1 Samuel 9:15

Authorized King James Version

Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

Word-by-Word Analysis
#1
וַֽיהוָ֔ה
Now the LORD
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
#2
גָּלָ֖ה
had told
to denude (especially in a disgraceful sense); by implication, to exile (captives being usually stripped); figuratively, to reveal
#3
אֶת
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
#4
אֹ֣זֶן
in his ear
broadness. i.e., (concrete) the ear (from its form in man)
#5
שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל
Samuel
shemuel, the name of three israelites
#6
י֣וֹם
day
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
#7
אֶחָ֔ד
a
properly, united, i.e., one; or (as an ordinal) first
#8
לִפְנֵ֥י
before
the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
#9
בֽוֹא
came
to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
#10
שָׁא֖וּל
Saul
shaul, the name of an edomite and two israelites
#11
לֵאמֹֽר׃
saying
to say (used with great latitude)

Analysis

The salvation theme here intersects with the metanarrative of redemption running from Genesis to Revelation. Biblical theology recognizes this as part of a unified storyline from the promise in Genesis 3:15 to its fulfillment in Christ. The phrase emphasizing divine sovereignty contributes to our systematic understanding of Christian doctrine and connects to the broader scriptural witness about God's saving work from the Exodus to the cross.

Historical Context

The literary and historical milieu of the literary conventions and historical circumstances of biblical literature shapes this text's meaning. The historical development of salvation within the theological tradition of 1 Samuel Understanding the ancient worldview that shaped the author's theological expression helps modern readers appreciate why the author emphasizes divine sovereignty in this particular way.

Questions for Reflection

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