1 Samuel 9:21
And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
Original Language Analysis
וַיַּ֨עַן
answered
H6030
וַיַּ֨עַן
answered
Strong's:
H6030
Word #:
1 of 21
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
הֲל֨וֹא
H3808
הֲל֨וֹא
Strong's:
H3808
Word #:
4 of 21
not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles
יְמִינִ֤י
Am not I a Benjamite
H1145
יְמִינִ֤י
Am not I a Benjamite
Strong's:
H1145
Word #:
6 of 21
a benjaminite, or descendent of benjamin
מִקַּטַנֵּי֙
of the smallest
H6996
מִקַּטַנֵּי֙
of the smallest
Strong's:
H6996
Word #:
8 of 21
abbreviated, i.e., diminutive, literally (in quantity, size or number) or figuratively (in age or importance)
שִׁבְטֵ֣י
of the tribe
H7626
שִׁבְטֵ֣י
of the tribe
Strong's:
H7626
Word #:
9 of 21
a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
H3478
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל
of Israel
Strong's:
H3478
Word #:
10 of 21
he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity
מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת
and my family
H4940
מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת
and my family
Strong's:
H4940
Word #:
11 of 21
a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
הַצְּעִרָ֔ה
the least
H6810
הַצְּעִרָ֔ה
the least
Strong's:
H6810
Word #:
12 of 21
little; (in number) few; (in age) young, (in value) ignoble
מִכָּֽל
H3605
מִכָּֽל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
13 of 21
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת
and my family
H4940
מִשְׁפְּח֖וֹת
and my family
Strong's:
H4940
Word #:
14 of 21
a family, i.e., circle of relatives; figuratively, a class (of persons), a species (of animals) or sort (of things); by extension a tribe or people
שִׁבְטֵ֣י
of the tribe
H7626
שִׁבְטֵ֣י
of the tribe
Strong's:
H7626
Word #:
15 of 21
a scion, i.e., (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan
בִנְיָמִ֑ן
of Benjamin
H1144
בִנְיָמִ֑ן
of Benjamin
Strong's:
H1144
Word #:
16 of 21
binjamin, youngest son of jacob; also the tribe descended from him, and its territory
וְלָ֙מָּה֙
H4100
וְלָ֙מָּה֙
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
17 of 21
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
דִּבַּ֣רְתָּ
wherefore then speakest
H1696
דִּבַּ֣רְתָּ
wherefore then speakest
Strong's:
H1696
Word #:
18 of 21
perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue
Cross References
1 Samuel 15:17And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?Psalms 68:27There is little Benjamin with their ruler, the princes of Judah and their council, the princes of Zebulun, and the princes of Naphtali.Ephesians 3:8Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;Luke 14:11For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
Historical Context
Benjamin's decimation in the tribal war (Judges 20-21) had reduced them to a remnant. Their gradual recovery made Saul's emergence as king a testimony to tribal restoration. The pattern of God choosing smaller tribes and lesser families (Gideon from Manasseh, David from Judah's lesser line) reinforced the theological principle that 'God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble' (James 4:6).
Questions for Reflection
- How should we respond when God's calling seems to exceed our qualifications or background?
- What does Saul's initial humility teach about the danger of forgetting our origins once we achieve success?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
And Saul answered and said, Am not I a Benjamite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel? and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? wherefore then speakest thou so to me?
Saul's response reveals either genuine humility or strategic self-deprecation, possibly both. His rhetorical questions emphasize dual lowliness: Benjamin was the smallest tribe, and his family was the least within Benjamin. The language echoes Gideon's similar protest (Judges 6:15), establishing a pattern of God choosing the unlikely. Saul's reasoning, if sincere, shows appropriate awareness of his inadequacy for such a calling. Yet the mention of Benjamin's smallness requires nuance: the tribe had been nearly exterminated in the civil war of Judges 19-21, making their later provision of Israel's first king a remarkable restoration. Saul's question 'wherefore then speakest thou so?' (lamah dabbarta elai kadavar hazeh) expresses bewilderment at Samuel's suggestion. This moment of self-effacement stands in stark contrast to the pride that would later characterize Saul's reign.