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Selected Verse: 1 Samuel 9:9 - Strong Concordance
| Verse |
Translation |
Text |
| 1Sa 9:9 |
Strong Concordance |
(Beforetime [06440] in Israel [03478], when a man [0376] went [03212] to enquire [01875] of God [0430], thus he spake [0559], Come [03212], and let us go [03212] to the seer [07200]: for he that is now [03117] called a Prophet [05030] was beforetime [06440] called [07121] a Seer [07200] |
| |
King James |
(Beforetime in Israel, when a man went to enquire of God, thus he spake, Come, and let us go to the seer: for he that is now called a Prophet was beforetime called a Seer.) |
Summary Of Commentaries Associated With The Selected Verse
| A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882] |
| seer . . . Prophet--The recognized distinction in latter times was, that a seer was one who was favored with visions of God--a view of things invisible to mortal sight; and a prophet foretold future events. |
| Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834] |
| This is manifestly a gloss inserted in the older narrative by the later editor of the sacred text, to explain the use of the term in Sa1 9:11, Sa1 9:18-19. It is one among many instances which prove how the very letter of the contemporary narratives was preserved by those who in later times compiled the histories. We cannot say exactly when the term "seer" became obsolete. See the marginal references. |
| Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65] |
| Seer - Because he discerned and could discover things secret and unknown to others. And these are the words, either of some later sacred writer, who after Samuel's death, inserted this verse. Or, of Samuel, who, being probably fifty or sixty years old at the writing of this book, and speaking of the state of things in his first days, might well call it before time. |
| Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826 |
Beforetime in Israel - This passage could not have been a part of this book originally: but we have already conjectured that Samuel, or some contemporary author, wrote the memoranda, out of which a later author compiled this book. This hypothesis, sufficiently reasonable in itself, solves all difficulties of this kind.
Was beforetime called a seer - The word seer, ראה roeh, occurs for the first time in this place; it literally signifies a person who Sees; particularly preternatural sights. A seer and a prophet were the same in most cases; only with this difference, the seer was always a prophet, but the prophet was not always a seer. A seer seems to imply one who frequently met with, and saw, some symbolical representation of God. The term prophet was used a long time before this; Abraham is called a prophet, Gen 20:7, and the term frequently occurs in the law. Besides, the word seer does not occur before this time; but often occurs afterwards down through the prophets, for more than three hundred years. See Amo 7:12; Mic 3:7.
All prophets, false and true, profess to see God; see the case of Balaam, Num 24:4, Num 24:16, and Jer 14:14. All diviners, in their enthusiastic flights, boasted that they had those things exhibited to their sight which should come to pass. There is a remarkable account in Virgil which may serve as a specimen of the whole; the Sibyl professes to be a seer: -
- Bella, horrida bella,
Et Tyberim molto spumantem sanguine
Cerno. Aen. lib. vi., ver. 86.
Wars, horrid wars, I View; a field of blood;
And Tyber rolling with a purple flood.
I think the 9th verse comes more naturally in after the 11th. |
18 Then Saul [07586] drew near [05066] to Samuel [08050] in [08432] the gate [08179], and said [0559], Tell [05046] me, I pray thee, where [0335] the seer's [07200] house [01004] is.
19 And Samuel [08050] answered [06030] Saul [07586], and said [0559], I am the seer [07200]: go up [05927] before [06440] me unto the high place [01116]; for ye shall eat [0398] with me to day [03117], and to morrow [01242] I will let thee go [07971], and will tell [05046] thee all that is in thine heart [03824].
11 And as they went up [05927] the hill [04608] to the city [05892], they found [04672] young maidens [05291] going out [03318] to draw [07579] water [04325], and said [0559] unto them, Is [03426] the seer [07200] here?
14 Then the LORD [03068] said [0559] unto me, The prophets [05030] prophesy [05012] lies [08267] in my name [08034]: I sent [07971] them not, neither have I commanded [06680] them, neither spake [01696] unto them: they prophesy [05012] unto you a false [08267] vision [02377] and divination [07081], and a thing of nought [0457] [0434], and the deceit [08649] of their heart [03820].
16 He hath said [05002], which heard [08085] the words [0561] of God [0410], and knew [03045] the knowledge [01847] of the most High [05945], which saw [02372] the vision [04236] of the Almighty [07706], falling [05307] into a trance, but having his eyes [05869] open [01540]:
4 He hath said [05002], which heard [08085] the words [0561] of God [0410], which saw [02372] the vision [04236] of the Almighty [07706], falling [05307] into a trance, but having his eyes [05869] open [01540]:
7 Then shall the seers [02374] be ashamed [0954], and the diviners [07080] confounded [02659]: yea, they shall all cover [05844] their lips [08222]; for there is no answer [04617] of God [0430].
12 Also Amaziah [0558] said [0559] unto Amos [05986], O thou seer [02374], go [03212], flee thee away [01272] into the land [0776] of Judah [03063], and there eat [0398] bread [03899], and prophesy [05012] there:
7 Now therefore restore [07725] the man [0376] his wife [0802]; for he is a prophet [05030], and he shall pray [06419] for thee [01157], and thou shalt live [02421]: and if thou restore [07725] her not, know [03045] thou that thou shalt surely [04191] die [04191], thou, and all that are thine.