The Meaning of 1 Samuel 9:20 Explained

1 Samuel 9:20

KJV: And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?

YLT: As to the asses which are lost to thee this day three days, set not thy heart to them, for they have been found; and to whom is all the desire of Israel?' is it not to thee and to all thy father's house?'

Darby: And as for the asses that thou didst lose three days ago, set not thy heart on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel set? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father's house?

ASV: And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not they mind on them; for they are found. And for whom is all that is desirable in Israel? Is it not for thee, and for all thy father's house?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And as for thine asses  that were lost  three  days  ago,  set  not thy mind  on them; for they are found.  And on whom [is] all the desire  of Israel?  [Is it] not on thee, and on all thy father's  house? 

What does 1 Samuel 9:20 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 9:15-27 - The Prophet Meets The Coming King
There are some favored souls to whom God reveals His secrets, Psalms 25:14; John 15:15. Covet, above all things, that habitual nearness to God in which God may speak as a man to His friend. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him; but He reveals them by His Spirit. Even when Samuel encountered Saul in the street, Samuel's guidance by God continued, 1 Samuel 9:17. His fellowship with the Eternal was like a deep-flowing current; his meeting with Saul a leaf dropped on its surface.
The prophet did not meet the young man as a rival. The life which is lived in God's presence is so filled with His light and His love that it is not disturbed by the fickle fancies of the crowd. Samuel was quite ready to be abased and to see another exalted, if God willed it, Philippians 4:12. It is good, when we are in partnership with God, to allow Him, at the critical moment, to send the man or woman whom He has selected. "Tomorrow"¦ I will send thee a man." Such may come on quite another errand, but God will give us divine guidance and discernment, so that we may be ready to receive and welcome Him. [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 9:20 mean?

But as for donkeys that were lost your days three ago not do be anxious - - about them for they have been found And on whom [is] all the desire of Israel [is it] not on you and on all house of your father -
וְלָאֲתֹנ֞וֹת הָאֹבְד֣וֹת לְךָ֗ הַיּוֹם֙ שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת הַיָּמִ֔ים אַל־ תָּ֧שֶׂם אֶֽת־ לִבְּךָ֛ לָהֶ֖ם כִּ֣י נִמְצָ֑אוּ וּלְמִי֙ כָּל־ חֶמְדַּ֣ת ؟ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל הֲל֣וֹא לְךָ֔ וּלְכֹ֖ל ؟ בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיךָ ס

וְלָאֲתֹנ֞וֹת  But  as  for  donkeys 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Article, Noun, feminine plural
Root: אָתֹון  
Sense: she-ass, she-donkey.
הָאֹבְד֣וֹת  that  were  lost 
Parse: Article, Verb, Qal, Participle, feminine plural
Root: אָבַד  
Sense: perish, vanish, go astray, be destroyed.
לְךָ֗  your 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
הַיּוֹם֙  days 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
שְׁלֹ֣שֶׁת  three 
Parse: Number, masculine singular construct
Root: מִשְׁלֹשׁ 
Sense: three, triad.
הַיָּמִ֔ים  ago 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
תָּ֧שֶׂם  do  be  anxious 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect Jussive, second person masculine singular
Root: שׂוּמָה 
Sense: to put, place, set, appoint, make.
אֶֽת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
לִבְּךָ֛  - 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: לֵב 
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, understanding.
לָהֶ֖ם  about  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
נִמְצָ֑אוּ  they  have  been  found 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: מָצָא  
Sense: to find, attain to.
וּלְמִי֙  And  on  whom  [is] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Interrogative
Root: מִי  
Sense: who?, whose?, whom?, would that, whoever, whosoever.
חֶמְדַּ֣ת  the  desire 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חֶמְדָּה  
Sense: desire, that which is desirable adj.
؟ יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
הֲל֣וֹא  [is  it]  not 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
לְךָ֔  on  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine singular
וּלְכֹ֖ל  and  on  all 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
؟ בֵּ֥ית  house 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בַּיִת 
Sense: house.
אָבִֽיךָ  of  your  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine singular
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation