1 Samuel 28:5 Meaning and Explanation
“And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →At the sight of the massed Philistine army, Saul is gripped by fear and his heart trembles violently.
What Does 1 Samuel 28:5 Mean?
The same Saul who once stood head and shoulders above the people, who had led Israel to victory, now looks across the valley and is undone. The text names his inner state plainly: fear, and a heart that greatly trembles. The man chosen to be Israel's deliverer has become a portrait of dread.
Fear by itself is no sin; even the faithful feel the ground shake beneath them. The question is where the trembling heart turns. The psalmist, afraid, said, "What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee." Saul's tragedy is not that he was frightened but that, cut off from God by his own long disobedience, he had no refuge to run to. The reader is invited to make the Lord that refuge before the day of terror comes.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 28:5
What does 1 Samuel 28:5 mean?
At the sight of the massed Philistine army, Saul is gripped by fear and his heart trembles violently.