The Church Fathers on this verse

1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 28:12Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

And when the woman saw Samuel, she cried out with a loud voice, and said to Saul: Why hast thou deceived me? for thou art Saul.

Douay-Rheims

וַתֵּ֤רֶא הָֽאִשָּׁה֙ אֶת־שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל וַתִּזְעַ֖ק בְּק֣וֹל גָּד֑וֹל וַתֹּאמֶר֩ הָאִשָּׁ֨ה אֶל־שָׁא֧וּל לֵאמֹ֛ר לָ֥מָּה רִמִּיתָ֖נִי וְאַתָּ֥ה שָׁאֽוּל׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

2 Church Fathers comment on this verse

Gregory of Nyssa

4th centuryChurch Father

Once she commenced her enchantments and the spirits manifested before her, the demon sought to verify the authenticity of the apparitions. He revealed Saul, who was disguised, which took Saul by surprise, leading him to believe that the woman could not be misled if the magical power failed to identify him in the guise of a respectable individual.

Theodoret of Cyrus

5th centuryChurch Father

Why did the sorceress identify Saul? It was not challenging for the spirit that leads individuals astray to disclose to her the identity of the person speaking with her.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.