1 Samuel 9:3
New International Version
Now the donkeys belonging to Saul’s father Kish were lost, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys.”

New Living Translation
One day Kish’s donkeys strayed away, and he told Saul, “Take a servant with you, and go look for the donkeys.”

English Standard Version
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to Saul his son, “Take one of the young men with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.”

Berean Standard Bible
One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.”

King James Bible
And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

New King James Version
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys.”

New American Standard Bible
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Now take with you one of the servants and arise, go search for the donkeys.”

NASB 1995
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.”

NASB 1977
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the servants, and arise, go search for the donkeys.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take now with you one of the young men, and arise, go search for the donkeys.”

Amplified Bible
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had wandered off and were lost. Kish said to his son Saul, “Please take one of the servants with you and arise, go look for the donkeys.”

Christian Standard Bible
One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the attendants with you and go look for the donkeys.”

American Standard Version
And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

Contemporary English Version
Kish owned some donkeys, but they had run off. So he told Saul, "Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys."

English Revised Version
And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When some donkeys belonging to Saul's father Kish were lost, Kish told Saul, "Take one of the servants with you, and go look for the donkeys."

Good News Translation
Some donkeys belonging to Kish had wandered off, so he said to Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go and look for the donkeys."

International Standard Version
The donkeys belonging to Kish, Saul's father, were lost, and Kish told his son Saul, "Take one of the young men with you, get up, and go look for the donkeys."

Majority Standard Bible
One day the donkeys of Saul?s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, ?Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.?

NET Bible
The donkeys of Saul's father Kish wandered off, so Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go look for the donkeys."

New Heart English Bible
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, "Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go and look for the donkeys." So Saul got up and took one of the servants of his father with him and went to look for the donkeys of his father Kish.

Webster's Bible Translation
And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.

World English Bible
The donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, were lost. Kish said to Saul his son, “Now take one of the servants with you, and arise, go look for the donkeys.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the donkeys of Kish, father of Saul, are lost, and Kish says to his son Saul, “Now take one of the young men with you, and rise, go, seek the donkeys.”

Young's Literal Translation
And the asses of Kish, father of Saul, are lost, and Kish saith unto Saul his son, 'Take, I pray thee, with thee, one of the young men, and rise, go, seek the asses.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the she asses of Kish, Saul's father, will be lost: and Kish will say to Saul, his son, Take now with thee one of the boys, and arise, Go seek the asses.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the asses of Cis, Sauls father, were lost: and Cis said to his son Saul: Take one of the servants with thee, and arise, go, and seek the asses. And when they had passed through mount Ephraim,

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now the donkeys of Kish, the father of Saul, had become lost. And Kish said to his son Saul, “Take with you one of the servants, and rising up, go out and seek the donkeys.” And when they had passed through mount Ephraim,

New American Bible
Now the donkeys of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the donkeys.”

New Revised Standard Version
Now the donkeys of Kish, Saul’s father, had strayed. So Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the boys with you; go and look for the donkeys.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And the asses of Kish, Saul's father, were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the asses. And Saul arose and went, and took one of the servants with him, and they went to seek the asses of his father.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the donkeys of Qish, the father of Shaul, were lost, and Qish said to Shaul his son: “Take with you one of the boys and arise, go seek the donkeys.” And Shaul arose and he went on and he took with him one of the boys, and he went on to seek his father’s donkeys
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son: 'Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the asses.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the asses of Kis the father of Saul were lost; and Kis said to Saul his son, Take with thee one of the young men, and arise ye, and go seek the asses.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul Chosen as King
2And he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people. 3One day the donkeys of Saul’s father Kish wandered off, and Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants and go look for the donkeys.” 4So Saul passed through the hill country of Ephraim and then through the land of Shalishah, but did not find the donkeys. He and the servant went through the region of Shaalim, but they were not there. Then they went through the land of Benjamin, and still they did not find them.…

Cross References
Genesis 37:14-17
Then Israel told him, “Go now and see how your brothers and the flocks are faring, and bring word back to me.” So he sent him off from the Valley of Hebron. And when Joseph arrived in Shechem, / a man found him wandering in the field and asked, “What are you looking for?” / “I am looking for my brothers,” Joseph replied. “Can you please tell me where they are pasturing their flocks?” ...

