1 Samuel 28:20
New International Version
Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of Samuel’s words. His strength was gone, for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night.

New Living Translation
Saul fell full length on the ground, paralyzed with fright because of Samuel’s words. He was also faint with hunger, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.

English Standard Version
Then Saul fell at once full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.

Berean Standard Bible
Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.

King James Bible
Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

New King James Version
Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, and was dreadfully afraid because of the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day or all night.

New American Standard Bible
Then Saul immediately fell full length to the ground and was very afraid because of Samuel’s words; there was no strength in him either, because he had eaten no food all day and all night.

NASB 1995
Then Saul immediately fell full length upon the ground and was very afraid because of the words of Samuel; also there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day and all night.

NASB 1977
Then Saul immediately fell full length upon the ground and was very afraid because of the words of Samuel; also there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day and all night.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul quickly fell full length upon the ground and was very afraid because of the words of Samuel; also there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no food all day and all night.

Amplified Bible
Then Saul immediately fell full length on the earth [floor of the medium’s house], and was very afraid because of Samuel’s words; and he was thoroughly exhausted because he had not eaten all day and all night.

Christian Standard Bible
Immediately, Saul fell flat on the ground. He was terrified by Samuel’s words and was also weak because he had not eaten anything all day and all night.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Immediately, Saul fell flat on the ground. He was terrified by Samuel’s words and was also weak because he hadn’t had any food all day and all night.

American Standard Version
Then Saul fell straightway his full length upon the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

Contemporary English Version
At once, Saul collapsed and lay stretched out on the floor, terrified at what Samuel had said. He was weak because he had not eaten anything since the day before.

English Revised Version
Then Saul fell straightway his full length upon the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Immediately, Saul fell flat on the ground. He was frightened by Samuel's words. He also had no strength left, because he hadn't eaten anything all day or all night.

Good News Translation
At once Saul fell down and lay stretched out on the ground, terrified by what Samuel had said. He was weak, because he had not eaten anything all day and all night.

International Standard Version
Saul immediately fell down full-length on the ground. He was terrified because of Samuel's words, and he had no strength because he had not eaten food all day and all night.

Majority Standard Bible
Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night.

NET Bible
Saul quickly fell full length on the ground and was very afraid because of Samuel's words. He was completely drained of energy, not having eaten anything all that day and night.

New Heart English Bible
Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was terrified, because of the words of Samuel. There was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Saul fell immediately all along on the earth, and was exceedingly afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

World English Bible
Then Saul fell immediately his full length on the earth, and was terrified, because of Samuel’s words. There was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all day long or all night long.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul hurries and falls—the fullness of his stature—to the earth, and fears greatly because of the words of Samuel; also power was not in him, for he had not eaten bread all the day, and all the night.

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul hasteth and falleth -- the fulness of his stature -- to the earth, and feareth greatly because of the words of Samuel; also power was not in him, for he had not eaten bread all the day, and all the night.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will hasten and fall with the fulness of his stature to the earth, and he will fear greatly from the words of Samuel: also strength was not in him, for he ate not bread all the day and all the night.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And forthwith Saul fell all along on the ground, for he was frightened with the words of Samuel, and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all that day.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And immediately, Saul fell stretched out on the ground. For he was terrified by the words of Samuel. And there was no strength in him. For he had not eaten bread all that day.

New American Bible
Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, in great fear because of Samuel’s message. He had no strength left, since he had eaten nothing all that day and night.

New Revised Standard Version
Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground, filled with fear because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him, for he had eaten nothing all day and all night.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Saul fell straightway upon his face on the ground, and was exceedingly afraid because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all that day, nor all that night.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Saul moved swiftly and fell on his face on the ground and he was very afraid of the words of Shemueil, and no strength was in him, because it was all day and all night that he had not eaten bread
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Saul fell straightway his full length upon the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel; and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul instantly fell at his full length upon the earth, and was greatly afraid because of the words of Samuel; and there was no longer any strength in him, for he had eaten no bread all that day, and all that night.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul and the Medium of Endor
19Moreover, the LORD will deliver Israel with you into the hand of the Philistines, and tomorrow you and your sons will be with me. And the LORD will deliver the army of Israel into the hand of the Philistines.” 20Immediately Saul fell flat on the ground, terrified by the words of Samuel. And his strength was gone, because he had not eaten anything all that day and night. 21When the woman came to Saul and saw how distraught he was, she said to him, “Look, your maidservant has obeyed your voice. I took my life in my hands and did as you told me.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 15:26-28
“I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.” / As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore. / So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

1 Samuel 31:4-5
Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it. / When his armor-bearer saw that Saul was dead, he too fell on his own sword and died with him.

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.

1 Samuel 15:23
For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

1 Samuel 13:13-14
“You have acted foolishly,” Samuel declared. “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time. / But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”

1 Samuel 16:14
Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him.

1 Samuel 18:12
So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 19:9
But as Saul was sitting in his house with his spear in his hand, a spirit of distress from the LORD came upon him. While David was playing the harp,

1 Samuel 28:6
He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

1 Samuel 28:15
Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” “I am deeply distressed,” replied Saul. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has turned away from me. He no longer answers me, either by prophets or by dreams. So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”

1 Samuel 28:18
Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.

1 Samuel 30:4
So David and the troops with him lifted up their voices and wept until they had no strength left to weep.

2 Samuel 1:6-10
“I happened to be on Mount Gilboa,” he replied, “and there was Saul, leaning on his spear, with the chariots and the cavalry closing in on him. / When he turned around and saw me, he called out to me, and I answered, ‘Here I am!’ / ‘Who are you?’ he asked. So I told him, ‘I am an Amalekite.’ ...

