The Meaning of 1 Samuel 9:13 Explained

1 Samuel 9:13

KJV: As soon as ye be come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he go up to the high place to eat: for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that be bidden. Now therefore get you up; for about this time ye shall find him.

YLT: At your going in to the city so ye do find him, before he doth go up in to the high place to eat; for the people do not eat till his coming, for he doth bless the sacrifice; afterwards they eat, who are called, and now, go up, for at this time ye find him.'

Darby: As soon as ye come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goes up to the high place to eat; for the people eat not until he has come, because he blesses the sacrifice; afterwards they eat that are invited. And now go up; for this very day shall ye find him.

ASV: as soon as ye are come into the city, ye shall straightway find him, before he goeth up to the high place to eat; for the people will not eat until he come, because he doth bless the sacrifice; and afterwards they eat that are bidden. Now therefore get you up; for at this time ye shall find him.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

As soon as ye be come  into the city,  ye shall straightway  find  him, before he go up  to the high place  to eat:  for the people  will not eat  until he come,  because he doth bless  the sacrifice;  [and] afterwards  they eat  that be bidden.  Now therefore get you up;  for about this time  ye shall find  him. 

What does 1 Samuel 9:13 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 9:1-14 - Saul Is Led To Find Samuel
As a king was demanded by the people, one was selected to suit their taste-"a choice young man, and a goodly!" But the king after God's own heart was selected for other qualities, 1 Samuel 16:7. Saul's character lacked important elements. His ignorance about Samuel was surprising; even his servant knew better. This did not promise well for a successful reign, Daniel 11:32 b.
But how should Saul and Samuel be brought together? A succession of trifling and ordinary events prove to be the links in the divinely constructed chain. The lost the prolonged search, the fear of the effect of anxiety upon Kish, the timely suggestion of the servant and his possession of a few coins which would serve as an introduction, the greeting of the young girls on their way to the well-what accidents they seem! Nay, but they are providences! All things work together to execute God's purpose. Nothing is too trivial to be part of the divine plan. Let us follow the indications of God's will-they lead to the waiting seat, the reserved portion, and the ultimate throne. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 9

1  Saul despairing to find his father's donkeys
6  by the counsel of his servant
11  and direction of young maidens
15  according to God's revelation
18  comes to Samuel
19  Samuel entertains Saul at the feast
25  Samuel, after secret communication, brings Saul on his way

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 9:13 mean?

as soon as you come into the city you will surely find him before he goes up to the high place to eat for not will eat the people until he comes because he must bless the sacrifice afterwards afterward those will eat who are invited And therefore go up for this [is] about the time you will find him
כְּבֹאֲכֶ֣ם הָעִ֣יר כֵּ֣ן תִּמְצְא֣וּן אֹת֡וֹ בְּטֶרֶם֩ יַעֲלֶ֨ה הַבָּמָ֜תָה לֶאֱכֹ֗ל כִּ֠י לֹֽא־ יֹאכַ֤ל הָעָם֙ עַד־ בֹּא֔וֹ כִּֽי־ הוּא֙ יְבָרֵ֣ךְ הַזֶּ֔בַח אַחֲרֵי־ כֵ֖ן יֹאכְל֣וּ הַקְּרֻאִ֑ים וְעַתָּ֣ה עֲל֔וּ כִּֽי־ אֹת֥וֹ כְהַיּ֖וֹם תִּמְצְא֥וּן אֹתֽוֹ

כְּבֹאֲכֶ֣ם  as  soon  as  you  come  into 
Parse: Preposition-k, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
הָעִ֣יר  the  city 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: עִיר 
Sense: excitement, anguish.
כֵּ֣ן  you  will  surely 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
תִּמְצְא֣וּן  find 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
בְּטֶרֶם֩  before 
Parse: Preposition-b, Adverb
Root: טֶרֶם  
Sense: before, not yet, before that.
יַעֲלֶ֨ה  he  goes  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
הַבָּמָ֜תָה  to  the  high  place 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular, third person feminine singular
Root: בָּמָה  
Sense: high place, ridge, height, bamah (technical name for cultic platform).
לֶאֱכֹ֗ל  to  eat 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
יֹאכַ֤ל  will  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
הָעָם֙  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
עַד־  until 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַד  
Sense: as far as, even to, until, up to, while, as far as.
בֹּא֔וֹ  he  comes 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יְבָרֵ֣ךְ  must  bless 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: בָּרַךְ 
Sense: to bless, kneel.
הַזֶּ֔בַח  the  sacrifice 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זֶבַח  
Sense: sacrifice.
אַחֲרֵי־  afterwards 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
כֵ֖ן  afterward 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֵּן 
Sense: so, therefore, thus.
יֹאכְל֣וּ  those  will  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
הַקְּרֻאִ֑ים  who  are  invited 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, QalPassParticiple, masculine plural
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
וְעַתָּ֣ה  And  therefore 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb
Root: עַתָּה  
Sense: now.
עֲל֔וּ  go  up 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: סָלַק 
Sense: to go up, ascend, climb.
אֹת֥וֹ  this  [is] 
Parse: Direct object marker, third person masculine singular
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
כְהַיּ֖וֹם  about  the  time 
Parse: Preposition-k, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
תִּמְצְא֥וּן  you  will  find 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural, Paragogic nun
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.