1 Samuel 28:13
New International Version
The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure coming up out of the earth.”

New Living Translation
“Don’t be afraid!” the king told her. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” she said.

English Standard Version
The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”

Berean Standard Bible
“Do not be afraid,” the king replied. “What do you see?” “I see a god coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.

King James Bible
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

New King James Version
And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw a spirit ascending out of the earth.”

New American Standard Bible
But the king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up from the earth.”

NASB 1995
The king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.”

NASB 1977
And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but what do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the earth.”

Amplified Bible
The king said to her, “Do not be afraid; but [tell me] what do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a divine [superhuman] being coming up from the earth.”

Christian Standard Bible
But the king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see? ” “I see a spirit form coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
But the king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?” “I see a spirit form coming up out of the earth,” the woman answered.

American Standard Version
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what seest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth.

Contemporary English Version
"Don't be afraid," Saul replied. "Just tell me what you see." She answered, "I see a spirit rising up out of the ground."

English Revised Version
And the king said unto her, Be not afraid: for what seest thou? And the woman said unto Saul, I see a god coming up out of the earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"Don't be afraid," the king said to her. "What do you see?" "I see a god rising from the ground," the woman answered.

Good News Translation
"Don't be afraid!" the king said to her. "What do you see?" "I see a spirit coming up from the earth," she answered.

International Standard Version
The king told her, "Don't be afraid; but what do you see?" The woman told Saul, "I see a divine being coming up out of the ground."

Majority Standard Bible
?Do not be afraid,? the king replied. ?What do you see?? ?I see a god coming up out of the earth,? the woman answered.

NET Bible
The king said to her, "Don't be afraid! What have you seen?" The woman replied to Saul, "I have seen one like a god coming up from the ground!"

New Heart English Bible
The king said to her, "Do not be afraid. For what do you see?" The woman said to Saul, "I see a god coming up out of the earth."

Webster's Bible Translation
And the king said to her be not afraid: for what sawest thou? And the woman said to Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

World English Bible
The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid! What do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the king says to her, “Do not fear; for what have you seen?” And the woman says to Saul, “I have seen gods coming up out of the earth.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the king saith to her, 'Do not fear; for what hast thou seen?' and the woman saith unto Saul, 'Gods I have seen coming up out of the earth.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the king will say to her, Thou shalt not fear: What sawest thou? And the woman will say to Saul, I saw gods coming up out of the earth.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the king said to her: Fear not: what hast thou seen? And the woman said to Saul: I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the king said to her: “Do not be afraid. What have you seen?” And the woman said to Saul, “I saw gods ascending from the earth.”

New American Bible
But the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” “I see a god rising from the earth,” she replied.

New Revised Standard Version
The king said to her, “Have no fear; what do you see?” The woman said to Saul, “I see a divine being coming up out of the ground.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the king said to her, Fear not; what do you see? And the woman said to Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the King said to her: “Do not be afraid! What have you seen?” And the woman said to Shaul: “I have seen gods coming up from the Earth!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the king said unto her: 'Be not afraid; for what seest thou?' And the woman said unto Saul: 'I see a godlike being coming up out of the earth.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the king said to her, Fear not; tell me whom thou has seen. And the woman said to him, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul and the Medium of Endor
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. 14“What does he look like?” asked Saul. “An old man is coming up,” she replied. “And he is wearing a robe.” So Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed facedown in reverence.…

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.

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.”

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.

Matthew 14:26
When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear.

Mark 6:49-50
but when they saw Him walking on the sea, they cried out, thinking He was a ghost— / for they all saw Him and were terrified. But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Luke 24:37
But they were startled and frightened, thinking they had seen a spirit.

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.

1 Corinthians 10:20-21
No, but the sacrifices of pagans are offered to demons, not to God. And I do not want you to be participants with demons. / You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons too; you cannot partake in the table of the Lord and the table of demons too.


Treasury of Scripture

And the king said to her, Be not afraid: for what saw you? And the woman said to Saul, I saw gods ascending out of the earth.

gods ascending

Exodus 4:16
And he shall be thy spokesman unto the people: and he shall be, even he shall be to thee instead of a mouth, and thou shalt be to him instead of God.

Exodus 22:28
Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people.

