1 Samuel 19:24
And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?
Original Language Analysis
וַיִּפְשַׁ֨ט
And he stripped off
H6584
וַיִּפְשַׁ֨ט
And he stripped off
Strong's:
H6584
Word #:
1 of 22
to spread out (i.e., deploy in hostile array); by analogy, to strip (i.e., unclothe, plunder, flay, etc.)
הֲגַ֥ם
also
H1571
הֲגַ֥ם
also
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
2 of 22
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
ה֜וּא
H1931
ה֜וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
3 of 22
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֤א
and prophesied
H5012
וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֤א
and prophesied
Strong's:
H5012
Word #:
5 of 22
to prophesy, i.e., speak (or sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse)
הֲגַ֥ם
also
H1571
הֲגַ֥ם
also
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
6 of 22
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
הוּא֙
H1931
הוּא֙
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
7 of 22
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
H6440
לִפְנֵ֣י
before
Strong's:
H6440
Word #:
8 of 22
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
וַיִּפֹּ֣ל
in like manner and lay down
H5307
וַיִּפֹּ֣ל
in like manner and lay down
Strong's:
H5307
Word #:
10 of 22
to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
12 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַיּ֥וֹם
all that day
H3117
הַיּ֥וֹם
all that day
Strong's:
H3117
Word #:
13 of 22
a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso
הַה֖וּא
H1931
הַה֖וּא
Strong's:
H1931
Word #:
14 of 22
he (she or it); only expressed when emphatic or without a verb; also (intensively) self, or (especially with the article) the same; sometimes (as demo
וְכָל
H3605
וְכָל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
15 of 22
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
הַלָּ֑יְלָה
and all that night
H3915
הַלָּ֑יְלָה
and all that night
Strong's:
H3915
Word #:
16 of 22
properly, a twist (away of the light), i.e., night; figuratively, adversity
עַל
H5921
עַל
Strong's:
H5921
Word #:
17 of 22
above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications
כֵּן֙
H3651
כֵּן֙
Strong's:
H3651
Word #:
18 of 22
properly, set upright; hence (figuratively as adjective) just; but usually (as adverb or conjunction) rightly or so (in various applications to manner
הֲגַ֥ם
also
H1571
הֲגַ֥ם
also
Strong's:
H1571
Word #:
20 of 22
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
Cross References
Isaiah 20:2At the same time spake the LORD by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, Go and loose the sackcloth from off thy loins, and put off thy shoe from thy foot. And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.2 Samuel 6:20Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!Micah 1:8Therefore I will wail and howl, I will go stripped and naked: I will make a wailing like the dragons, and mourning as the owls.
Historical Context
'Naked' likely means stripped of royal robes, reduced to undergarments - symbolic dethronement. The duration ('all that day and all that night') exceeded normal prophetic experience. The popular proverb gained new meaning - from surprised praise (10:12) to ironic commentary.
Questions for Reflection
- How does God sometimes strip away pretense and power from those who oppose His purposes?
- What does Saul's humiliating experience teach about the ultimate futility of resisting divine will?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?
Saul's stripping off clothes and prophesying before Samuel, lying 'naked all that day and all that night,' represents complete exposure and humiliation. The repeated proverb 'Is Saul also among the prophets?' now carried ironic weight - the prophet-rejecting king lay helpless before the prophet. This vulnerable state gave David safe passage to escape while teaching that no power can ultimately resist God's purposes.