1 Samuel 28:23

21 And the woman came unto Saul, and saw that he was sore troubled, and said unto him, Behold, thine handmaid hath obeyed thy voice, and I have put my life in my hand, and have hearkened unto thy words which thou spakest unto me.

22 Now therefore, I pray thee, hearken thou also unto the voice of thine handmaid, and let me set a morsel of bread before thee; and eat, that thou mayest have strength, when thou goest on thy way.

But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.

24 And the woman had a fat calf in the house; and she hasted, and killed it, and took flour, and kneaded it, and did bake unleavened bread thereof:

25 And she brought it before Saul, and before his servants; and they did eat. Then they rose up, and went away that night.

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
Saul refused, saying, “I will not eat.” But his servants joined the woman in urging him, and he heeded their voice. He got up from the ground and sat on the bed.
KJV
But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
WEB
But he refused, and said, “I will not eat.” But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him; and he listened to their voice. So he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.
ASV
But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, constrained him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
DARBY
But he refused and said, I will not eat. Then his servants, and the woman also, compelled him, and he hearkened to their voice; and he arose from the earth and sat on the bed.
BLB
And he refused and said, “I will not eat.” And his servants urged him, and also the woman, and he listened to their voice. And he arose from the ground and sat on the bed.
ÅB
Men han ville ikke og sa: Jeg skal ingen mat ha. Da nødde de ham, både hans tjenere og kvinnen, og han lød dem og reiste seg opp fra jorden og satte seg på sengen.
OTB
Men han nektet og sa: "Jeg vil ikke spise." Men hans tjenere, sammen med kvinnen, overtalte ham, og han hørte på dem. Så han reiste seg fra jorden og satte seg på sengen.
B1930
Men han vilde ikke og sa: Jeg skal ingen mat ha. Da nødde de ham, både hans tjenere og kvinnen, og han lød dem og reiste sig op fra jorden og satte sig på sengen.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Kings 21:4

    And Ahab came into his house heavy and displeased because of the word which Naboth the Jezreelite had spoken to him: for he had said, I will not give thee the inheritance of my fathers. And he laid him down upon his bed, and turned away his face, and would eat no bread.

    Read in context
  • Proverbs 25:20

    As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

    Read in context
  • 2 Corinthians 5:14

    For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 5:13

    And his servants came near, and spake unto him, and said, My father, if the prophet had bid thee do some great thing, wouldest thou not have done it? how much rather then, when he saith to thee, Wash, and be clean?

    Read in context
  • 2 Kings 4:8

    And it fell on a day, that Elisha passed to Shunem, where was a great woman; and she constrained him to eat bread. And so it was, that as oft as he passed by, he turned in thither to eat bread.

    Read in context
  • Luke 14:23

    And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.

    Read in context
  • Luke 24:29

    But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them.

    Read in context
  • Acts 16:15

    And when she was baptized, and her household, she besought us, saying, If ye have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come into my house, and abide there. And she constrained us.

    Read in context