, representing God’s active and empowering presence coming upon Saul in a noticeable way.
  • נָבָא (nava, H5012): This word means "to prophesy." In this context, it often means speaking or acting under divine inspiration, not necessarily predicting the future but demonstrating that God is guiding and using the person.
  • הָפַךְ (hafakh, H2015): This word means "to turn" or "to change." The verse uses it to describe Saul being "turned into another man," emphasizing a real inner transformation, not just an outward sign.

Why 1 Samuel 10:6 matters

  • 1 Samuel 10:6 clarifies that Saul’s ability to prophesy and his transformation are not from his own abilities but are direct results of God’s Spirit at work.
  • The verse highlights that God sometimes gives visible, supernatural signs to confirm his choice and empower someone for a new role, especially in key moments of Israel’s history.
  • This transformation connects to the larger story, showing that Saul’s kingship begins with God’s initiative and power, not human ambition or tradition.

Where else these words appear

“come” Hebrew H6743 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 24:21 And the man wondering at her held his peace, to wit whether the LORD had made his journey prosperous or not.
  • 1 Chronicles 22:11 Now, my son, the LORD be with thee; and prosper thou, and build the house of the LORD thy God, as he hath said of thee.
  • Isaiah 53:10 Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

“turned” Hebrew H2015 · used in 92 verses

  • Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life.
  • 2 Kings 5:26 And he said unto him, Went not mine heart with thee, when the man turned again from his chariot to meet thee? Is it a time to receive money, and to receive garments, and oliveyards, and vineyards, and sheep, and oxen, and menservants, and maidservants?
  • Psalms 114:8 Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.

“prophesy” Hebrew H5012 · used in 102 verses

  • Numbers 11:25 And the LORD came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease.
  • Jeremiah 20:6 And thou, Pashur, and all that dwell in thine house shall go into captivity: and thou shalt come to Babylon, and there thou shalt die, and shalt be buried there, thou, and all thy friends, to whom thou hast prophesied lies.
  • Ezekiel 13:16 To wit, the prophets of Israel which prophesy concerning Jerusalem, and which see visions of peace for her, and there is no peace, saith the Lord GOD.