1 Samuel 28:8

6 He inquired of the LORD, but the LORD did not answer him by dreams or Urim or prophets.

7 Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, so I can go and consult her.” “There is a medium at Endor,” his servants replied.

So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”

9 But the woman replied, “Surely you know what Saul has done, how he has killed the mediums and spiritists in the land. Why have you set a trap to get me killed?”

10 Then Saul swore to her by the LORD: “As surely as the LORD lives, no punishment shall come upon you for this.”

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
So Saul disguised himself by putting on different clothes, and he set out with two of his men. They came to the woman at night, and Saul said, “Consult a spirit for me. Bring up for me the one I name.”
KJV
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, I pray thee, divine unto me by the familiar spirit, and bring me him up, whom I shall name unto thee.
WEB
Saul disguised himself and put on other clothing, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. Then he said, “Please consult for me by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomever I shall name to you.”
ASV
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other raiment, and went, he and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night: and he said, Divine unto me, I pray thee, by the familiar spirit, and bring me up whomsoever I shall name unto thee.
DARBY
And Saul disguised himself, and put on other garments, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night; and he said, I pray thee, divine to me by the spirit of Python, and bring me [him] up whom I shall name to thee.
BLB
And Saul disguised himself and put on other clothes, and he went, and two men with him, and they came to the woman by night. And he said, “Please divine for me the familiar spirit, and bring up for me whom I say to you.”
ÅB
Så gjorde Saul seg ukjennelig og tok andre klær på og gikk så avsted i følge med to menn. De kom til kvinnen om natten, og Saul sa: Spå meg ved å mane fram en død og hent opp til meg den som jeg nevner for deg!
OTB
Så forkledde Saul seg ved å ta på seg andre klær og dro av sted, han og to menn med ham, og de kom til kvinnen om natten. Og han sa: "Rådfør deg med en ånd for meg, vær så snill, og kall opp for meg den jeg skal nevne for deg."
B1930
Så gjorde Saul sig ukjennelig og tok andre klær på og gikk så avsted i følge med to menn. De kom til kvinnen om natten, og Saul sa: Spå mig ved å mane frem en død og hent op til mig den som jeg nevner for dig!

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Chronicles 10:13

    So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance,

    Read in context
  • Isaiah 8:19

    When men tell you to consult the spirits of the dead and the spiritists who whisper and mutter, shouldn’t a people consult their God instead? Why consult the dead on behalf of the living?

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 22:30

    And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 18:29

    And the king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat, “I will disguise myself and go into battle, but you wear your royal robes.” So the king of Israel disguised himself and went into battle.

    Read in context
  • 2 Chronicles 35:22

    Josiah, however, did not turn away from him; instead, in order to engage him in battle, he disguised himself. He did not listen to Neco’s words from the mouth of God, but went to fight him on the Plain of Megiddo.

    Read in context
  • Deuteronomy 18:10–11

    Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,

    Read in context
  • Jeremiah 23:24

    “Can a man hide in secret places where I cannot see him?” declares the LORD. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the LORD.

    Read in context
  • 1 Kings 14:2–3

    and Jeroboam said to his wife, “Now get up, disguise yourself so they will not recognize you as my wife, and go to Shiloh. For Ahijah the prophet is there; it was he who spoke about my kingship over this people.

    Read in context