And Samuel answered Saul, and said, I am the seer: go up before me unto the high place; for ye shall eat with me to day, and to morrow I will let thee go, and will tell thee all that is in thine heart.

1 SAMUEL 9:19KJV
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1 Samuel 9:19 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 9:19 mean?

1 Samuel 9:19 shows Samuel telling Saul that he is the "seer" (a prophet), inviting Saul to join him at the high place for a meal, and promising to send Saul on his way the next day after revealing what is on Saul's heart. Samuel is preparing Saul for an important conversation and a special moment.

In this verse, Samuel is speaking directly to Saul, who has come looking for help finding his father's lost donkeys. Samuel identifies himself as the "seer" (an older term for prophet) and invites Saul to a ceremonial meal at the high place, a location used for worship. Samuel hints that he knows Saul's concerns and will address them fully the next day, setting the stage for Saul's anointing as Israel's first king.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 9:19

  • "seer" (רֹאֶה, ro'eh): This word means "one who sees" or "seer," an early term for a prophet. Samuel uses it to identify himself as someone who receives insight from God, which would have reassured Saul that he had found the right person.
  • "place" (בָּמָה, bamah): This refers to a "high place," a site often used for worship and sacrifices before the temple was built. Samuel's invitation to the high place signals that something significant and sacred is about to happen.
  • "heart" (לֵבָב, levav): This word means "heart," but often carries the sense of a person's inner thoughts, worries, or intentions. Samuel's promise to tell Saul "all that is in thine heart" suggests he knows Saul's private concerns, showing prophetic insight.

Why 1 Samuel 9:19 matters

  • This verse marks the first direct meeting between Samuel and Saul, which is a turning point in the story of Israel's leadership.
  • Samuel's invitation to the high place and his knowledge of Saul's inner thoughts show that God is guiding these events, not just chance.
  • The use of "seer" and the mention of the high place connect this story to earlier traditions of worship and prophecy in Israel, helping readers understand the transition from judges to kings.

Where else these words appear

“place” Hebrew H1116 · used in 92 verses

  • Leviticus 26:30 And I will destroy your high places, and cut down your images, and cast your carcases upon the carcases of your idols, and my soul shall abhor you.
  • 2 Kings 16:4 And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree.
  • 2 Chronicles 33:3 For he built again the high places which Hezekiah his father had broken down, and he reared up altars for Baalim, and made groves, and worshipped all the host of heaven, and served them.

“Samuel” Hebrew H8050 · used in 120 verses

  • Numbers 34:20 And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.
  • 1 Samuel 9:15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
  • 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.