1 Samuel 11:6
New International Version
When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God came powerfully upon him, and he burned with anger.

New Living Translation
Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he became very angry.

English Standard Version
And the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.

Berean Standard Bible
When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger.

King James Bible
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

New King James Version
Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard this news, and his anger was greatly aroused.

New American Standard Bible
Then the Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry.

NASB 1995
Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry.

NASB 1977
Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became very angry.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he burned with anger exceedingly.

Amplified Bible
The Spirit of God came upon Saul mightily when he heard these words, and he became extremely angry.

Christian Standard Bible
When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly came powerfully on him, and his anger burned furiously.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God suddenly took control of him, and his anger burned furiously.

American Standard Version
And the Spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.

Contemporary English Version
Then the Spirit of God suddenly took control of Saul and made him furious.

English Revised Version
And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When he heard this news, God's Spirit came over him, and he became very angry.

Good News Translation
When Saul heard this, the spirit of God took control of him, and he became furious.

International Standard Version
When Saul heard these words, the Spirit of God came on him, and he was very angry.

Majority Standard Bible
When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger.

NET Bible
The Spirit of God rushed upon Saul when he heard these words, and he became very angry.

New Heart English Bible
The Spirit of God came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

World English Bible
God’s Spirit came mightily on Saul when he heard those words, and his anger burned hot.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the Spirit of God prospers over Saul, in his hearing these words, and his anger burns greatly,

Young's Literal Translation
And the Spirit of God doth prosper over Saul, in his hearing these words, and his anger burneth greatly,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the spirit of God will fall suddenly upon Saul in his hearing these words, and his anger will kindle greatly.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the spirit of the Lord came upon Saul, when he had heard these words, and his anger was exceedingly kindled.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Spirit of the Lord rose up within Saul when he had heard these words, and his fury was enraged exceedingly.

New American Bible
As he listened to this report, the spirit of God rushed upon him and he became very angry.

New Revised Standard Version
And the spirit of God came upon Saul in power when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the Spirit of God came upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was kindled greatly.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And The Spirit of God opened up upon Shaul when he heard these words, and his anger was provoked greatly
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And the spirit of God came mightily upon Saul when he heard those words, and his anger was kindled greatly.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Spirit of the Lord came upon Saul when he heard these words, and his anger was greatly kindled against them.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul Defeats the Ammonites
5Just then Saul was returning from the field, behind his oxen. “What troubles the people?” asked Saul. “Why are they weeping?” And they relayed to him the words of the men from Jabesh. 6When Saul heard their words, the Spirit of God rushed upon him, and he burned with great anger. 7He took a pair of oxen, cut them into pieces, and sent them by messengers throughout the land of Israel, proclaiming, “This is what will be done to the oxen of anyone who does not march behind Saul and Samuel.” Then the terror of the LORD fell upon the people, and they turned out as one man.…

Cross References
Judges 3:10
The Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he became Israel’s judge and went out to war. And the LORD delivered Cushan-rishathaim king of Aram into the hand of Othniel, who prevailed against him.

Judges 6:34
So the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, who blew the ram’s horn and rallied the Abiezrites behind him.

Judges 11:29
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jephthah, and he passed through Gilead and Manasseh, then through Mizpah of Gilead. And from there he advanced against the Ammonites.

1 Samuel 10:6
Then the Spirit of the LORD will rush upon you, and you will prophesy with them; and you will be transformed into a different person.

1 Samuel 16:13
So Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the presence of his brothers, and the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon David from that day forward. Then Samuel set out and went to Ramah.

1 Samuel 19:20-23
he sent messengers to seize him. But when they saw the group of prophets prophesying, with Samuel leading them, the Spirit of God came upon them, and Saul’s messengers also began to prophesy. / When this was reported to Saul, he sent more messengers, but they began to prophesy as well. So Saul tried again and sent messengers a third time, and even they began to prophesy. / Finally, Saul himself left for Ramah and came to the large cistern at Secu, where he asked, “Where are Samuel and David?” “At Naioth in Ramah,” he was told. ...

2 Samuel 23:2
The Spirit of the LORD spoke through me; His word was on my tongue.

Isaiah 11:2
The Spirit of the LORD will rest on Him—the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and strength, the Spirit of knowledge and fear of the LORD.

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners,

Ezekiel 11:5
And the Spirit of the LORD fell upon me and told me to declare that this is what the LORD says: “That is what you are thinking, O house of Israel; and I know the thoughts that arise in your minds.

Ezekiel 37:1
The hand of the LORD was upon me, and He brought me out by His Spirit and set me down in the middle of the valley, and it was full of bones.

Luke 4:18
“The Spirit of the Lord is on Me, because He has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed,

Acts 2:4
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them.

Acts 4:31
After they had prayed, their meeting place was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 13:9
Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked directly at Elymas


Treasury of Scripture

And the Spirit of God came on Saul when he heard those tidings, and his anger was kindled greatly.

Spirit of God

1 Samuel 10:10
And when they came thither to the hill, behold, a company of prophets met him; and the Spirit of God came upon him, and he prophesied among them.

