1 Samuel 9:4 Meaning and Explanation
“And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Saul and his servant search across several regions without finding the lost donkeys.
What Does 1 Samuel 9:4 Mean?
The search widens region by region. Saul crosses the hill country of Ephraim and passes through the lands of Shalisha, Shalim, and the Benjamites, and at each place the donkeys are not found. The repetition conveys a long, tiring, fruitless journey that seems to be going nowhere.
The path that feels like wandering is quietly being directed. Each empty field carries Saul nearer to an appointment he never arranged. When our own efforts seem to come up empty and the road appears aimless, the Lord may be guiding our steps toward a meeting we could not have planned. What looks like a dead end can be the very way God uses to bring us where he intends.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 9:4
What does 1 Samuel 9:4 mean?
Saul and his servant search across several regions without finding the lost donkeys.