1 Samuel 9:12 "Yes, he is ahead of you," they answered. "Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.

◄ 1 Samuel 9:12 ►

New International Version
“He is,” they answered. “He’s ahead of you. Hurry now; he has just come to our town today, for the people have a sacrifice at the high place.

New Living Translation
“Yes,” they replied. “Stay right on this road. He is at the town gates. He has just arrived to take part in a public sacrifice up at the place of worship.

English Standard Version
They answered, “He is; behold, he is just ahead of you. Hurry. He has come just now to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.

Berean Standard Bible
“Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.

King James Bible
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:

New King James Version
And they answered them and said, “Yes, there he is, just ahead of you. Hurry now; for today he came to this city, because there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place.

New American Standard Bible
They answered them and said, “He is; see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, because the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.

NASB 1995
They answered them and said, “He is; see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.

NASB 1977
And they answered them and said, “He is; see, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.

Legacy Standard Bible
And they answered them and said, “He is! Behold, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today, for the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.

Amplified Bible
They answered them, “He is; look, he is ahead of you. Hurry now, for he has come into the city today because the people have a sacrifice on the high place today.

Christian Standard Bible
The women answered, “Yes, he is ahead of you. Hurry, he just now entered the city, because there’s a sacrifice for the people at the high place today.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The women answered, “Yes, he is ahead of you. Hurry, he just now came to the city, because there’s a sacrifice for the people at the high place today.

American Standard Version
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before thee: make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place.

Contemporary English Version
"Yes, he is," they replied. "He's in town today because there's going to be a sacrifice and a sacred meal at the place of worship. In fact, he's just ahead of you. Hurry

English Revised Version
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before thee: make haste now, for he is come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
The girls answered, "He's there ahead of you. Hurry! He [just] went into the city today since the people are offering a sacrifice on the worship site.

International Standard Version
They answered them: "Yes, he's right there ahead of you. Hurry, for he came to town just today because there is a sacrifice for the people on the high place today.

Majority Standard Bible
“Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place.

NET Bible
They replied, "Yes, straight ahead! But hurry now, for he came to the town today, and the people are making a sacrifice at the high place.

New Heart English Bible
They answered them, and said, "He is. Look, he is ahead of you. Just now he has come to the city since the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to-day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to-day in the high place:

World English Bible
They answered them and said, “He is. Behold, he is before you. Hurry now, for he has come today into the city; for the people have a sacrifice today in the high place.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And they answer them and say, “He is; behold, before you! Hurry, now, for he has come to the city today, for the people [have] a sacrifice today in a high place.

Young's Literal Translation
And they answer them and say, 'He is; lo, before thee! haste, now, for to-day he hath come in to the city, for the people hath a stated sacrifice in a high place.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will answer them and will say, He is; behold, before thee: hasten now, for this day he came to the city for a sacrifice this day to the people Bamah.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
They answered and said to them: He is: behold he is before you, make haste now: for he came to day into the city, for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And responding, they said to them: “He is. Behold, he is ahead of you. Hurry now. For he came into the city today, since there is a sacrifice for the people today, on the high place.

New American Bible
The young women answered, “Yes, there—straight ahead. Hurry now; just today he came to the city, because the people have a sacrifice today on the high place.

New Revised Standard Version
They answered, “Yes, there he is just ahead of you. Hurry; he has come just now to the town, because the people have a sacrifice today at the shrine.

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
And they answered him and said, There is; behold, he is ahead of you; go up now quickly, for he came today to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people today on the high place;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And she answered and she said: “Behold, he is before you. Come up now quickly, because today he came to the city because of the sacrifice today for the people at the high place

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
And they answered them, and said: 'He is; behold, he is before thee; make haste now, for he is come to-day into the city; for the people have a sacrifice to-day in the high place.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the virgins answered them, and they say to them, He is: behold, he is before you: now he is coming to the city, because of the day, for to-day there is a sacrifice for the people in Bama.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Saul Chosen as King
…11And as they were climbing the hill to the city, they met some young women coming out to draw water and asked, “Is the seer here?” 12“Yes, he is ahead of you,” they answered. “Hurry now, for today he has come to the city because the people have a sacrifice on the high place. 13As soon as you enter the city, you will find him before he goes up to the high place to eat. The people will not eat until he comes, because he must bless the sacrifice; after that, the guests will eat. Go up at once; you will find him.”…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Samuel 10:5
After that you will come to Gibeah of God, where the Philistines have an outpost. As you approach the city, you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place, preceded by harps, tambourines, flutes, and lyres, and they will be prophesying.

