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1 Samuel 10:27 meaning

This verse shows that God’s appointed leaders may be despised, but His redemptive plan will advance regardless.

In this verse, we see newly anointed King Saul confronted by skepticism and disdain. The scripture says, “But certain worthless men said, ‘How can this one deliver us?’ And they despised him and did not bring him any present. But he kept silent.” (v.27) Although Saul had just been proclaimed king over Israel, there were those who refused to honor him or show him respect. These individuals, described here as “worthless men,” highlight the presence of internal division within the nation of Israel at the inception of Saul’s reign. Their question—“How can this one deliver us?”—shows a failure to trust in God’s chosen leader, paralleling instances where the people of God doubted His appointed deliverers in earlier and later periods of biblical history.

King Saul stands at a critical juncture in Israel’s history, reigning from approximately 1050 BC to 1010 BC. His anointing by the prophet Samuel marked Israel’s shift from a loose confederation of tribes ruled by judges to a centralized kingdom under a single monarch. The statement, “But he kept silent.” (v.27), demonstrates Saul’s initial humility and restraint, a demeanor that set a tone for the early period of his reign. Rather than responding with immediate force or anger toward those who challenged him, Scripture shows him choosing patience, which invites comparison to other biblical leaders who extended grace in the face of criticism.

This verse connects to Jesus in the New Testament, who also faced opposition from those who questioned His authority (John 1:46). Just as Saul’s leadership was doubted, so too Christ’s mission was sometimes scorned by individuals who did not recognize God’s plan for deliverance. The example of Saul’s response, expressed through measured silence rather than retaliation, echoes Christ’s willingness to endure mockery during His ministry (1 Peter 2:23). Believers are invited to reflect on how divine anointing often encounters human skepticism, yet God’s redemptive purposes continue undeterred by unbelief or ridicule.

1 Samuel 10:27