King Saul in the Bible — Israel's First King and Tragic Fall
Saul son of Kish was Israel's first king — head and shoulders taller than everyone else, from the tribe of Benjamin. Samuel anointed him privately and then publicly revealed him as king. Saul began humbly but grew proud. When he disobeyed God before a battle, Samuel declared: 'To obey is better than sacrifice.' God rejected Saul, and the Spirit of the LORD departed from him. Below are 5 key passages from the King James Version (KJV) on this theme.
What does the Bible say about king saul?
Who is King Saul in the Bible? The tall, impressive Benjaminite anointed as Israel's first king — who began well but was rejected by God for disobedience and jealousy. His story is a warning that external gifts are no guarantee of lasting faithfulness.
5 Bible Verses About King saul (KJV)
“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 KJV Read 1 Samuel chapter 9 →
“And the Spirit of the Lord will come upon thee, and thou shalt prophesy with them, and shalt be turned into another man.”
1 Samuel 10:6 KJV Read 1 Samuel chapter 10 →
“And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.”
1 Samuel 13:13 KJV Read 1 Samuel chapter 13 →
“And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
1 Samuel 15:22 KJV Read 1 Samuel chapter 15 →
“Then said Saul unto his armourbearer, Draw thy sword, and thrust me through therewith; lest these uncircumcised come and thrust me through, and abuse me. But his armourbearer would not; for he was sore afraid. Therefore Saul took a sword, and fell upon it.”
1 Samuel 31:4 KJV Read 1 Samuel chapter 31 →
Read These Passages in Full Context
Frequently Asked Questions About King saul in the Bible
- What does the Bible say about king saul?
- Saul son of Kish was Israel's first king — head and shoulders taller than everyone else, from the tribe of Benjamin. Samuel anointed him privately and then publicly revealed him as king. Saul began humbly but grew proud. When he disobeyed God before a battle, Samuel declared: 'To obey is better than sacrifice.' God rejected Saul, and the Spirit of the LORD departed from him. Key KJV passages: 1 Samuel 9:2, 1 Samuel 10:6, 1 Samuel 13:13, 1 Samuel 15:22, 1 Samuel 31:4.
- What are the best Bible verses about king saul?
- The most important KJV passages on king saul include: 1 Samuel 9:2, 1 Samuel 10:6, 1 Samuel 13:13, 1 Samuel 15:22, 1 Samuel 31:4. Read all 5 passages free at The Living Sword Bible — no account, no ads.
- Where in the Bible does it talk about king saul?
- The Bible addresses king saul throughout both Testaments. Key references include 1 Samuel 9:2, 1 Samuel 10:6, 1 Samuel 13:13, 1 Samuel 15:22, 1 Samuel 31:4. Explore every passage in context at thelivingsword.replit.app.
- What does the Old Testament say about king saul?
- Old Testament scriptures on king saul: 1 Samuel 9:2, 1 Samuel 10:6, 1 Samuel 13:13, 1 Samuel 15:22. See them in full context free at The Living Sword.
- How do I study Bible verses about king saul?
- The Living Sword Bible app offers word-by-word study with original Hebrew and Greek, multiple translations (KJV, World English Bible, Geneva Bible, Young's Literal, ASV, Darby), cross-references, and an AI companion that answers only from Scripture. Read all 5 passages on king saul at thelivingsword.replit.app — free, no account, no download required.
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Available translations: King James Version (KJV), World English Bible (WEB), Geneva Bible 1599, Darby Translation, Young's Literal Translation (YLT), American Standard Version (ASV), and the Living Sword Translation.