What Does 1 Samuel 9:27 Mean?
And as they went down to the edge of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Say to the servant, let him cross on before us, and he crossed on, but you stand still a while, that I may cause you to hear the word of God.
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 they were going down to the end of the city, Samuel said to Saul, Bid the servant pass on before us, (and he passed on,) but stand thou still a while, that I may shew thee the word of God.THE KEY
Behind “show,” Samuel’s Hebrew says “I will cause you to hear,” placing revelation in the act of listening.
THE MEANING
The movement pauses: one servant goes ahead while you are told to take your stand. Samuel’s verb for “shew” means “cause you to hear,” so the word of God reaches you through listening.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
The verse dissolves the assumption that divine disclosure must be a spectacle to inspect; beneath “show,” the Hebrew carries the sense “cause to hear.”
THE ROOT
וְאַשְׁמִיעֲךָ
ve’ashmi’akha
GROWS FROM
שמע
sh-m-ʿ
Hear, listen, and respond.
The verb translated “shew” literally means “cause you to hear.” The word is disclosed through hearing that can answer, giving this moment the shape of encounter rather than spectacle.
ALSO GROWS
shama: Hear, listen, respond.
שָׁמַע
This is the root verb: receiving the word involves attentive hearing.
shemuah: Report, tidings, something heard.
שְׁמוּעָה
The same root can name a message carried as news, linking hearing with what is communicated.
דְּבַר
devar
GROWS FROM
דבר
d-b-r
Speak; a spoken matter or thing.
Davar can mean both “word” and “matter” or “thing.” The word of God is presented as substance to be heard, not merely a label or an idea.
ALSO GROWS
dibber: Spoke; speaks.
דִּבֶּר
The verbal branch shows that a davar is something spoken.
devarim: Words, matters, things.
דְּבָרִים
The plural keeps speech and the matters it expresses together.
THE PATTERN
God’s disclosure meets a person who becomes attentive and remains with what is heard.
And Moses said to the people, Do not fear, take your stand, and see the deliverance of the LORD, which he will do for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again for the ages.And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak, for your servant hears and responds.Then Jesus said to those Jews who had leaned their weight on him, If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.THE THREAD
Hear and respond, O Israel. The LORD our God is one LORD.Samuel’s “shew” and Deuteronomy’s opening “Hear” share the root שמע (sh-m-ʿ), meaning to hear and respond. The connection reveals that God’s word is received through listening that calls for a response.
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