1 Samuel 28:10

Verse

Berean Standard Bible

Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”

American Standard Version (1901)

And Saul sware to her by Jehovah, saying, As Jehovah liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

Bible in Basic English

And Saul made an oath to her by the Lord, saying, By the living Lord, no punishment will come to you for this.

Free Bible Version

Saul swore an oath to her by the Lord, “As the Lord lives, you won't be held guilty for doing this.”

King James (Authorized) Version

And Saul sware to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

Translation for Translators

Saul replied, solemnly asking Yahweh to listen to what he was saying, “Just as surely as Yahweh lives, you will not be punished for doing this.”

Unlocked Literal Bible

Saul swore to her by Yahweh and said, “As Yahweh lives, no punishment will happen to you for this thing.”

Noah Webster Bible

And Saul swore to her by the LORD, saying, As the LORD liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing.

World English Bible

Saul swore to her by Yahweh, saying, “As Yahweh lives, no punishment will happen to you for this thing.”

Young's Literal Translation

And Saul sweareth to her by Jehovah, saying, 'Jehovah liveth, punishment doth not meet thee for this thing.'

Context

Saul and the Medium of Endor

⁹But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?”¹⁰Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”

Summary

In this verse, King Saul, desperate for guidance before a battle, seeks a medium to summon the spirit of the deceased prophet Samuel. Despite Saul's previous ban on mediums and spiritists in the land, he now turns to one in his time of need, revealing his disobedience to God's commands. This act of seeking guidance from the dead prophet ultimately leads to Saul's downfall and tragic end, highlighting the consequences of turning away from God and seeking answers through forbidden means.

Commentary

John Gill

John Gill Bible Commentary

And Saul sware to her by the Lord,.... By the Word of the Lord, as the Targum: it is much that Saul, being about such a work of darkness and wickedness, could take the name of the Lord into his mouth, and swear by him in such a solemn manner; which must surely put him in mind of his omniscience, from whom this wicked action could not be hid: saying, as the Lord liveth, there shall no punishment happen to thee for this thing; the tenor of the oath was, and so the woman understood it, that he would never make any discovery of what she did, and so she would be sat from punishment; though as he was the supreme governor, and a very arbitrary prince, had it been discovered, he could have screened her from justice, though contrary to the law of God; however, he could not secure her from eternal punishment.