1 Samuel 9:7
New International Version
Saul said to his servant, “If we go, what can we give the man? The food in our sacks is gone. We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

New Living Translation
“But we don’t have anything to offer him,” Saul replied. “Even our food is gone, and we don’t have a thing to give him.”

English Standard Version
Then Saul said to his servant, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

Berean Standard Bible
“If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

King James Bible
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

New King James Version
Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread in our vessels is all gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

New American Standard Bible
Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sacks and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

NASB 1995
Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

NASB 1977
Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Saul said to his young man, “But behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone from our sack, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”

Amplified Bible
Then Saul said to his servant, “But look, if we go [to see him], what shall we bring to the man? For the bread from our sacks is gone and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have [to offer]?”

Christian Standard Bible
“Suppose we do go,” Saul said to his servant, “what do we take the man? The food from our packs is gone, and there’s no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Suppose we do go,” Saul said to his attendant, “what do we take the man? The food from our packs is gone, and there’s no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

American Standard Version
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

Contemporary English Version
Saul said, "How can we talk to the prophet when I don't have anything to give him? We don't even have any bread left in our sacks. What can we give him?"

English Revised Version
Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"If we go," Saul asked his servant, "what could we bring the man since the food in our sacks is gone? There's no present we can bring the man of God. What do we have?"

Good News Translation
"If we go to him, what can we give him?" Saul asked. "There is no food left in our packs, and we don't have a thing to give him, do we?"

International Standard Version
Saul told the young man, "Look, we could go, but what could we bring the man? The bread is gone from our bags, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What do we have with us?"

Majority Standard Bible
“If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?”

NET Bible
So Saul said to his servant, "All right, we can go. But what can we bring the man, since the food in our bags is used up? We have no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?"

New Heart English Bible
Then Saul said to his servant, "But look, if we go, what shall we bring the man? For the bread is gone in our vessels, and there is no gift to bring to the man of God. What do we have?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Then said Saul to his servant, But behold, if we go, what shall we bring to the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

World English Bible
Then Saul said to his servant, “But behold, if we go, what should we bring the man? For the bread is spent in our sacks, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God. What do we have?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Saul says to his young man, “And behold, we go, and what do we bring to the man? For the bread has gone from our vessels, and there is no present to bring to the man of God—what [is] with us?”

Young's Literal Translation
And Saul saith to his young man, 'And lo, we go, and what do we bring in to the man? for the bread hath gone from our vessels, and a present there is not to bring in to the man of God -- what is with us?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Saul will say to his boy, And behold, we will go, and what shall we bring to the man? for the bread departed from our vessels, and not a gift to bring to the man of God: what with us?
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Saul said to his servant: Behold we will go: but what shall we carry to the man of God? the bread is spent in our bags: and we have no present to make to the man of God, nor any thing at all.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And Saul said to his servant: “Behold, let us go. But what will we bring to the man of God? The bread in our sacks has run out. And we have no small gift that we might give to the man of God, nor anything at all.”

New American Bible
But Saul said to his servant, “If we go, what can we offer the man? The food in our bags has run out; we have no present to give the man of God. What else do we have?”

New Revised Standard Version
Then Saul replied to the boy, “But if we go, what can we bring the man? For the bread in our sacks is gone, and there is no present to bring to the man of God. What have we?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Saul said to his servant, Behold, if we go, what shall we bring to the man of God? For the bread is spent in our bags and there are no provisions to bring a present to the man of God, because we have nothing.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul said to the boy, “Behold, what are we going to take to the man of God, for the bread is spent from our goods, and there are no provisions to bring to the man of God, because we have nothing?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then said Saul to his servant: 'But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God; what have we?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul said to his young man that was with him, Lo, then, we will go; but what shall we bring the man of God? for the loaves are spent out of our vessels, and we have nothing more with us that belongs to us to bring to the man of God.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Saul Chosen as King
6“Look,” said the servant, “in this city there is a man of God who is highly respected; everything he says surely comes to pass. Let us go there now. Perhaps he will tell us which way to go.” 7“If we do go,” Saul replied, “what can we give the man? For the bread in our packs is gone, and there is no gift to take to the man of God. What do we have?” 8The servant answered him again. “Look,” he said “I have here in my hand a quarter shekel of silver. I will give it to the man of God, and he will tell us our way.”…

Cross References
1 Kings 14:3
Take with you ten loaves of bread, some cakes, and a jar of honey, and go to him. He will tell you what will become of the boy.”

