1 Samuel 28:20 Meaning and Explanation
“Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Overcome by Samuel's words, Saul collapses full length on the ground, terrified and weak from having gone without food.
What Does 1 Samuel 28:20 Mean?
The words crush Saul utterly. He falls flat upon the ground, seized with fear, drained of all strength, for he has eaten nothing through the whole day and night. The towering king lies prostrate and empty, undone in body and spirit by the prophecy of his end.
Here is a man at the bottom of himself, with no strength left and no comfort to receive. It is a portrait of where rebellion finally leads when it is never turned from. Yet the reader can see, by contrast, the mercy available to all who will repent in time. The Lord lifts the humble and gives strength to the weary; Saul's collapse is a wordless plea to seek that grace before strength and hope are gone.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 28:20
What does 1 Samuel 28:20 mean?
Overcome by Samuel's words, Saul collapses full length on the ground, terrified and weak from having gone without food.