1 Samuel 28:6

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by the Urim, nor through the prophets.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיִּשְׁאַ֤ל שָׁאוּל֙ בַּֽיהוָ֔ה וְלֹ֥א עָנָ֖הוּ יְהוָ֑ה גַּ֧ם בַּחֲלֹמ֛וֹת גַּ֥ם בָּאוּרִ֖ים גַּ֥ם בַּנְּבִיאִֽם׃

Transliteration

And wayyišʾal šāʾûl in YHWH, and not ʿānāhû YHWH, neither in the ḥălōmôt neither in the ʾûrîm neither in the nəḇîʾîm.

Grammar Details

• *wayyišʾal*: consecutive imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he inquired
• *šāʾûl*: proper noun - Saul
• *YHWH*: divine name
• *ʿānāhû*: perfect, 3rd masculine singular with 3rd masculine singular suffix - he answered him
• *ḥălōmôt*: masculine plural noun with definite article - the dreams
• *ʾûrîm*: masculine plural noun with definite article - the Urim (divination device)
• *nəḇîʾîm*: masculine plural noun with definite article - the prophets

Word Meanings

• *wayyišʾal*: and he inquired/consulted/sought guidance
• *ʿānāhû*: answered him/responded to him
• *ḥălōmôt*: dreams/visions in sleep
• *ʾûrîm*: Urim (divination objects used by priests)
• *nəḇîʾîm*: prophets/seers/those who speak for God

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

  And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And when Saul inquired of Jehovah, Jehovah answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  and he axed councell at the LORDE. But ye LORDE gaue him no answere, nether by dreames, ner by the lighte, ner by prophetes.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  Therefore Saul asked counsel of the Lord, and the Lorde answered him not, neither by dreames, nor by Vrim, nor yet by Prophets.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And when Saul asked councell of the Lorde, the Lorde aunswered him not, neither by dreames, nor by Urim, nor yet by prophetes.

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  And when Saul enquired of the LORD, the LORD answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn't answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  and Saul asketh at Jehovah, and Jehovah hath not answered him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when Saul inquired of Jehovah, Jehovah answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And when Saul inquired of Jehovah, Jehovah answered him not, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And when Saul went for directions to the Lord, the Lord gave him no answer, by a dream or by the Urim or by the prophets.

• World English Bible (2000)

  When Saul inquired of Yahweh, Yahweh didn't answer him, neither by dreams, nor by Urim, nor by prophets.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  So Saul inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him– not by dreams nor by Urim nor by the prophets.