1 Samuel 16:2-5
“How can I go?” Samuel asked. “Saul will hear of it and kill me!” The LORD answered, “Take a heifer with you and say, ‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’ / Then invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you are to do. You are to anoint for Me the one I indicate.” / So Samuel did what the LORD had said and went to Bethlehem. When the elders of the town met him, they trembled and asked, “Do you come in peace?” ...

1 Kings 18:19-20
Now summon all Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel, along with the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah who eat at Jezebel’s table.” / So Ahab summoned all the Israelites and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel.

2 Kings 4:22-23
And the woman called her husband and said, “Please send me one of the servants and one of the donkeys, that I may go quickly to the man of God and return.” / “Why would you go to him today?” he replied. “It is not a New Moon or a Sabbath.” “Everything is all right,” she said.

2 Kings 5:10
Then Elisha sent him a messenger, who said, “Go and wash yourself seven times in the Jordan, and your flesh will be restored, and you will be clean.”

2 Kings 6:32-33
Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?” / While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him. And the king said, “This calamity is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”

2 Kings 7:1
Then Elisha said, “Hear the word of the LORD! This is what the LORD says: ‘About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, a seah of fine flour will sell for a shekel, and two seahs of barley will sell for a shekel.’”

2 Chronicles 20:20
Early in the morning they got up and left for the Wilderness of Tekoa. As they set out, Jehoshaphat stood up and said, “Hear me, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Believe in the LORD your God, and you will be upheld; believe in His prophets, and you will succeed.”

Jeremiah 42:2-3
Jeremiah the prophet and said, “May our petition come before you; pray to the LORD your God on behalf of this entire remnant. For few of us remain of the many, as you can see with your own eyes. / Pray that the LORD your God will tell us the way we should walk and the thing we should do.”

Amos 7:12-13
And Amaziah said to Amos, “Go away, you seer! Flee to the land of Judah; earn your bread there and do your prophesying there. / But never prophesy at Bethel again, because it is the sanctuary of the king and the temple of the kingdom.”

Matthew 21:11
The crowds replied, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Matthew 21:46
Although they wanted to arrest Him, they were afraid of the crowds, because the people regarded Him as a prophet.

Mark 6:15
Others were saying, “He is Elijah,” and still others, “He is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.”

Luke 7:16
A sense of awe swept over all of them, and they glorified God. “A great prophet has appeared among us!” they said. “God has visited His people!”

Luke 7:39
When the Pharisee who had invited Jesus saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, He would know who this is and what kind of woman is touching Him—for she is a sinner!”

Treasury of Scripture

And they answered them, and said, He is; behold, he is before you: make haste now, for he came to day to the city; for there is a sacrifice of the people to day in the high place:

sacrifice.

1 Samuel 16:2
And Samuel said, How can I go? if Saul hear it, he will kill me. And the LORD said, Take an heifer with thee, and say, I am come to sacrifice to the LORD.

Genesis 31:54
Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.

