1 Samuel 28:12 But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"

Bible > 1 Samuel > Chapter 28 > Verse 12

◄ 1 Samuel 28:12 ►

New International Version
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

New Living Translation
When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, “You’ve deceived me! You are Saul!”

English Standard Version
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul.”

Berean Standard Bible
But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

King James Bible
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

New King James Version
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice. And the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”

New American Standard Bible
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”

NASB 1995
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”

NASB 1977
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the woman saw Samuel and cried out with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.”

Amplified Bible
When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed with a loud voice; and she said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

Christian Standard Bible
When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, “Why did you deceive me? You are Saul! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed, and then she asked Saul, “Why did you deceive me? You are Saul!”

American Standard Version
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

Contemporary English Version
When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed. Then she turned to Saul and said, "You've tricked me! You're the king!"

English Revised Version
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spake to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly and asked, "Why did you deceive me? You're Saul!"

Good News Translation
When the woman saw Samuel, she screamed and said to Saul, "Why have you tricked me? You are King Saul!"

International Standard Version
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman told Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"

Majority Standard Bible
But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

NET Bible
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out loudly. The woman said to Saul, "Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!"

New Heart English Bible
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, "Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul."

Webster's Bible Translation
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

World English Bible
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul!”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And the woman sees Samuel, and cries with a loud voice, and the woman speaks to Saul, saying, “Why have you deceived me? For you [are] Saul!”

Young's Literal Translation
And the woman seeth Samuel, and crieth with a loud voice, and the woman speaketh unto Saul, saying, 'Why hast thou deceived me -- and thou Saul?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the woman will see Samuel, and she will cry out, with a great voice: and the woman will say to Saul, saying, Why didst thou deceive me? and thou Saul.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, and said to Saul: Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And when the woman had seen Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, and she said to Saul: “Why have you afflicted me? For you are Saul!”

New American Bible
When the woman saw Samuel, she shrieked at the top of her voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

New Revised Standard Version
When the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and the woman said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice; and she said to Saul, Why have you deceived me? For you are Saul.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the woman saw Shemueil and she wailed in a loud voice and she said to Shaul: “What is this that you have done to me? Why have you deceived me?” and “You are Shaul!”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice; and the woman spoke to Saul, saying: 'Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the woman saw Samuel, and cried out with a loud voice: and the woman said to Saul, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Saul and the Medium of Endor
…11“Whom shall I bring up for you?” the woman asked. “Bring up Samuel,” he replied. 12But when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out in a loud voice and said to Saul, “Why have you deceived me? You are Saul!” 13“Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Deuteronomy 18:10-12
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery, / casts spells, consults a medium or spiritist, or inquires of the dead. / For whoever does these things is detestable to the LORD. And because of these detestable things, the LORD your God is driving out the nations before you.

Leviticus 19:31
You must not turn to mediums or spiritists; do not seek them out, or you will be defiled by them. I am the LORD your God.

Isaiah 8:19
When men tell you to consult mediums and spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

1 Chronicles 10:13-14
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, / and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

2 Kings 21:6
He sacrificed his own son in the fire, practiced sorcery and divination, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Acts 16:16-18
One day as we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl with a spirit of divination, who earned a large income for her masters by fortune-telling. / This girl followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are proclaiming to you the way of salvation!” / She continued this for many days. Eventually Paul grew so aggravated that he turned and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” And the spirit left her at that very moment.

Galatians 5:19-21
The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; / idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions, / and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

2 Chronicles 33:6
He sacrificed his sons in the fire in the Valley of Ben-hinnom. He practiced sorcery, divination, and witchcraft, and consulted mediums and spiritists. He did great evil in the sight of the LORD, provoking Him to anger.

Isaiah 19:3
Then the spirit of the Egyptians will be emptied out from among them, and I will frustrate their plans, so that they will resort to idols and spirits of the dead, to mediums and spiritists.