Psalm 82:6,7
I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High…

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Afraid Ascending Divine Earth Saul Sawest Seest Spirit
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














But the king said to her
This phrase introduces King Saul, who is the central figure in this narrative. Saul, the first king of Israel, is depicted here in a moment of desperation. Historically, Saul's reign began with promise but was marred by disobedience to God, leading to his eventual downfall. The Hebrew root for "king" (מֶלֶךְ, melek) emphasizes his authority, yet here it is juxtaposed with his vulnerability as he seeks guidance from a medium, contrary to God's commands.

Do not be afraid
Saul's reassurance to the medium reflects his own fear and desperation. The Hebrew word for "afraid" (יָרֵא, yare) often denotes a reverence or fear of God, but here it is used in a more immediate, human sense. Saul's attempt to calm the woman underscores the tension of the scene, as both are aware they are engaging in forbidden practices.

What do you see?
This question reveals Saul's eagerness and anxiety. In the Hebrew context, "see" (רָאָה, ra'ah) is not just physical sight but also spiritual insight. Saul's inquiry indicates his hope for divine revelation, despite seeking it through illicit means. This moment highlights the tragic irony of Saul's situation: seeking God's guidance while simultaneously disobeying Him.

I see a god coming up out of the earth
The medium's response is pivotal. The term "god" (אֱלֹהִים, elohim) can refer to divine beings or spirits, and its use here suggests a supernatural encounter. The phrase "coming up out of the earth" evokes imagery of the underworld or Sheol, the abode of the dead in ancient Hebrew belief. This reflects the ancient Near Eastern understanding of the afterlife and the spiritual realm, where the dead could be consulted, albeit against God's law.

the woman answered
The medium's role is crucial in this narrative. Her response is not just a report but a revelation of the spiritual reality Saul is engaging with. The Hebrew word for "answered" (עָנָה, anah) implies a response to a call, highlighting the interaction between the physical and spiritual realms. This moment serves as a reminder of the consequences of straying from God's commandments, as Saul's actions lead him further from God's will.

�1Sam 28:13

(13) I saw gods ascending out of the earth.--The king at once calms the witch's fears for her life, and impatiently, as it would seem, asks what she saw which called forth the cry of fear and terror. "Gods"--this is the rendering of the Hebrew word Elohim. The English Version, however, follows the majority of the Versions here. The Chaldee translates the word by "angels." Corn, a Lapide and the best modern scholars, however, reasoning from Saul's words which immediately follow--"What is his form?"--suppose the Elohim to signify, not a plurality of appearances, but one God-like form: something majestic and august. The feeling, however, of antiquity seems to have been in favour of more than one supernatural form entering into the En-dor dwelling on that awful night. Besides the testimony of the Versions above referred to, the passage in the Babylonian Talmud treatise Chaggigah, quoted below, speaks of two positively spirit forms-Samuel and another.

Verse 13. - What sawest thou? Thus far Saul had seen nothing; and as the words literally are What seest thou? it is plain that she had not gone into another room, as some have supposed. The vision was entirely unsubstantial, and Saul, hearing her cry, and observing her excitement, and her steady gaze upon some object, asked what that object was. Probably she was at some distance from him, as was no doubt her custom when performing her incantations, in order that what she did might not be too closely observed; probably, too, she burnt odours, and surrounded herself with the smoke of incense. In answer to Saul she says, "I see Elohim ascending out of the earth." As the participle is plural, she does not mean God; nor, as it was a single appearance, is the rendering gods correct. What she means is that she saw some grand supernatural appearance rising out of the ground, which she calls a god in a general way, without attaching any very exact meaning to the term.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“Do not
אַל־ (’al-)
Adverb
Strong's 408: Not

be afraid,”
תִּֽירְאִ֖י (tî·rə·’î)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

the king
הַמֶּ֛לֶךְ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

replied.
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“What
מָ֣ה (māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

do you see?”
רָאִ֑ית (rā·’îṯ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person feminine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

“I see
רָאִ֖יתִי (rā·’î·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7200: To see

a god
אֱלֹהִ֥ים (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

coming up
עֹלִ֥ים (‘ō·lîm)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

out of
מִן־ (min-)
Preposition
Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of

the earth,”
הָאָֽרֶץ׃ (hā·’ā·reṣ)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

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

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


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OT History: 1 Samuel 28:13 The king said to her Don't be (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 28:12
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