1 Samuel 28:5
New International Version
When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid; terror filled his heart.

New Living Translation
When Saul saw the vast Philistine army, he became frantic with fear.

English Standard Version
When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

Berean Standard Bible
When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently.

King James Bible
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

New King James Version
When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

New American Standard Bible
When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.

NASB 1995
When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.

NASB 1977
When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.

Legacy Standard Bible
Saul saw the camp of the Philistines and was afraid and his heart trembled greatly.

Amplified Bible
When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and badly shaken.

Christian Standard Bible
When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and his heart pounded.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid and trembled violently.

American Standard Version
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

Contemporary English Version
Saul took one look at the Philistine army and started shaking with fear.

English Revised Version
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
When Saul looked at the Philistine army, he was very afraid-terrified.

Good News Translation
When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was terrified,

International Standard Version
When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

Majority Standard Bible
When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently.

NET Bible
When Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, he was absolutely terrified.

New Heart English Bible
When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

World English Bible
When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and Saul sees the camp of the Philistines, and fears, and his heart trembles greatly,

Young's Literal Translation
and Saul seeth the camp of the Philistines, and feareth, and his heart trembleth greatly,

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will see the camp of the rovers, and he will fear and his heart will tremble greatly.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul saw the army of the Plilistines, and was afraid, and his heart was very much dismayed.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, and he was afraid, and his heart was exceedingly terrified.

New American Bible
When Saul saw the Philistine camp, he grew afraid and lost heart completely.

New Revised Standard Version
When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.Is not this David, of whom the daughters of Israel sang one to another with timbrels, saying, Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul saw the encampment of the Philistines and was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul saw the camp of the Philistines, and he was alarmed, and his heart was greatly dismayed.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Philistines Gather Against Israel
4The Philistines came together and camped at Shunem, while Saul gathered all Israel and camped at Gilboa. 5When Saul saw the Philistine army, he was afraid and trembled violently. 6He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.…

Cross References
Joshua 2:9-11
and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given you this land and that the fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who dwell in the land are melting in fear of you. / For we have heard how the LORD dried up the waters of the Red Sea before you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites across the Jordan, whom you devoted to destruction. / When we heard this, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in the heavens above and on the earth below.

Judges 7:13-14
And as Gideon arrived, a man was telling his friend about a dream. “Behold, I had a dream,” he said, “and I saw a loaf of barley bread come tumbling into the Midianite camp. It struck the tent so hard that the tent overturned and collapsed.” / His friend replied: “This is nothing less than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has delivered Midian and the whole camp into his hand.”

1 Samuel 17:11
On hearing the words of the Philistine, Saul and all the Israelites were dismayed and greatly afraid.

1 Samuel 18:12
So Saul was afraid of David, because the LORD was with David but had departed from Saul.

1 Samuel 31:3-4
When the battle intensified against Saul, the archers overtook him and wounded him critically. / Then Saul said to his armor-bearer, “Draw your sword and run me through with it, or these uncircumcised men will come and run me through and torture me!” But his armor-bearer was terrified and refused to do it. So Saul took his own sword and fell on it.

2 Samuel 22:5-7
For the waves of death engulfed me; the torrents of chaos overwhelmed me. / The cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. / In my distress I called upon the LORD; I cried out to my God. And from His temple He heard my voice, and my cry for help reached His ears.

2 Kings 6:15-17
When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early in the morning, behold, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. So he asked Elisha, “Oh, my master, what are we to do?” / “Do not be afraid,” Elisha answered, “for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” / Then Elisha prayed, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw that the hills were full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

2 Chronicles 20:3
Jehoshaphat was alarmed and set his face to seek the LORD. And he proclaimed a fast throughout Judah.

Psalm 27:1-3
Of David. The LORD is my light and my salvation—whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life—whom shall I dread? / When the wicked came upon me to devour my flesh, my enemies and foes stumbled and fell. / Though an army encamps around me, my heart will not fear; though a war breaks out against me, I will keep my trust.

Psalm 56:3-4
When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. / In God, whose word I praise—in God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

Isaiah 7:2
When it was reported to the house of David that Aram was in league with Ephraim, the hearts of Ahaz and his people trembled like trees in the forest shaken by the wind.

Isaiah 8:12-13
“Do not call conspiracy everything these people regard as conspiracy. Do not fear what they fear; do not live in dread. / The LORD of Hosts is the One you shall regard as holy. Only He should be feared; only He should be dreaded.

Isaiah 41:10
Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be afraid, for I am your God. I will strengthen you; I will surely help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Matthew 14:26-27
When the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost!” they said, and cried out in fear. / But Jesus spoke up at once: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.”

Matthew 28:4
The guards trembled in fear of him and became like dead men.


Treasury of Scripture

And when Saul saw the host of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart greatly trembled.

he was afraid

Job 15:21
A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him.

Job 18:11
Terrors shall make him afraid on every side, and shall drive him to his feet.