Acts 8:9-11
Prior to that time, a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and astounded the people of Samaria. He claimed to be someone great, / and all the people, from the least to the greatest, heeded his words and said, “This man is the divine power called the Great Power.” / They paid close attention to him because he had astounded them for a long time with his sorcery.

Revelation 21:8
But to the cowardly and unbelieving and abominable and murderers and sexually immoral and sorcerers and idolaters and all liars, their place will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur. This is the second death.”

Micah 5:12
I will cut the sorceries from your hand, and you will have no fortune-tellers.

Exodus 22:18
You must not allow a sorceress to live.

2 Corinthians 11:14-15
And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. / It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions.

Matthew 7:22-23
Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ / Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you workers of lawlessness!’

Treasury of Scripture

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice: and the woman spoke to Saul, saying, Why have you deceived me? for you are Saul.

thou art Saul

1 Samuel 28:3
Now Samuel was dead, and all Israel had lamented him, and buried him in Ramah, even in his own city. And Saul had put away those that had familiar spirits, and the wizards, out of the land.

1 Kings 14:5
And the LORD said unto Ahijah, Behold, the wife of Jeroboam cometh to ask a thing of thee for her son; for he is sick: thus and thus shalt thou say unto her: for it shall be, when she cometh in, that she shall feign herself to be another woman.

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1 Samuel 28

1. Achish puts confidence in David
3. Saul having destroyed the witches
4. and now in his fear forsaken of God
7. has recourse to a witch
8. who, encouraged by Saul, raises up Samuel
15. Saul hearing his ruin, faints
21. The woman and his servants refresh him with meat

Berean Study Bible

When the woman saw Samuel
The phrase "saw Samuel" is significant as it indicates a supernatural event. The Hebrew word for "saw" is "רָאָה" (ra'ah), which means to see or perceive. This moment is pivotal because it suggests that the medium, who was accustomed to deceiving others with false visions, genuinely perceived Samuel. This occurrence underscores the seriousness of Saul's actions in seeking forbidden spiritual guidance, as God allowed Samuel to appear, emphasizing the gravity of Saul's disobedience.

she cried out in a loud voice
The Hebrew word for "cried out" is "זָעַק" (za'aq), which conveys a sense of alarm or distress. The medium's reaction indicates her shock and fear, suggesting that she did not expect a true prophet to appear. This reaction highlights the authenticity of the event and the power of God, who can intervene even in situations involving forbidden practices. Her loud cry also serves as a narrative device to draw attention to the seriousness of the encounter.

and said to Saul
The phrase "said to Saul" marks a turning point in the narrative. The medium addresses Saul directly, indicating a shift in the power dynamic. Saul, who sought control over his situation by consulting the medium, is now confronted with the reality of his actions. This interaction serves as a reminder of the consequences of straying from God's commandments and seeking guidance outside of His will.

Why have you deceived me?
The word "deceived" in Hebrew is "רִמָּה" (rimmah), which means to betray or mislead. The medium's accusation of deception reflects the irony of the situation, as she, a deceiver by trade, is now the one feeling deceived. This highlights the theme of deception that runs throughout Saul's reign, as he often relied on manipulation rather than faithfulness to God. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of deceit and the importance of integrity.

