And he stripped himself also of his garments, and prophesied with the rest before Samuel, and lay down naked all that day and night. This gave occasion to a proverb: What! is Saul too among the prophets?
וַיִּפְשַׁ֨ט גַּם־ה֜וּא בְּגָדָ֗יו וַיִּתְנַבֵּ֤א גַם־הוּא֙ לִפְנֵ֣י שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַיִּפֹּ֣ל עָרֹ֔ם כָּל־הַיּ֥וֹם הַה֖וּא וְכָל־הַלָּ֑יְלָה עַל־כֵּן֙ יֹֽאמְר֔וּ הֲגַ֥ם שָׁא֖וּל בַּנְּבִיאִֽם׃
3 Church Fathers comment on this verse
Everyone who does not cherish the Lord is an outsider, a stranger, or a foreigner. Even if they enter the Church, they do not truly belong among the children of the one true Lord. The wellspring of life is not theirs. A sinful person can still receive the water of baptism, and even the wicked can prophesy. Scripture reveals that King Saul prophesied; despite persecuting St. David, he was nonetheless filled with the spirit of prophecy.
In their efforts to undermine the truth, individuals often find themselves unwittingly compelled to defend opposing beliefs. A striking example of this can be observed in the narrative of Saul, who, when inspired by prophecy, was enveloped in grace and became one of those who bear God’s presence, as the prophetic spirit sought to enlighten the wayward through him. This explains the use of the proverb at the unexpected alignment of events: Is Saul also among the prophets?
Saul found himself among a multitude of prophets and began to prophesy, yet he was regarded as undeserving; it was questioned, Is Saul also among the prophets?
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS