What Does 1 Samuel 9:20 Mean?
As for your asses that had lost their way three days ago, do not set your heart on them, for they are found. And upon whom is all the treasure of Israel? Is it not upon you, and upon all your father's house?
Key words are shown with the Hebrew or Greek and what each word meant.
Selah Decoded Version The Selah Decoded Version renders what the Hebrew and Greek words meant to the people who first heard them.
King James wording
King James Version
And as for thine asses that were lost three days ago, set not thy mind on them; for they are found. And on whom is all the desire of Israel? Is it not on thee, and on all thy father’s house?THE KEY
The word translated “desire” can also name what is precious, so the one focused on missing donkeys is himself presented as Israel’s cherished focus.
THE MEANING
When your attention is fixed on what is gone, the verse says the missing thing is found. Then the question widens: the longing and precious regard of a whole people rest on you and your father’s house. A real loss and a larger recognition stand together.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The false belief is that what is missing is all that matters; the verse closes that search and reveals the greater value already directed toward you.
THE ROOT
חֶמְדַּת
chemdat
GROWS FROM
חמד
To desire, take pleasure in, or covet.
“treasure” in this verse is chemdat. The English “desire” can sound like a feeling, but חמד (chamad, desire) also gives words for what is desirable or precious. The verse asks not only what Israel longs for, but who is precious in their sight, and places that focus on Saul and his father’s house.
ALSO GROWS
chemdah: A desirable or precious thing.
חֶמְדָּה
It shows how the root can name what is wanted, not only the wanting itself.
machmad: A cherished or desirable thing.
מַחְמָד
This branch makes the verse’s “desire” concrete: something regarded as precious.
chamad: To desire, take pleasure in, or covet.
חָמַד
It preserves the root’s sense of longing that gathers around what is valued.
אָבְדוּ
avdu
GROWS FROM
אבד
To perish, be lost, or lose the way.
“had lost their way” in this verse is avdu. The word for “lost” comes from אבד (abad, perish or be lost), a root that can describe more than something temporarily out of sight. Yet the sentence immediately says the asses are found: their disappearance is real, but it is not their final state.
ALSO GROWS
avedah: A lost thing or lost property.
אֲבֵדָה
It keeps the verse’s concrete sense of something gone from its owner.
avadon: Destruction or ruin.
אֲבַדּוֹן
It shows the root’s wider reach toward perishing, giving “lost” a deeper edge.
נִמְצָאוּ
nimtse’u
GROWS FROM
מצא
To find, come upon, or be found.
“Lost” and “found” are not two shades of one Hebrew root: אָבְדוּ (avdu, they were lost) gives way to נִמְצָאוּ (nimtse’u, they were found), from a root meaning to find or encounter. The shift closes the search and makes room for Samuel’s larger question about what Israel values.
ALSO GROWS
matsa: To find or come upon.
מָצָא
It is the root action behind the asses being found.
metzi’ah: A finding or a found object.
מְצִיאָה
It carries the moment of discovery into a noun: what was sought comes into view.
THE PATTERN
When an immediate loss is resolved, a wider recognition of the person at the center can come into view.
Then Samuel took a flask of oil and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, "Is it not because the LORD has anointed you to be the one who stands out front over his inheritance?"For this son of mine was dead, and is living again; he had lost his way, and is found." And they began to be glad.And he led him to Jesus. And Jesus, fixing his gaze on him, said, You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas, the rock.THE THREAD
Seek the LORD while he may be found, call out to him while he is near.The asses “are found” with the Hebrew root מָצָא (matsa, find), the same root in Isaiah’s “may be found.” In Samuel, it closes a search for what went missing; Isaiah turns that word toward an encounter with the LORD.
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