You are Saul!
The revelation "You are Saul!" is a moment of dramatic irony. Saul, who had disguised himself to seek the medium's help, is unmasked. The Hebrew name "שָׁאוּל" (Sha'ul) means "asked for" or "prayed for," which is fitting given Saul's initial anointing as king in response to the people's request. However, this moment reveals the tragic decline of Saul's kingship, as he resorts to forbidden practices out of desperation. It serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of obedience to God and the consequences of turning away from His guidance.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice.--Nothing is more clear from the narration than that the woman of En-dor saw something she never dreamed of seeing. Whatever did appear that night was different from anything she had seen before. Whether or not she was an impostor matters little to us. From the severe enactments in the Mosaic code respecting these practices, it would seem as though in the background there was something dark and sinister. At all events, on this memorable occasion, the witch was evidently amazed and appalled at the success of her enchantments. Ewald supposes that she burst into a loud cry on seeing Samuel's shade, because it ascended with such frightfully threatening gestures, as it could have used only against its deadly enemy, Saul; and she then saw that the questioner must be Saul. This can, however, only be taken as an ingenious surmise. There is a singular passage in the Chaggigah Treatise of the Babylonian Talmud (quoted below), which--contrary to the usual interpretation of the word rendered "gods" (1Samuel 28:13)--assumes that a second form "came up" with Samuel; and one Jewish interpretation tells us that these were "judges"--so rendering the Elohim of 1Samuel 28:13--judges robed in their judicial mantles; and it was the sight of these awful ministers of justice which appalled the consciously guilty woman. Deeply interesting, however, as are these traditions and comments, handed down probably from a school of exposiAnd the woman spake to Saul.--At this juncture the woman recognised in the unknown stranger King Saul. For a moment remembering his stern, ruthless procedure in such cases of sorcery as the one in which she was then engaged, she thinks herself betrayed, and given over to a shameful death of agony; and she turns to the king boeide her with a piteous expostulation, "Why hast thou deceived me?" The question now comes up, How did she come to recognise Saul in the unknown? Ewald's ingenious suggestion has been mentioned above. Keil suggests that the woman had fallen into a state of clairvoyance, in which she recognised persons who, like Saul in his disguise, were unknown to her by face. Josephus (6:14, 2), no doubt writing from traditional sources, asserts that Samuel had most likely revealed the presence of Saul to the witch. "Samuel saw through Saul's disguise, which had deceived her whom Saul came to consult, as he spoke to Saul as Saul. So Ahijah the prophet, though blind by age, saw through the disguise of the wife of Jeroboam (1Kings 14:2; 1Kings 14:6)."--Bishop Wordsworth.

On the whole, Josephus's explanation is probably the true one. It was some word--probably spoken by Samuel--not related here which betrayed the king's identity to the woman. There is one other possible supposition, but it, of course, belongs to the realms of fancy. We know it was night, and Saul was disguised; no doubt his face was partially covered. Is it not to be imagined that with the appearance of the blessed prophet, with or without a companion, a light filled the dark room of the En-dor house? This would fall upon the king's face, who, in the agitation of the moment, would likely enough have thrown off the cape or mantle which shrouded his features. Something of the awful supernatural "light" Tennyson describes when he writes of the Holy Grail:--

" A gentle sound, an awful light! . . .

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 12. - When the woman saw Samuel, she cried with a loud voice. Evidently the last thing that she had expected was that anything else should happen than the usual illusion by which she imposed upon her victims; nor is it certain that anything else did happen. Her assertion that she saw Samuel was probably false; and it was in feigned excitement that she cried out, Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul. She could not but have noticed the tall stature, the dignified manner, and also the intense excitement of her strange visitor; and when he bade her call up the spirit of Samuel, she must have been dull indeed not to know who the stranger was.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

But when the woman
הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ (hā·’iš·šāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

saw
וַתֵּ֤רֶא (wat·tê·re)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

Samuel,
שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (šə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

she cried out
וַתִּזְעַ֖ק (wat·tiz·‘aq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 2199: To shriek, to announce, convene publicly

in a loud
גָּד֑וֹל (gā·ḏō·wl)
Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

voice
בְּק֣וֹל (bə·qō·wl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

[and]
הָאִשָּׁ֨ה (hā·’iš·šāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female

said
וַתֹּאמֶר֩ (wat·tō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to Saul,
שָׁא֧וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

“Why
לָ֥מָּה (lām·māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

have you deceived me?
רִמִּיתָ֖נִי (rim·mî·ṯā·nî)
Verb - Piel - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 7411: To hurl, to shoot, to delude, betray

You
וְאַתָּ֥ה (wə·’at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Pronoun - second person masculine singular
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

are Saul!”
שָׁאֽוּל׃ (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

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OT History: 1 Samuel 28:12 When the woman saw Samuel she cried (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)