The Meaning of 1 Samuel 9:15 Explained

1 Samuel 9:15

KJV: Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,

YLT: and Jehovah had uncovered the ear of Samuel one day before the coming of Saul, saying,

Darby: Now Jehovah had apprised Samuel one day before Saul came, saying,

ASV: Now Jehovah had revealed unto Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Now the LORD  had told  Samuel  in his ear  a  day  before  Saul  came,  saying, 

What does 1 Samuel 9:15 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 9:15-27 - The Prophet Meets The Coming King
There are some favored souls to whom God reveals His secrets, Psalms 25:14; John 15:15. Covet, above all things, that habitual nearness to God in which God may speak as a man to His friend. Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man conceived, what God has prepared for those who love Him; but He reveals them by His Spirit. Even when Samuel encountered Saul in the street, Samuel's guidance by God continued, 1 Samuel 9:17. His fellowship with the Eternal was like a deep-flowing current; his meeting with Saul a leaf dropped on its surface.
The prophet did not meet the young man as a rival. The life which is lived in God's presence is so filled with His light and His love that it is not disturbed by the fickle fancies of the crowd. Samuel was quite ready to be abased and to see another exalted, if God willed it, Philippians 4:12. It is good, when we are in partnership with God, to allow Him, at the critical moment, to send the man or woman whom He has selected. "Tomorrow"¦ I will send thee a man." Such may come on quite another errand, but God will give us divine guidance and discernment, so that we may be ready to receive and welcome Him. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 9

1  Saul despairing to find his father's donkeys
6  by the counsel of his servant
11  and direction of young maidens
15  according to God's revelation
18  comes to Samuel
19  Samuel entertains Saul at the feast
25  Samuel, after secret communication, brings Saul on his way

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 9:15 mean?

And Yahweh had told in his ear Samuel day one before came Saul saying
וַֽיהוָ֔ה גָּלָ֖ה אֶת־ אֹ֣זֶן שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל י֣וֹם אֶחָ֔ד לִפְנֵ֥י בֽוֹא־ שָׁא֖וּל לֵאמֹֽר

וַֽיהוָ֔ה  And  Yahweh 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
גָּלָ֖ה  had  told 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּלָה  
Sense: to uncover, remove.
אֹ֣זֶן  his  ear 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: אֹזֶן  
Sense: ear, as part of the body.
שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל  Samuel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁמוּאֵל  
Sense: son of Elkanah by his wife Hannah and judge or prophet of Israel during the days of Saul and David.
י֣וֹם  day 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: יׄום 
Sense: day, time, year.
אֶחָ֔ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
לִפְנֵ֥י  before 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, common plural construct
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
בֽוֹא־  came 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: בֹּוא 
Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
שָׁא֖וּל  Saul 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאוּל  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the st king of Israel.
לֵאמֹֽר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.