1 Samuel 10:12

12 And one man answered to another, and said, And who is the father of them? Therefore it was turned into a proverb, Whether also Saul is among the prophets? (And one man answered to another, and said, But who is their father? And so it was turned into a proverb, Is Saul now also among the prophets?)

1 Samuel 10:12 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 10:12

And one of the same place answered, and said
One of the same city, and in the same company, that expressed their admiration at what was come to Saul, and at what he did, and wondering how he came into such company, and to have such a gift, who was of so mean an education:

but who is their father? the father of the prophets;
their fathers were not prophets, no more than Saul's was; their Father that taught them is the Lord, and he was able to teach Saul, and bestow on him the gift of prophecy, as well as on them; and so the Targum, who is their master or teacher; for though they might have an undermaster or teacher, as Samuel, or another prophet, yet their chief teacher was God; who could and did give men the gift of prophecy, and even in the highest sense, who had neither prophets for their fathers, nor were indeed trained up in any of the schools of the prophets, which was the case of Amos:

therefore it became a proverb, is Saul also among the prophets?
that when a person of a mean parentage, and of a low life and education, was raised up to any degree of dignity in sacred and civil things, they used to apply this proverbial expression to him, or speak of him in this manner, is Saul among the prophets?

1 Samuel 10:12 In-Context

10 And Saul and his servant came to the foresaid hill, and lo! a company of prophets were meeting with him (and lo! a group of prophets met him); and the Spirit of the Lord fell at once upon Saul, and he prophesied in the midst of the prophets.

11 And all men, that knew Saul yesterday and the third day ago, saw that he was with the prophets, and that he prophesied, and they said together, What thing hath befallen to the son of Kish? Whether also Saul is among [the] prophets? (Is Saul now also among the prophets?)

12 And one man answered to another, and said, And who is the father of them? Therefore it was turned into a proverb, Whether also Saul is among the prophets? (And one man answered to another, and said, But who is their father? And so it was turned into a proverb, Is Saul now also among the prophets?)

13 And Saul ceased to prophesy, and he came to an high place (and he came to the hill shrine).

14 And the brother of Saul's father said to him, and to his servant, Whither went ye? And they answered, To seek [the] she-asses; and when we found them not, we came to Samuel.