Verse

1 Samuel 28:14

ESV He said to her, "What is his appearance?" And she said, "An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe." And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
NIV "What does he look like?" he asked. "An old man wearing a robe is coming up," she said. Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
NASB He said to her, 'How does he appear?' And she said, 'An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped in a robe.' Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
CSB Then Saul asked her, "What does he look like?" "An old man is coming up," she replied. "He’s wearing a robe." Then Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he knelt low with his face to the ground and paid homage.
NLT What does he look like?' Saul asked. 'He is an old man wrapped in a robe,' she replied. Saul realized it was Samuel, and he fell to the ground before him.
KJV And he said unto her, What form is he of? And she said, An old man cometh up; and he is covered with a mantle. And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground, and bowed himself.
NKJV So he said to her, “What is his form?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down.

What does 1 Samuel 28:14 mean?

The medium Saul hired to summon the spirit of Samuel has been successful beyond her own expectations. Some scholars speculate she was a con artist, surprised to see an actual spirit arriving from beyond the grave. Others wonder if she was used to a less-powerful demonic response to her divination and was shocked to experience the true power of God bringing up the spirit of His prophet (1 Samuel 28:12–13).

Saul can't see Samuel himself and now asks the woman to tell him what the spirit looks like. She describes an old man wrapped in a robe. It's likely that Samuel wore a specific robe that identified him as a prophet of the Lord. Her description is enough for Saul. He bows with his face to the ground to honor Samuel and give him respect. Saul isn't worshiping Samuel as a god; he's respecting the prophet as a superior.

Samuel—or, possibly, the spirit imitating him—isn't impressed. He demands, "Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?" (1 Samuel 28:15). When Saul says he wants guidance for the upcoming battle with the Philistines, Samuel gives him the only appropriate answer: Saul didn't follow God's guidance before. That's why God is no longer with Saul. So why would God help Saul now? David is going to be king, and Saul and his sons will die the next day (1 Samuel 28:16–19).
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