Genesis 24:10-27
Then the servant took ten of his master’s camels and departed with all manner of good things from his master in hand. And he set out for Nahor’s hometown in Aram-naharaim. / As evening approached, he made the camels kneel down near the well outside the town at the time when the women went out to draw water. / “O LORD, God of my master Abraham,” he prayed, “please grant me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. ...

Genesis 27:5-10
Now Rebekah was listening to what Isaac told his son Esau. So when Esau went into the field to hunt game and bring it back, / Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Behold, I overheard your father saying to your brother Esau, / ‘Bring me some game and prepare me a tasty dish to eat, so that I may bless you in the presence of the LORD before I die.’ ...

Genesis 37:12-13
Some time later, Joseph’s brothers had gone to pasture their father’s flocks near Shechem. / Israel said to him, “Are not your brothers pasturing the flocks at Shechem? Get ready; I am sending you to them.” “I am ready,” Joseph replied.

Genesis 45:4-5
Then Joseph said to his brothers, “Please come near me.” And they did so. “I am Joseph, your brother,” he said, “the one you sold into Egypt! / And now, do not be distressed or angry with yourselves that you sold me into this place, because it was to save lives that God sent me before you.

Exodus 3:1-4
Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro, the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. / There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed. / So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?” ...

Numbers 22:21-23
So in the morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and went with the princes of Moab. / Then God’s anger was kindled because Balaam was going along, and the angel of the LORD stood in the road to oppose him. Balaam was riding his donkey, and his two servants were with him. / When the donkey saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand, she turned off the path and went into a field. So Balaam beat her to return her to the path.

Judges 6:36-40
Then Gideon said to God, “If You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said, / then behold, I will place a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew only on the fleece and all the ground is dry, then I will know that You are going to save Israel by my hand, as You have said.” / And that is what happened. When Gideon arose the next morning, he squeezed the fleece and wrung out the dew—a bowlful of water. ...

Judges 14:5-9
Then Samson went down to Timnah with his father and mother and came to the vineyards of Timnah. Suddenly a young lion came roaring at him, / and the Spirit of the LORD came powerfully upon him, and he tore the lion apart with his bare hands as one would tear a young goat. But he did not tell his father or mother what he had done. / Then Samson continued on his way down and spoke to the woman, because she was pleasing to his eyes. ...

1 Kings 19:19-21
So Elijah departed and found Elisha son of Shaphat. He was plowing with twelve teams of oxen, and he was with the twelfth team. Elijah passed by him and threw his cloak around him. / So Elisha left the oxen, ran after Elijah, and said, “Please let me kiss my father and mother goodbye, and then I will follow you.” “Go on back,” Elijah replied, “for what have I done to you?” / So Elisha turned back from him, took his pair of oxen, and slaughtered them. Using the oxen’s equipment for fuel, he cooked the meat and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he set out to follow and serve Elijah.

2 Kings 4:8-10
One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat. / Then the woman said to her husband, “Behold, now I know that the one who often comes our way is a holy man of God. / Please let us make a small room upstairs and put in it a bed, a table, a chair, and a lamp for him. Then when he comes to us, he can stay there.”

Matthew 10:6
Go rather to the lost sheep of Israel.

Matthew 18:12-14
What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go out to search for the one that is lost? / And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he rejoices more over that one sheep than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray. / In the same way, your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should perish.

Luke 15:4-7
“What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the pasture and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? / And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders, / comes home, and calls together his friends and neighbors to tell them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep!’ ...

John 10:11-16
I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. / The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock. / The man runs away because he is a hired servant and is unconcerned for the sheep. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And the asses of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with you, and arise, go seek the asses.

1 Samuel 10:2
When thou art departed from me to day, then thou shalt find two men by Rachel's sepulchre in the border of Benjamin at Zelzah; and they will say unto thee, The asses which thou wentest to seek are found: and, lo, thy father hath left the care of the asses, and sorroweth for you, saying, What shall I do for my son?