Matthew 27:5
So Judas threw the silver into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Acts 1:18
(Now with the reward for his wickedness Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong and burst open in the middle, and all his intestines spilled out.


Treasury of Scripture

Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth, and was sore afraid, because of the words of Samuel: and there was no strength in him; for he had eaten no bread all the day, nor all the night.

sore afraid

1 Samuel 28:5
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

1 Samuel 25:37
But it came to pass in the morning, when the wine was gone out of Nabal, and his wife had told him these things, that his heart died within him, and he became as a stone.

Job 15:20-24
The wicked man travaileth with pain all his days, and the number of years is hidden to the oppressor…

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Afraid Bread Earth Eaten Exceedingly Immediately Length Night Samuel Saul Sore Straightway Strength Words
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














Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground
The phrase "Immediately Saul fell full length on the ground" captures the sudden and overwhelming impact of the situation on Saul. The Hebrew word for "fell" (נָפַל, naphal) often denotes a collapse or a fall due to weakness or defeat. This physical reaction signifies Saul's utter despair and helplessness in the face of divine judgment. Historically, this moment marks a turning point where Saul's kingship is visibly crumbling, reflecting the spiritual and moral decline that has been building throughout his reign.

filled with fear because of Samuel’s words
The phrase "filled with fear because of Samuel’s words" highlights the profound terror that grips Saul. The Hebrew word for "fear" (יָרֵא, yare) can imply both reverence and dread, but here it is clearly the latter. Samuel's words, delivered from beyond the grave, confirm Saul's worst fears about his impending doom. This fear is not just of the Philistines but of the divine judgment that Samuel's message represents. Saul's fear underscores the reality of God's sovereignty and the consequences of disobedience, serving as a sobering reminder of the importance of faithfulness to God's commands.

his strength was gone
The phrase "his strength was gone" indicates Saul's physical and emotional depletion. The Hebrew word for "strength" (כֹּחַ, koach) refers to physical power or vigor. Saul's lack of strength is both literal and symbolic, representing his loss of divine favor and the absence of God's empowering presence. This depletion is a direct result of his spiritual disobedience and the severing of his relationship with God. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of relying on one's own strength rather than seeking sustenance from the Lord.

for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night
The phrase "for he had eaten nothing all that day and all that night" provides a practical explanation for Saul's physical weakness. Fasting, in biblical times, was often associated with mourning, repentance, or seeking divine intervention. However, in Saul's case, it appears to be more a result of anxiety and distress rather than a deliberate spiritual act. This detail emphasizes the depth of Saul's despair and the extent to which he is consumed by fear and hopelessness. It also contrasts with the biblical principle of finding strength and sustenance in God, as seen in other scriptural examples where fasting is accompanied by prayer and reliance on the Lord.

(20) Then Saul fell straightway all along on the earth.--Up to this period we must understand Saul listening to the prophet's words in that attitude of humble reverence which he assumed when he perceived that he was in the presence of Samuel (1Samuel 28:14); but now, on hearing the words of awful judgment, crushed with terror and dismay, and previously weakened by a long fast and the fatigue of the rough night walk from Mount Gilboa to En-dor, he fell prostrate to the earth.

Verses 20-25. - Saul fell straightway all along, i.e. at full length, on the earth. He fainted, partly from mental distress, partly from bodily exhaustion, as he had gone all the day and all the night without food. It was this long continued violent emotion of feeling which had driven Saul to this rash enterprise; but fasting and agony of mind were the worst possible preparation for a visit to one used to cajole her victims by pretended magical arts, and gifted, as people of her class usually are, with great shrewdness. But practised as she was in deceit, yet even in her triumph over her enemy she felt, when she saw him swoon away, a natural sympathy for his misery and weakness, and urged him to take food. Perhaps she saw that without it he could never have got back to the Israelite camp. At first he refused, but the necessity of it was so plain, that when the two men with him also urged it, he at last consented. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed. During this colloquy he had remained prostrate upon the ground, but now he seated himself, not on a bed, but upon the raised bank, or divan, which runs along the wall of an Oriental house, and is furnished with carpets and cushions for men to sit or lie upon. There he rested, a prey, we may well believe, to bitter thoughts, while the woman hastily prepared a meal, killing a calf and baking unleavened cakes, as there was no time to leaven the dough. And so "they ate, and rose up, and departed that night."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Immediately
וַיְמַהֵ֣ר (way·ma·hêr)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4116: To be liquid, flow easily, to hurry, promptly

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

fell
וַיִּפֹּ֤ל (way·yip·pōl)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

flat
מְלֹא־ (mə·lō-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 4393: Fullness, that which fills

on the ground,
אַ֔רְצָה (’ar·ṣāh)
Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land

terrified
וַיִּרָ֥א (way·yi·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

by the words
מִדִּבְרֵ֣י (mid·diḇ·rê)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

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

And
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

his strength
כֹּ֙חַ֙ (kō·aḥ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3581: A small reptile (of unknown species)

was
הָ֣יָה (hā·yāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

gone,
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he had not
לֹ֤א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

eaten
אָכַל֙ (’ā·ḵal)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 398: To eat

anything
לֶ֔חֶם (le·ḥem)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

all that
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

day
הַיּ֖וֹם (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

and
וְכָל־ (wə·ḵāl)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

night.
הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ (hal·lā·yə·lāh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity


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OT History: 1 Samuel 28:20 Then Saul fell immediately his full length (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 28:19
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