Referenced Verses

• Num 12:6 : 6 He said, 'Listen to My words: When there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, reveal Myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.
• Num 27:21 : 21 He is to stand before Eleazar the priest, who will inquire for him by the decision of the Urim before the LORD. At his command they will go out, and at his command they will come in, both he and all the Israelites with him, the entire assembly.
• 1 Sam 14:37 : 37 Saul inquired of God, 'Shall I go down after the Philistines? Will you deliver them into the hand of Israel?' But He did not answer him that day.
• Lam 2:9 : 9 Her gates have sunk into the ground; he has destroyed and broken her bars. Her king and princes are among the nations, and there is no law. Even her prophets receive no vision from the LORD.
• Exod 28:30 : 30 Place the Urim and the Thummim into the breastpiece of decision, so they will be over Aaron's heart whenever he comes before the LORD. Thus, Aaron will carry the means of making decisions for the Israelites over his heart before the LORD continually.
• Deut 33:8 : 8 Of Levi he said: 'Your Thummim and Urim belong to Your faithful one, whom You tested at Massah and contended with at the waters of Meribah.
• Gen 28:12-15 : 12 And he dreamed; behold, there was a ladder set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven. The angels of God were ascending and descending on it. 13 And there was the Lord standing above it, and He said, 'I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. The land on which you are lying, I will give to you and to your descendants.' 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west, to the east, to the north, and to the south. Through you and your descendants, all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15 Look, I am with you, and I will guard you wherever you go. I will bring you back to this land, because I will not leave you until I have done everything I promised you.
• Gen 46:2-4 : 2 God spoke to Israel in visions during the night, calling, 'Jacob, Jacob!' And he replied, 'Here I am.' 3 God said, 'I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for I will make you into a great nation there.' 4 I will go down to Egypt with you, and I will surely bring you back again. And Joseph will close your eyes with his own hand.
• Exod 28:20 : 20 The fourth row shall be a chrysolite, an onyx, and a jasper. They shall be mounted in gold settings.
• 1 Chr 10:13-14 : 13 Saul died because of his unfaithfulness to the LORD. He did not keep the word of the LORD and even sought guidance from a medium to inquire of it. 14 He did not seek guidance from the LORD, so the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David, son of Jesse.
• Job 33:14-16 : 14 For God speaks in one way and in two, yet no one perceives it. 15 In a dream, a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while they slumber on their beds, 16 then He opens the ears of men and seals their instruction.
• Ps 74:9 : 9 We no longer see our signs; there is no more prophet, and no one among us knows how long.
• Prov 1:1-9 : 1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and discipline, to understand words of insight, 3 To receive instruction in wise dealing, in righteousness, justice, and equity, 4 To give prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the youth— 5 Let the wise hear and increase their learning, and the one who understands gain guidance, 6 To understand a proverb and a saying, the words of the wise and their riddles. 7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Listen, my son, to your father's instruction, and do not forsake your mother's teaching, 9 For they will be a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck. 10 My son, if sinners entice you, do not consent. 11 If they say, 'Come with us, let us lie in wait for blood; let us ambush the innocent without cause;' 12 Like Sheol, we will swallow them alive, whole, like those who go down to the pit; 13 We will find all kinds of precious wealth; we will fill our houses with plunder. 14 Cast your lot among us; we will all have one purse. 15 My son, do not walk in the way with them; keep your foot away from their paths, 16 For their feet run to evil; they hasten to shed blood. 17 Surely in vain is the net spread in sight of any bird, 18 But these men lie in wait for their own blood; they ambush their own lives. 19 Such are the ways of everyone who gains unjust profit; it takes away the life of its owners. 20 Wisdom cries aloud in the streets; in the public squares, she raises her voice. 21 At the head of the noisy streets, she calls out; at the city gates, she makes her speech. 22 How long, simple ones, will you love simplicity? How long will mockers delight in mockery and fools hate knowledge? 23 If you turn at my correction, behold, I will pour out my Spirit to you; I will make my words known to you. 24 Because I called and you refused, I stretched out my hand, but no one paid attention, 25 And you ignored all my advice and would have none of my correction, 26 I too will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you, 27 When your terror comes like a storm, and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish overwhelm you. 28 Then they will call to me, but I will not answer; they will seek me earnestly, but they will not find me. 29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD, 30 They would have none of my counsel and despised all my correction. 31 Therefore they will eat the fruit of their own way and be filled with their own schemes. 32 For the turning away of the simple will kill them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them. 33 But whoever listens to me will dwell securely and be at ease, without fear of harm.