2 Kings 4:42
Now a man from Baal-shalishah came to the man of God with a sack of twenty loaves of barley bread from the first ripe grain. “Give it to the people to eat,” said Elisha.

Judges 6:18-19
Please do not depart from this place until I return to You. Let me bring my offering and set it before You.” And the LORD said, “I will stay until you return.” / So Gideon went in and prepared a young goat and unleavened bread and an ephah of flour. He placed the meat in a basket and the broth in a pot and brought them out to present to Him under the oak.

Genesis 24:53
Then he brought out jewels of silver and gold, and articles of clothing, and he gave them to Rebekah. He also gave precious gifts to her brother and her mother.

1 Kings 13:7
Then the king said to the man of God, “Come home with me and refresh yourself, and I will give you a reward.”

2 Kings 5:5
“Go now,” said the king of Aram, “and I will send you with a letter to the king of Israel.” So Naaman departed, taking with him ten talents of silver, six thousand shekels of gold, and ten sets of clothing.

1 Kings 17:10-16
So Elijah got up and went to Zarephath. When he arrived at the city gate, there was a widow gathering sticks. Elijah called to her and said, “Please bring me a little water in a cup, so that I may drink.” / And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread.” / But she replied, “As surely as the LORD your God lives, I have no bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. Look, I am gathering a couple of sticks to take home and prepare a meal for myself and my son, so that we may eat it and die.” ...

2 Kings 8:8-9
So the king said to Hazael, “Take a gift in your hand, go to meet the man of God, and inquire of the LORD through him, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’” / So Hazael went to meet Elisha, taking with him a gift of forty camel loads of every good thing from Damascus. And he went in and stood before him and said, “Your son Ben-hadad king of Aram has sent me to ask, ‘Will I recover from this illness?’”

Matthew 10:9-10
Do not carry any gold or silver or copper in your belts. / Take no bag for the road, or second tunic, or sandals, or staff; for the worker is worthy of his provisions.

Luke 9:3
“Take nothing for the journey,” He told them, “no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no second tunic.

Mark 6:8
He instructed them to take nothing but a staff for the journey—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts—

Matthew 10:41-42
Whoever receives a prophet because he is a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever receives a righteous man because he is a righteous man will receive a righteous man’s reward. / And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones because he is My disciple, truly I tell you, he will never lose his reward.”

1 Corinthians 9:11-14
If we have sown spiritual seed among you, is it too much for us to reap a material harvest from you? / If others have this right to your support, shouldn’t we have it all the more? But we did not exercise this right. Instead, we put up with anything rather than hinder the gospel of Christ. / Do you not know that those who work in the temple eat of its food, and those who serve at the altar partake of its offerings? ...

1 Timothy 5:18
For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain,” and, “The worker is worthy of his wages.”

Galatians 6:6
Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word must share in all good things with his instructor.


Treasury of Scripture

Then said Saul to his servant, But, behold, if we go, what shall we bring the man? for the bread is spent in our vessels, and there is not a present to bring to the man of God: what have we?

what shall

Judges 6:18
Depart not hence, I pray thee, until I come unto thee, and bring forth my present, and set it before thee. And he said, I will tarry until thou come again.

Judges 13:15-17
And Manoah said unto the angel of the LORD, I pray thee, let us detain thee, until we shall have made ready a kid for thee…

1 Kings 14:3
And take with thee ten loaves, and cracknels, and a cruse of honey, and go to him: he shall tell thee what shall become of the child.

spent in [heb] gone out of, etc.

have we [heb] is with us.

