1 Samuel 28:14 Meaning and Explanation
“And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →From the woman's description of an old man wrapped in a mantle, Saul recognizes Samuel and bows to the ground.
What Does 1 Samuel 28:14 Mean?
Saul asks the figure's form, and the woman describes an old man covered with a mantle, the prophet's familiar garment. Saul knows at once that it is Samuel, and he bows his face to the earth in reverence. The king prostrates himself before the prophet he had so often resisted.
There is a bitter irony in this bowing: Saul honors Samuel now, when it is too late to obey the word Samuel had spoken in life. Outward reverence offered after the moment of decision has passed cannot substitute for obedience offered in time. The reader is moved to render to God not delayed homage but present, willing surrender, while the day of choosing is still at hand.
1 Samuel 28:14 in the Original Language
meʻil (מְעִיל), 'mantle' -- the prophetic robe by which Samuel is recognized, a mark of his office.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 28:14
What does 1 Samuel 28:14 mean?
From the woman's description of an old man wrapped in a mantle, Saul recognizes Samuel and bows to the ground.