This verse shows how God’s call can surprise us as He lifts humble circumstances into His grand design.
Saul, speaking to the prophet Samuel, expresses his surprise and humility when he says, “Am I not a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?” (v.21). This takes place around 1050 BC, at the dawn of Israel’s monarchy, when God has tasked Samuel to anoint Israel’s first king. Saul’s question reveals his initial sense of unworthiness for such a lofty position, highlighting his deferential spirit as he stands before the prophet who speaks God’s intentions. The tribe of Benjamin was the smallest tribe in Israel, partly because of events such as the devastation recounted in the book of Judges, and Saul’s shock is that someone from such an unassuming background would be chosen for royal appointment.
In this moment, Saul is both startled and uncertain. Although Scripture later shows that he becomes Israel’s first king and reigns for forty years, his beginnings are marked by humility and confusion. Sometime after this verse, Saul’s identity unfolds in his service to the nation, but here in 1 Samuel 9:21, we witness him grappling with the idea that he would rule over the people of Israel. Such surprise parallels how God often calls people from modest places, reflecting the principle that the Lord does not always choose according to human standards (1 Samuel 16:7). Saul’s family loyalty, connected to Kish of the tribe of Benjamin, is noted also in the New Testament when Paul (originally named Saul) reiterates his ancestry from Benjamin, demonstrating God’s ongoing work throughout history in using individuals from every tribe.
Although Saul’s early days are filled with promise and potential, the rest of his story includes both triumphs and failures. Nonetheless, his astonishment here underscores that God can elevate the least likely people to positions of influence—much as Jesus in the New Testament was born into a humble family yet ascended to fulfill His eternal reign (Philippians 2:5-10). Saul’s statement reminds us that God is sovereign in His choices and delights in using unexpected means to accomplish His purposes.
Set to dark mode
1 Samuel 9:21 meaning
Saul, speaking to the prophet Samuel, expresses his surprise and humility when he says, “Am I not a Benjaminite, of the smallest of the tribes of Israel, and my family the least of all the families of the tribe of Benjamin? Why then do you speak to me in this way?” (v.21). This takes place around 1050 BC, at the dawn of Israel’s monarchy, when God has tasked Samuel to anoint Israel’s first king. Saul’s question reveals his initial sense of unworthiness for such a lofty position, highlighting his deferential spirit as he stands before the prophet who speaks God’s intentions. The tribe of Benjamin was the smallest tribe in Israel, partly because of events such as the devastation recounted in the book of Judges, and Saul’s shock is that someone from such an unassuming background would be chosen for royal appointment.
In this moment, Saul is both startled and uncertain. Although Scripture later shows that he becomes Israel’s first king and reigns for forty years, his beginnings are marked by humility and confusion. Sometime after this verse, Saul’s identity unfolds in his service to the nation, but here in 1 Samuel 9:21, we witness him grappling with the idea that he would rule over the people of Israel. Such surprise parallels how God often calls people from modest places, reflecting the principle that the Lord does not always choose according to human standards (1 Samuel 16:7). Saul’s family loyalty, connected to Kish of the tribe of Benjamin, is noted also in the New Testament when Paul (originally named Saul) reiterates his ancestry from Benjamin, demonstrating God’s ongoing work throughout history in using individuals from every tribe.
Although Saul’s early days are filled with promise and potential, the rest of his story includes both triumphs and failures. Nonetheless, his astonishment here underscores that God can elevate the least likely people to positions of influence—much as Jesus in the New Testament was born into a humble family yet ascended to fulfill His eternal reign (Philippians 2:5-10). Saul’s statement reminds us that God is sovereign in His choices and delights in using unexpected means to accomplish His purposes.