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Bread Present Sack Sacks Saul Servant Spent Vessels Young
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Bread Present Sack Sacks Saul Servant Spent Vessels 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














If we do go
This phrase indicates a conditional decision-making process. In the Hebrew context, the act of seeking guidance from a prophet or "man of God" was not taken lightly. It reflects a cultural and spiritual norm where divine guidance was sought for important decisions. The Hebrew root for "go" (הלך, halak) often implies a journey or a walk, symbolizing a path of obedience or faith. Saul's consideration here shows a respect for the prophetic office and an acknowledgment of the need for divine direction.

what can we give the man?
In ancient Israel, it was customary to bring a gift when seeking the counsel of a prophet. This practice was not merely transactional but was a sign of respect and honor. The Hebrew word for "give" (נתן, natan) suggests an offering or a gift, which was a tangible expression of gratitude and reverence. This reflects the cultural understanding that spiritual guidance was valuable and worthy of honor.

Saul asked his servant
This phrase highlights the relationship between Saul and his servant, indicating a level of humility and openness to counsel. In the hierarchical society of ancient Israel, a servant's opinion might not typically be sought, yet Saul's inquiry shows a willingness to listen and consider advice from those around him. This can be seen as a moment of humility before Saul's later rise to kingship.

For the bread is gone from our sacks
Bread, a staple of life in ancient times, symbolizes sustenance and provision. The absence of bread in their sacks underscores a moment of need and lack. In the Hebrew context, bread (לחם, lechem) often represents God's provision. This phrase can be seen as a metaphor for spiritual hunger and the need for divine provision, which Saul seeks through the prophet.

and there is no gift to bring the man of God
The term "man of God" (איש האלהים, ish ha-Elohim) is a title of respect for a prophet, indicating someone who speaks on behalf of God. The absence of a gift highlights a moment of inadequacy and the cultural expectation to honor God's representative. This reflects the understanding that approaching God or His servants requires preparation and respect.

What do we have?
This question reflects a moment of introspection and resource assessment. It suggests a reliance on what is available and a willingness to offer whatever they possess. In a broader spiritual sense, it can be seen as a call to offer oneself fully to God, regardless of material wealth. The Hebrew root for "have" (יש, yesh) implies existence or possession, pointing to the idea that God can use whatever we have, no matter how small, for His purposes.

(7) What shall we bring?--It would seem at first strange that one like Samuel should be approached by presents, but the custom of offering gifts was in many cases an act of respectful homage to a superior rather than a mere fee. Compare, for instance, the many detailed accounts of presents offered and accepted, chronicled in the varied sacred records--such as the little present of spicery, &c, sent by Jacob to the great minister or vizier of the Pharaoh of Egypt (Genesis 43:11), and the ten cheeses Jesse gave to the captain of the thousand in which his sons were serving, and in the days of the highest civilisation and culture known in Israel, the gifts offered by the Queen of Sheba to the magnificent Solomon (1Kings 10:10).

Verse 7. - The bread is spent in our vessels. In the East a great man is always approached with a present, and offerings of food were no doubt the most usual gifts (1 Samuel 16:20). Those made to the false prophets are contemptuously described in Ezekiel 13:19 as "handfuls of barley and pieces of bread." A present. The word is rare, and apparently is the technical name for a fee of this kind, half payment and half gift.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“If
וְהִנֵּ֣ה (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

we do go,”
נֵלֵךְ֮ (nê·lêḵ)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk

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

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

“what
וּמַה־ (ū·mah-)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

can we give
נָּבִ֣יא (nā·ḇî)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - first person common plural
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the man?
לָאִישׁ֒ (lā·’îš)
Preposition-l, Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

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

the bread
הַלֶּ֙חֶם֙ (hal·le·ḥem)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3899: Food, bread, grain

in our packs
מִכֵּלֵ֔ינוּ (mik·kê·lê·nū)
Preposition-m | Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common plural
Strong's 3627: Something prepared, any apparatus

is gone,
אָזַ֣ל (’ā·zal)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 235: To go away, to disappear

and there is no
אֵין־ (’ên-)
Adverb
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

gift
וּתְשׁוּרָ֥ה (ū·ṯə·šū·rāh)
Conjunctive waw | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8670: Perhaps gift, present

to take
לְהָבִ֖יא (lə·hā·ḇî)
Preposition-l | Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

to the man
לְאִ֣ישׁ (lə·’îš)
Preposition-l | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

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

What
מָ֖ה (māh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

do we have?”
אִתָּֽנוּ׃ (’it·tā·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among


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OT History: 1 Samuel 9:7 Then said Saul to his servant (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 9:6
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