1 Samuel 9 · Verse 2

1 Samuel 9:2

And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
1 Samuel 9:2, King James Version

1 Samuel 9:2 in other translations

BSBAnd he had a son named Saul, choice and handsome, without equal among the Israelites—a head taller than any of the people.
WEBHe had a son whose name was Saul, an impressive young man; and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he. From his shoulders and upward he was taller than any of the people.
ASVAnd he had a son, whose name was Saul, a young man and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
YLTand he hath a son, and his name is Saul, a choice youth and goodly, and there is not a man among the sons of Israel goodlier than he--from his shoulder and upward, higher than any of the people.
DARBYAnd he had a son whose name was Saul, choice and comely; and there was not among the children of Israel a comelier person than he; from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.
BBEHe had a son named Saul, a specially good-looking young man; there was no one better-looking among the children of Israel: he was taller by a head than any other of the people.
WebsterAnd he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a more handsome person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

What does 1 Samuel 9:2 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
2. Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly--He had a fine appearance; for it is evident that he must have been only a little under seven feet tall. A gigantic stature and an athletic frame must have been a popular recommendation at that time in that country.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 2 From his shoulders and upwards - It was probably from this very circumstance that he was chosen for king; for, where kings were elective, in all ancient times great respect was paid to personal appearance.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 9:1-10

Saul readily went to seek his father's asses. His obedience to his father was praise-worthy. His servant proposed, that since they were now at Ramah, they should call on Samuel, and take his advice. Wherever we are, we should use our opportunities of acquainting ourselves with those who are wise and good. Many will consult a man of God, if he comes in their way, that would not go a step out of their way to get…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 9:1-10 →

1 Samuel 9:2 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְלוֹ\־ve.lov-and to <the> him
הָיָ֨הha.Yahhe belongedH1961
בֵ֜ןvena sonH1121
וּשְׁמ֤וֹu.she.Moand name hisH8034
שָׁאוּל֙sha.'Ul[was] SaulH7586
בָּח֣וּרba.Chura young manH970
וָט֔וֹבva.Tovand goodH2896
וְאֵ֥יןve.'Einand notH369
אִ֛ישׁ'isha manH376
מִבְּנֵ֥יmi.be.Neifrom [the] people ofH1121
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
ט֣וֹבTov[was] goodH2896
מִמֶּ֑נּוּmi.Me.numore than himH4480
מִשִּׁכְמ֣וֹmi.shikh.Mofrom shoulder hisH7926
וָמַ֔עְלָהva.Ma'.lahand up -wardsH4605
גָּבֹ֖הַּga.Vo.ah[he was] tallH1364
מִכָּל\־mi.kolmore than allH3605
הָעָֽם\׃ha.'Amthe peopleH5971

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 9:2

  • 1 Samuel 16:7

    But the Lord said unto Samuel, Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.

  • 2 Samuel 14:25-26

    But in all Israel there was none to be so much praised as Absalom for his beauty: from the sole of his foot even to the crown of his head there was no blemish in him. And when he polled his head, (for it was at every year’s end that he polled it: because the hair was heavy on him, therefore he polled it:) he weighed the hair of his head at two hundred shekels after the king’s weight.

  • Genesis 6:2

    That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they were fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.

  • Numbers 13:33

    And there we saw the giants, the sons of Anak, which come of the giants: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

  • 1 Samuel 17:4

    And there went out a champion out of the camp of the Philistines, named Goliath, of Gath, whose height was six cubits and a span.

  • Jeremiah 9:23

    Thus saith the Lord, Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, neither let the mighty man glory in his might, let not the rich man glory in his riches:

  • 1 Samuel 10:23-24

    And they ran and fetched him thence: and when he stood among the people, he was higher than any of the people from his shoulders and upward. And Samuel said to all the people, See ye him whom the Lord hath chosen, that there is none like him among all the people? And all the people shouted, and said, God save the king.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
choice.
16:7; Ge 6:2; 2Sa 14:25,26; Jer 9:23
from his shoulders.
10:23; 17:4; Nu 13:33

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 9:1

    Now there was a man of Benjamin, whose name was Kish, the son of Abiel, the son of Zeror, the son of Bechorath, the son of Aphiah, a Benjamite, a mighty man of power.

  • 1 Samuel 9:2

    And he had a son, whose name was Saul, a choice young man, and a goodly: and there was not among the children of Israel a goodlier person than he: from his shoulders and upward he was higher than any of the people.

  • 1 Samuel 9:3

    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.

Read all of 1 Samuel 9

1 Samuel 9:2 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y tenía él un hijo que se llamaba Saúl, mancebo y hermoso, que entre los hijos de Israel no había otro más hermoso que él; del hombro arriba sobrepujaba á cualquiera del pueblo.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
et il avait un fils, et son nom était Saül, homme d’élite et beau; et il n’y avait aucun des fils d’Israël qui soit plus beau que lui; il était plus grand que tout le peuple, depuis les épaules en haut.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und er hatte einen Sohn, sein Name war Saul, jung und schön, und kein Mann von den Kindern Israel war schöner als er; von seiner Schulter an aufwärts war er höher als alles Volk.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et erat ei filius vocabulo Saul, electus et bonus: et non erat vir de filiis Israël melior illo: ab humero et sursum eminebat super omnem populum.