Judges 5:10
Speak, ye that ride on white asses, ye that sit in judgment, and walk by the way.

Judges 10:4
And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havothjair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.

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Arise Asses Belonging Donkeys Kish Lost Rise Saul Saul's Search Seek Servants Thee Wandering Young
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Arise Asses Belonging Donkeys Kish Lost Rise Saul Saul's Search Seek Servants Thee Wandering Young
1 Samuel 9
1. Saul despairing to find his father's donkeys
6. by the counsel of his servant
11. and direction of young maidens
15. according to God's revelation
18. comes to Samuel
19. Samuel entertains Saul at the feast
25. Samuel, after secret communication, brings Saul on his way














One day
This phrase sets the stage for a seemingly ordinary event that God uses to orchestrate His divine plan. In the Hebrew context, the phrase suggests a specific time chosen by God, emphasizing His sovereignty over daily occurrences. It reminds us that God can use any day, even the most mundane, to initiate His purposes.

the donkeys
Donkeys in ancient Israel were valuable assets, used for transportation and agriculture. Their wandering off signifies a loss of property and potential hardship. This reflects the unpredictability of life and how God can use such situations to guide us toward His greater plans, as He did with Saul.

of Saul’s father Kish
Kish is introduced as a man of standing, from the tribe of Benjamin. The mention of Saul's father highlights the importance of family lineage in Israelite society. It also foreshadows Saul's future role as king, as God often works through familial lines to fulfill His promises.

wandered off
The Hebrew root for "wandered off" implies a sense of aimlessness or being led astray. This can symbolize how people, like the donkeys, can stray from God's path. Yet, God uses these moments of wandering to bring about His divine will, as seen in Saul's journey.

and Kish said to his son Saul
Kish's directive to Saul shows a father's authority and responsibility in the family. It also marks the beginning of Saul's journey toward kingship. This interaction underscores the importance of obedience and how God uses familial relationships to guide His people.

Take one of the servants
The inclusion of a servant highlights the social structure of the time, where servants played crucial roles in daily life. It also signifies companionship and assistance in fulfilling tasks. Spiritually, it reminds us that God often provides support through others as we pursue His calling.

and go look for the donkeys
This command initiates Saul's journey, which seems trivial but is pivotal in God's plan. The act of searching reflects diligence and responsibility. It serves as a metaphor for seeking God's will, illustrating how our searches can lead to unexpected divine encounters.

Verse 3. - The asses of Kish...were lost. So strangely is the trivial ever united with events most solemn and weighty, that Saul set out upon this journey, in which he was to find a kingdom, with no other object than to look for some lost asses - Hebrew, "she-asses." As used for riding (Judges 10:4), the ass was valuable, and as these were probably kept for breeding, they were allowed more liberty than the males, and so strayed away.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
One day the donkeys
הָאֲתֹנ֔וֹת (hā·’ă·ṯō·nō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 860: A female donkey

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

father
אֲבִ֣י (’ă·ḇî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 1: Father

Kish
לְקִ֖ישׁ (lə·qîš)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7027: Kish -- father of Saul, also the name of several other Israelites

wandered off.
וַתֹּאבַ֙דְנָה֙ (wat·tō·ḇaḏ·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 6: To wander away, lose oneself, to perish

So Kish
קִ֜ישׁ (qîš)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7027: Kish -- father of Saul, also the name of several other Israelites

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

his son
בְּנ֗וֹ (bə·nōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1121: A son

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

“Take
קַח־ (qaḥ-)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

one
אַחַ֣ד (’a·ḥaḏ)
Number - masculine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

of the servants
מֵֽהַנְּעָרִ֔ים (mê·han·nə·‘ā·rîm)
Preposition-m, Article | Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 5288: A boy, lad, youth, retainer

and go
לֵ֔ךְ (lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

look for
בַּקֵּ֖שׁ (baq·qêš)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 1245: To search out, to strive after

the donkeys.”
הָאֲתֹנֹֽת׃ (hā·’ă·ṯō·nōṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 860: A female donkey


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OT History: 1 Samuel 9:3 The donkeys of Kish Saul's father were (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 9:2
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