1 Samuel 9 · Verse 4

1 Samuel 9:4

And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
1 Samuel 9:4, King James Version

1 Samuel 9:4 in other translations

BSBSo 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.
WEBHe passed through the hill country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they didn’t find them. Then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they weren’t there. Then he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they didn’t find them.
ASVAnd he passed through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shaalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.
YLTAnd he passeth over through the hill-country of Ephraim, and passeth over through the land of Shalisha, and they have not found; and they pass over through the land of Shaalim, and they are not; and he passeth over through the land of Benjamin, and they have not found.
DARBYAnd he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalishah, but they found them not; and they passed through the land of Shaalim, and they were not there; and they passed through the land of Benjamin, and they found them not.
BBESo they went through the hill-country of Ephraim and through the land of Shalishah, but they saw no sign of them: then they went through the land of Shaalim, but they were not there: and they went through the land of the Benjamites, but they did not come across them.
WebsterAnd he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjaminites, but they found them not.

What does 1 Samuel 9:4 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 9:4-5
4-5. he passed through mount Ephraim--This being situated on the north of Benjamin, indicates the direction of Saul's journey. The district explored means the whole of the mountainous region, with its valleys and defiles, which belonged to Ephraim. Turning apparently southwards--probably through the verdant hills between Shiloh and the vales of Jordan (Shalisha and Shalim)--he approached again the borders of Benjamin, scoured the land of Zuph, and was proposing to return, when his servant recollected that they were in the immediate neighborhood of the man of God, who would give them counsel.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · 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 9:4 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.

וַיַּעֲבֹ֧רvai.ya.'a.Vorand he passedH5674
בְּהַר\־be.har-in [the] hill country ofH2022
אֶפְרַ֛יִם'ef.Ra.yimEphraimH669
וַיַּעֲבֹ֥רvai.ya.'a.Vorand he passedH5674
בְּאֶֽרֶץ\־be.'e.retz-in [the] land ofH776
שָׁלִ֖שָׁהsha.Li.shahShalishaH8031
וְלֹ֣אve.Lo'and notH3808
מָצָ֑אוּma.Tza.'uthey found [them]H4672
וַיַּעַבְר֤וּvai.ya.'av.Ruand they passedH5674
בְאֶֽרֶץ\־ve.'e.retz-in [the] land ofH776
שַׁעֲלִים֙sha.'a.LimShaalimH8171
וָאַ֔יִןva.'A.yinand there notH369
וַיַּעֲבֹ֥רvai.ya.'a.Vorand he passedH5674
בְּאֶֽרֶץ\־be.'e.retz-in [the] land ofH776
יְמִינִ֖יye.mi.Ni[the] Jaminite[s]H3227
וְלֹ֥אve.Lo'and notH3808
מָצָֽאוּ\׃ma.Tza.'uthey found [them]H4672

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

Cross references for 1 Samuel 9:4

  • 2 Kings 4:42

    And there came a man from Baal–shalisha, and brought the man of God bread of the firstfruits, twenty loaves of barley, and full ears of corn in the husk thereof. And he said, Give unto the people, that they may eat.

  • Joshua 24:33

    And Eleazar the son of Aaron died; and they buried him in a hill that pertained to Phinehas his son, which was given him in mount Ephraim.

  • Genesis 33:18

    And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan–aram; and pitched his tent before the city.

  • Judges 17:1

    And there was a man of mount Ephraim, whose name was Micah.

  • Judges 19:1

    And it came to pass in those days, when there was no king in Israel, that there was a certain Levite sojourning on the side of mount Ephraim, who took to him a concubine out of Beth–lehem–judah.

  • John 3:23

    And John also was baptizing in Ænon near to Salim, because there was much water there: and they came, and were baptized.

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

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
mount.
Jud 17:1; 19:1
Shalisha.
2Ki 4:42
Shalim.
Ge 33:18; Joh 3:23

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

Context

  • 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.

  • 1 Samuel 9:4

    And he passed through mount Ephraim, and passed through the land of Shalisha, but they found them not: then they passed through the land of Shalim, and there they were not: and he passed through the land of the Benjamites, but they found them not.

  • 1 Samuel 9:5

    And when they were come to the land of Zuph, Saul said to his servant that was with him, Come, and let us return; lest my father leave caring for the asses, and take thought for us.

Read all of 1 Samuel 9

1 Samuel 9:4 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y él pasó al monte de Ephraim, y de allí á la tierra de Salisa, y no las hallaron. Pasaron luego por la tierra de Saalim, y tampoco. Después pasaron por la tierra de Benjamín, y no las encontraron.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et il passa par la montagne d’Éphraïm, et passa par le pays de Shalisha; et ils ne les trouvèrent pas; et ils passèrent par le pays de Shaalim, mais elles n’y étaient pas; et il passa par le pays de Benjamin, mais ils ne les trouvèrent pas.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und er durchzog das Gebirge Ephraim und durchzog das Land Schalischa, und sie fanden sie nicht; und sie durchzogen das Land Schaalim, aber sie waren nicht da; und er durchzog das Land Benjamin, und sie fanden sie nicht.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
et per terram Salisa, et non invenissent, transierunt etiam per terram Salim, et non erant: sed et per terram Jemini, et minime repererunt.