Psalm 48:5,6
They saw it, and so they marvelled; they were troubled, and hasted away…

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Afraid Army Camp Heart Host Moved Philistine Philistines Saul Terror Trembled Trembleth Troubled
1 Samuel 28
1. Achish puts confidence in David
3. Saul having destroyed the witches
4. and now in his fear forsaken of God
7. has recourse to a witch
8. who, encouraged by Saul, raises up Samuel
15. Saul hearing his ruin, faints
21. The woman and his servants refresh him with meat














When Saul saw
The Hebrew root for "saw" is רָאָה (ra'ah), which means to see, perceive, or understand. This word indicates more than just physical sight; it implies a deeper perception or realization. Saul's seeing of the Philistine army is not just a visual acknowledgment but a moment of profound understanding of the dire situation he faces. In a spiritual sense, this can be seen as a moment where Saul's lack of faith and reliance on God becomes evident. Historically, Saul's reign was marked by a gradual departure from God's guidance, and this moment of seeing the enemy army is a culmination of his spiritual blindness.

the Philistine army
The Philistines were a significant and recurring adversary of Israel throughout the Old Testament. Archaeologically, the Philistines are believed to have been part of the Sea Peoples who settled along the coastal regions of Canaan. Their presence in the narrative of 1 Samuel represents a constant threat to Israel's security and a test of their faithfulness to God. The Philistine army symbolizes the worldly challenges and opposition that God's people face, and Saul's reaction to them highlights his failure to trust in God's deliverance.

he was afraid
The Hebrew word for "afraid" is יָרֵא (yare), which conveys a sense of fear, reverence, or awe. In this context, it reflects Saul's overwhelming fear of the impending battle and his recognition of his own inadequacy without divine support. This fear contrasts sharply with the courage that comes from faith in God, as seen in the lives of other biblical figures like David. Saul's fear is a direct result of his disobedience and separation from God, serving as a cautionary tale for believers to maintain their trust in the Lord.

and trembled violently
The phrase "trembled violently" is derived from the Hebrew חָרַד (charad), meaning to tremble, quake, or be terrified. This intense physical reaction underscores the depth of Saul's fear and anxiety. It is a vivid depiction of a man who has lost his spiritual foundation and is now overwhelmed by the circumstances around him. In a broader scriptural context, this trembling can be contrasted with the peace and assurance that comes from a steadfast relationship with God. Saul's violent trembling serves as a reminder of the consequences of turning away from God's guidance and the importance of seeking His strength in times of trouble.

(5) He was afraid.--There is no doubt that Saul was discouraged when he viewed the enemy's ranks from the eminence of Gilboa. They were far more numerous than he had expected. But the real reason of his trembling must be looked for in the consciousness that God had forsaken him. Many of the well-known Israelite warriors had, during the late events, taken service with his dreaded rival, David, and David, he knew, was now the vassal of Achish, a Philistine king. We may imagine Saul, the forsaken of God, as be stood on the white chalk hill of Gilboa, gazing on the long lines of Philistine tents pitched on the opposite hill of Shunem, wondering if his old friend was there, with his mighty following, in the division of Gath.

Verses 5, 6. - When Saul saw, etc. It is plain from this that the Philistines had not forced their way up through the Israelite territory; for this was evidently Saul's first sight of their forces, and his alarm was caused by finding them so much larger than he had expected. He therefore in his anxiety enquired of Jehovah, but received no answer, neither by dreams. He had expected these to be vouchsafed, possibly to himself, but more probably to some class of prophets (see Jeremiah 23:25, where false prophets claim to have dreamed, in imitation no doubt of true prophets); but though dreams were thus recognised as a means for communicating God's will to man, yet, as Erdmann well remarks, "a subordinate position is certainly assigned in the Old Testament to the dream as the medium of the Divine influence on the inner life, which in sleep sinks into a state of passiveness." Nor by Urim. Though Abiathar after the massacre of his family had fled to David with the ephod, it is quite possible that Saul may have had another ephod made, and have set up a fresh sanctuary, perhaps at Gibeon, with Zadok, of the family of Eleazar, as high priest. This would account for Zadok being joined with Ahimelech, the son of Abiathar, as one of two high priests early in David's reign (2 Samuel 8:17). It is remarkable, however, that Saul does not mention the Urim himself in ver. 15, and very probably it is named here not because the ephod was actually used, but as enumerating all the various ways by which men inquired of Jehovah. Nor by prophets. In his dee spair Saul may have turned to some reputed soothsayer present with the host, but his wilful life had alienated both priest and prophet from him. And this is the meaning of the passage in 1 Chronicles 10:14: "Saul enquired not of Jehovah; therefore he slew him." He may have gone through the form of inquiring, and certainly now would have been glad of an answer, but his whole mind was determinately set upon carrying out his own purposes, and he would never permit, after the first year or two of his reign, the royal prerogative to bend to the will of God.

Parallel Commentaries ...


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

saw
וַיַּ֥רְא (way·yar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7200: To see

the Philistine
פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

army,
מַחֲנֵ֣ה (ma·ḥă·nêh)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army

he
לִבּ֖וֹ (lib·bōw)
Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 3820: The heart, the feelings, the will, the intellect, centre

was afraid
וַיִּרָ֕א (way·yi·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

and trembled
וַיֶּחֱרַ֥ד (way·ye·ḥĕ·raḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2729: To shudder with terror, to fear, to hasten

violently.
מְאֹֽד׃ (mə·’ōḏ)
Adverb
Strong's 3966: Vehemence, vehemently, wholly, speedily


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OT History: 1 Samuel 28:5 When Saul saw the army (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
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