1 Samuel 16:13
Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah.

Judges 3:10
And the Spirit of the LORD came upon him, and he judged Israel, and went out to war: and the LORD delivered Chushanrishathaim king of Mesopotamia into his hand; and his hand prevailed against Chushanrishathaim.

his anger

Exodus 32:19
And it came to pass, as soon as he came nigh unto the camp, that he saw the calf, and the dancing: and Moses' anger waxed hot, and he cast the tables out of his hands, and brake them beneath the mount.

Numbers 12:3
(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)

Mark 3:5
And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

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1 Samuel 11
1. Nahash offers them of Jabesh Gilead a reproachful condition
4. They send messengers, and are delivered by Saul
12. Saul thereby is confirmed, and his kingdom renewed














When Saul heard their words
This phrase sets the stage for a pivotal moment in Saul's early reign as king. The context here is crucial: the Ammonite threat against Jabesh-gilead. Saul, who was still in the early stages of his kingship, was working in the fields when he received the news. The Hebrew word for "heard" (שָׁמַע, shama) implies not just the act of hearing but also understanding and internalizing the gravity of the situation. This moment marks a transition from Saul's private life to his public role as a leader, highlighting the importance of being attentive to the needs and cries of the people.

the Spirit of God
The phrase "the Spirit of God" (רוּחַ אֱלֹהִים, ruach Elohim) is significant in the Old Testament, often indicating divine empowerment for a specific task or mission. In the context of Saul's life, this is a moment of divine intervention where God equips Saul with the necessary strength and courage to lead Israel. The Spirit's coming upon Saul is reminiscent of other judges and leaders in Israel's history, such as Gideon and Samson, who were similarly empowered to deliver Israel from its enemies. This underscores the belief that true leadership and victory come not from human strength but from divine enablement.

came powerfully upon him
The Hebrew verb used here (צָלַח, tsalach) conveys the idea of rushing or coming mightily. This is not a gentle influence but a powerful, overwhelming presence that transforms Saul from a passive observer into an active leader. The Spirit's empowerment is both immediate and effective, demonstrating God's sovereignty and ability to equip His chosen leaders for the tasks ahead. This moment is a reminder of the transformative power of God's Spirit in the lives of believers, enabling them to accomplish what they could not do on their own.

and he burned with anger
The phrase "burned with anger" (וַיִּחַר אַפּוֹ, vayichar appo) reflects a righteous indignation that arises from the Spirit's influence. This is not a sinful or uncontrolled anger but a passionate response to injustice and the threat against God's people. Saul's anger is directed towards the Ammonites' cruelty and the dishonor they seek to impose on Israel. In the biblical narrative, such anger is often a catalyst for action, driving leaders to defend and protect their people. This righteous anger is a reflection of God's own heart for justice and His desire to see His people delivered from oppression.

(6) And the Spirit of God came upon Saul.--Nothing, perhaps, could have moved Saul so deeply as this news respecting the distress of Jabesh-gilead; he was affected not merely by the disgrace to Israel over which the Eternal had so lately directed him to be anointed king, but by the sore peril which menaced the ancient friend and ally of his tribe. On Saul's heart, thus prepared for action, the Holy Spirit fell, and endued him with extraordinary wisdom, valour, and power for the great and difficult work which lay before him.

We read of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon men like Othniel (Judges 3:10) and the other great Israelitic judges, who were raised up to be in their day the deliverers of the people; and the immediate result of the Spirit of the Lord coming upon them was to impart new and unusual power to their spirit, power which enabled them successfully to surmount every danger and difficulty which barred the progress of the great work they were specially called upon to do.

Verse 6. - And the Spirit of God came upon Saul. Rather, descended mightily upon Saul (see 1 Samuel 10:6). No miraculous influence is here meant; far more full of meaning and piety is the lesson so constantly taught in the Book of Judges, that all mighty and noble acts are from God (Judges 3:10; Judges 6:34; Judges 11:29; Judges 13:25; Judges 14:6; Judges 15:14, etc.). Even the heathen saw in enthusiasm something Divine, for it means the having God within. The energy with which Saul acted was strictly natural, but yet as truly Divine; and it is a sign of the irreligion of modern days that it can see and hear of great and heroic achievements and assign no part in them to God. In the days of Samuel and the judges the whole glory of such acts was ascribed to God. But equally now, whenever men are moved to noble acts, it is "the breath of God" that descends upon them and inspires them.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
When Saul heard
כְּשָׁמְע֖וֹ (kə·šā·mə·‘ōw)
Preposition-k | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

their
הָאֵ֑לֶּה (hā·’êl·leh)
Article | Pronoun - common plural
Strong's 428: These, those

words,
הַדְּבָרִ֣ים (had·də·ḇā·rîm)
Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

the Spirit
רֽוּחַ־ (rū·aḥ-)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 7307: Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spirit

of God
אֱלֹהִים֙ (’ĕ·lō·hîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

rushed
וַתִּצְלַ֤ח (wat·tiṣ·laḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 6743: To push forward

upon
עַל־ (‘al-)
Preposition
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

him,
שָׁא֔וּל (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

and he burned with great anger.
אַפּ֖וֹ (’ap·pōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 639: The nose, nostril, the face, a person, ire


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OT History: 1 Samuel 11:6 The Spirit of God came mightily (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 11:5
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