• Prov 27:1-28:28 : 1 Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day will bring. 2 Let another person praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips. 3 A stone is heavy and sand is a burden, but a fool’s provocation is heavier than both. 4 Wrath is cruel and anger is a flood, but who can stand before jealousy? 5 Better is open rebuke than hidden love. 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but deceitful are the kisses of an enemy. 7 A satisfied soul tramples on honey, but to a hungry soul, every bitter thing is sweet. 8 Like a bird that wanders from its nest is a man who wanders from his place. 9 Oil and perfume bring joy to the heart, and the sweetness of a friend comes from heartfelt counsel. 10 Do not abandon your friend or your father's friend, and do not go to your brother’s house in your day of disaster; better a neighbor nearby than a brother far away. 11 Be wise, my son, and bring joy to my heart, so that I may answer anyone who reproaches me. 12 The prudent see danger and take refuge, but the simple keep going and suffer for it. 13 Take the garment of one who puts up security for a stranger; hold it in pledge if he does it for an outsider. 14 If anyone loudly blesses their neighbor early in the morning, it will be taken as a curse. 15 A continual dripping on a rainy day and a contentious wife are alike. 16 Trying to restrain her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand. 17 As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another. 18 Whoever tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and whoever takes care of their master will be honored. 19 As water reflects the face, so the heart reflects the person. 20 Sheol and Abaddon are never satisfied, and neither are the eyes of man. 21 The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, but a person is tested by their praise. 22 Though you grind a fool like grain in a mortar with a pestle, their foolishness will not leave them. 23 Know well the condition of your flocks, and give attention to your herds. 24 For riches do not last forever, nor does a crown endure to all generations. 25 When the hay is removed, and new growth appears, and the herbs of the mountains are gathered, 26 the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field. 27 There will be enough goats’ milk for your food, for the food of your household, and for the maintenance of your servant girls. 1 The wicked flee when no one pursues them, but the righteous are as confident as a young lion. 2 When a land is in rebellion, it has many rulers, but with a man of understanding and knowledge, its stability will endure. 3 A poor man who oppresses the needy is like a driving rain that leaves no food. 4 Those who forsake the law praise the wicked, but those who keep the law contend with them. 5 Evil men do not understand justice, but those who seek the LORD understand all things. 6 Better is a poor man who walks in his integrity than one who is crooked in his ways and rich. 7 A discerning son keeps the law, but a companion of gluttons shames his father. 8 Whoever increases his wealth by charging interest and unfair gain gathers it for one who is kind to the poor. 9 If anyone turns away his ear from listening to the law, even his prayer is detestable. 10 Whoever leads the upright along an evil path will fall into his own pit, but the blameless will inherit what is good. 11 A rich man may be wise in his own eyes, but a poor man with understanding will see right through him. 12 When the righteous triumph, there is great glory, but when the wicked rise, people hide themselves. 13 The one who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will find mercy. 14 Blessed is the one who fears always, but whoever hardens his heart will fall into trouble. 15 Like a roaring lion or a charging bear is a wicked ruler over helpless people. 16 A ruler lacking understanding is abundant in extortions, but one who hates unjust gain will prolong his days. 17 A man burdened with the guilt of bloodshed will flee to the pit; let no one support him. 18 Whoever walks in integrity will be saved, but one who is crooked in his ways will fall into ruin. 19 Whoever works his land will have plenty of bread, but the one who chases worthless pursuits will have plenty of poverty. 20 A faithful man will abound in blessings, but one in a hurry to get rich will not go unpunished. 21 To show partiality is not good, yet for a piece of bread, a man will transgress. 22 A man with an evil eye hastens after wealth and does not consider that poverty will come upon him. 23 Whoever rebukes a person will find favor afterward, more than one who flatters with the tongue. 24 Whoever robs his father or mother and says, 'There is no wrong in it,' is a companion to a destroyer. 25 A greedy person stirs up conflict, but the one who trusts in the LORD will prosper. 26 Whoever trusts in his own heart is a fool, but the one who walks in wisdom will be delivered. 27 Whoever gives to the poor will lack nothing, but one who hides his eyes will receive many curses. 28 When the wicked rise, people hide themselves; but when they perish, the righteous increase.
• Jer 23:28 : 28 Let the prophet who has a dream recount his dream, but let the one who has My word speak it faithfully. For what is straw compared to grain? declares the LORD.
• Ezek 20:1-3 : 1 In the seventh year, on the tenth day of the fifth month, some men from the elders of Israel came to inquire of the LORD, and they sat before me. 2 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 3 Son of man, speak to the elders of Israel and say to them, 'This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Are you coming to inquire of me? As surely as I live, declares the Sovereign LORD, I will not let you inquire of me.'
• Matt 1:20 : 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, 'Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, because what has been conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.'
• John 9:31 : 31 We know that God does not listen to sinners, but if anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to them.
• Jas 4:3 : 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.