The Church Fathers on this verse

1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 9:16Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

To morrow about this same hour I will send thee a man of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be ruler over my people Israel: and he shall save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked down upon my people, because their cry is come to me.

Douay-Rheims

כָּעֵ֣ת ׀ מָחָ֡ר אֶשְׁלַח֩ אֵלֶ֨יךָ אִ֜ישׁ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ בִּנְיָמִ֗ן וּמְשַׁחְתּ֤וֹ לְנָגִיד֙ עַל־עַמִּ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְהוֹשִׁ֥יעַ אֶת־עַמִּ֖י מִיַּ֣ד פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים כִּ֤י רָאִ֙יתִי֙ אֶת־עַמִּ֔י כִּ֛י בָּ֥אָה צַעֲקָת֖וֹ אֵלָֽי׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

Gregory of Nyssa

4th centuryChurch Father

The honor associated with kingship surpasses all forms of authority, power, and rule, and the term Christ fundamentally signifies royal authority (as evidenced by historical texts where anointing comes before kingship). Within kingship resides the essence of the power attributed to other titles. Therefore, anyone who understands the names encompassed by the notion of kingship also comprehends the strength embodied in these unique titles. This strength represents the kingdom to which the name of Christ refers.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.