The Meaning of 1 Samuel 9:9 Explained

1 Samuel 9:9

KJV: (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

YLT: Formerly in Israel, thus said the man in his going to seek God, 'Come and we go unto the seer,' for the 'prophet' of to-day is called formerly 'the seer.'

Darby: (In former time in Israel, when a man went to ask counsel of God, he said, Come and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was in former time called a Seer.)

ASV: (Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to inquire of God, thus he said, Come, and let us go to the seer; for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.)

KJV Reverse Interlinear

(Beforetime  in Israel,  when a man  went  to enquire  of God,  thus he spake,  Come,  and let us go  to the seer:  for [he that is] now  [called] a Prophet  was beforetime  called  a Seer.  ) 

What does 1 Samuel 9:9 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 9:9 mean?

Formerly in Israel thus he spoke a man when went to inquire of God come and let us go to the seer for [he who is called] a prophet now was [called] formerly a seer
לְפָנִ֣ים ׀ בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כֹּֽה־ אָמַ֤ר הָאִישׁ֙ בְּלֶכְתּוֹ֙ לִדְר֣וֹשׁ אֱלֹהִ֔ים לְכ֥וּ וְנֵלְכָ֖ה עַד־ הָרֹאֶ֑ה כִּ֤י לַנָּבִיא֙ הַיּ֔וֹם יִקָּרֵ֥א לְפָנִ֖ים הָרֹאֶֽה

לְפָנִ֣ים ׀  Formerly 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
בְּיִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל  in  Israel 
Parse: Preposition-b, 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.
כֹּֽה־  thus 
Parse: Adverb
Root: כֹּה  
Sense: thus, here, in this manner.
אָמַ֤ר  he  spoke 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
הָאִישׁ֙  a  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
בְּלֶכְתּוֹ֙  when  went 
Parse: Preposition-b, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct, third person masculine singular
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
לִדְר֣וֹשׁ  to  inquire 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: דַּרְיׄושׁ 
Sense: to resort to, seek, seek with care, enquire, require.
אֱלֹהִ֔ים  of  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
לְכ֥וּ  come 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
וְנֵלְכָ֖ה  and  let  us  go 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive imperfect Cohortative, first person common plural
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
הָרֹאֶ֑ה  the  seer 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹאֶה 
Sense: seer, prophet.
לַנָּבִיא֙  [he  who  is  called]  a  prophet 
Parse: Preposition-l, Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: נָבִיא  
Sense: spokesman, speaker, prophet.
הַיּ֔וֹם  now 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
יִקָּרֵ֥א  was  [called] 
Parse: Verb, Nifal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קָרָא  
Sense: to call, call out, recite, read, cry out, proclaim.
לְפָנִ֖ים  formerly 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
הָרֹאֶֽה  a  seer 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: רֹאֶה 
Sense: seer, prophet.