Deuteronomy 12:6,7
And thither ye shall bring your burnt offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and heave offerings of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill offerings, and the firstlings of your herds and of your flocks: …

the high place

1 Kings 3:2-4
Only the people sacrificed in high places, because there was no house built unto the name of the LORD, until those days…

1 Chronicles 16:39
And Zadok the priest, and his brethren the priests, before the tabernacle of the LORD in the high place that was at Gibeon,

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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

Berean Study Bible

Yes, he is ahead of you
This phrase indicates a confirmation and a sense of urgency. The Hebrew word for "yes" is "הִנֵּה" (hinneh), often used to draw attention or emphasize certainty. The phrase "ahead of you" suggests that Saul is on the right path, both physically and spiritually, as he is about to encounter Samuel, God's prophet. This encounter is divinely orchestrated, highlighting God's sovereignty in guiding Saul's journey.

they answered
The response from the young women at the well is immediate and direct. In the Hebrew context, the act of answering signifies a communal knowledge and awareness of Samuel's presence and importance. It reflects the societal respect and recognition of Samuel as a prophet and leader in Israel.

Hurry now
The urgency in this command underscores the importance of the moment. The Hebrew root "מַהֵר" (maher) conveys a sense of haste and immediacy. This urgency is not just about physical speed but also about seizing the divine opportunity presented. It reflects the biblical theme of responding promptly to God's call.

for he has come to the city today
This phrase situates the narrative in a specific time and place, emphasizing the providential timing of Saul's arrival. The Hebrew word for "city" is "עִיר" (ir), which in ancient Israel was often a place of gathering and significance. The mention of "today" highlights the immediacy and divine timing of the encounter, suggesting that God's plans are unfolding in the present moment.

because the people have a sacrifice
The act of sacrifice is central to Israelite worship and covenant relationship with God. The Hebrew word "זֶבַח" (zevach) refers to a communal offering, often associated with thanksgiving and fellowship. This context indicates that the community is engaged in worship, setting the stage for Saul's anointing as king, which is both a religious and communal event.

at the high place
High places, or "בָּמָה" (bamah) in Hebrew, were elevated sites used for worship. In the context of ancient Israel, these were often locations where people gathered to offer sacrifices before the establishment of the temple in Jerusalem. The high place signifies a meeting point between the divine and human, a sacred space where God’s presence is sought. This setting foreshadows the significant spiritual encounter Saul is about to have with Samuel, marking the beginning of his journey as Israel's first king.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(12) He came to-day.--The little scene--in itself in no way remarkable--is recounted by an eye-witness, evidently as introducing momentous consequences.

Every detail of that day's proceedings was of deep interest to Israel. Some of the maidens of Raman were at the well side, drawing water for their homes. The two strangers accost them with the words, "Is the seer who dwells among you here just now?" and they eagerly reply, "Yes, this very day he came from his house into the town. It is a festival day--you will find him presiding up there," pointing, no doubt, to the high place, where the sacrifices were being offered. Every word spoken by the girls of Ramah, loving to chatter and exhibit their local knowledge and their interest in their great fellow-citizen, the seer and judge, to whom they, in common with the inhabitants of Ramah, were, no doubt, much attached, was remembered in after time by Saul and his companion.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“Yes,
הִנֵּ֣ה (hin·nêh)
Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

he is
יֵּ֖שׁ (yêš)
Adverb
Strong's 3426: Being, substance, existence, is

ahead of you,”
לְפָנֶ֑יךָ (lə·p̄ā·ne·ḵā)
Preposition-l | Noun - common plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 6440: The face

they answered.
וַתַּעֲנֶ֧ינָה (wat·ta·‘ă·ne·nāh)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural
Strong's 6030: To answer, respond

“Hurry
מַהֵ֣ר ׀ (ma·hêr)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 4116: To be liquid, flow easily, to hurry, promptly

now,
עַתָּ֗ה (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

for
כִּ֤י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

today
הַיּוֹם֙ (hay·yō·wm)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3117: A day

he has come
בָּ֣א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to the city
לָעִ֔יר (lā·‘îr)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5892: Excitement

because
כִּ֣י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

the people have
לָעָ֖ם (lā·‘ām)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

a sacrifice
זֶ֧בַח (ze·ḇaḥ)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 2077: A slaughter, the flesh of an animal, a sacrifice

on the high place.
בַּבָּמָֽה׃ (bab·bā·māh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 1116: An elevation

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OT History: 1 Samuel 9:12 They answered them and said He is (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)