And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
English Standard Version (ESV)
This verse isn't just about God being silent; it's about the methods He used to be silent. The fact that Saul's usual channels of divine communication—dreams, the sacred lot of Urim, and prophets—were all cut off highlights the profound depth of his estrangement from God. It underscores that this was a deliberate, multi-pronged divine withdrawal, not just a passive lack of response.
And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Saul, desperate and facing the Philistine army, is completely cut off from God's guidance, having previously disregarded divine commands. After this verse, he will descend into even darker methods by seeking a medium, further alienating himself from God and sealing his tragic fate. This moment marks a critical point where Saul's persistent disobedience has led to divine silence.
Saul is desperate, and God seems to have shut down all communication. What led to this profound silence?
This verse is a stark picture of the consequences of prolonged rebellion against God. Saul had repeatedly and stubbornly disobeyed God's commands, even after Samuel’s rebukes.
A Pattern of Rejection
God's silence here isn't arbitrary; it's a judicial response to Saul's ongoing rejection of His voice.
It wasn't just any answer Saul wasn't getting. The verse names specific methods. Why these particular ways?
The mention of 'dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets' highlights the established ways God provided guidance to His people, especially the king.
Divine Communication Channels
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Saul's inability to receive guidance through any of these established, legitimate means underscores the severity of his spiritual alienation. It wasn't that God couldn't answer, but that Saul, through his sin, had severed the connection and disqualified himself from receiving answers through these covenant channels.
Understand the original words
Yahweh · Hebrew Noun
The personal, covenantal name of God in the Old Testament, representing His self-existence, holiness, and faithfulness to His people. It signifies the God who reveals Himself and enters into a relationship with humanity.
chalam · Hebrew Noun
A state of receiving divine revelation during sleep, often used by God to communicate His will, warnings, or future events to individuals in biblical times.
Urim · Hebrew Noun
Sacred objects used by the High Priest to discern the will of God in specific matters; they were part of the breastplate and functioned as a means of divine inquiry.
nabi' · Hebrew Noun
God's messengers who communicated His word to His people, often calling for repentance or declaring future events under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Saul's desperate attempt to communicate with the dead Samuel highlights his complete alienation from God's direct communication channels—dreams, the Urim stones, and prophets—a stark consequence of his persistent rebellion.
c. 1010 BC
Death of Samuel
Samuel, the last of the major judges and a pivotal prophet and kingmaker, dies. His death leaves a significant spiritual and political vacuum in Israel.
c. 1010 BC - 1000 BC
Saul's Reign Declines
Following Samuel's death, Saul's relationship with God deteriorates further. He struggles with ongoing conflict against the Philistines and his own insecurity.
c. 1005 BC— this verse
Saul Seeks a Medium
Desperate and facing the Philistine army, Saul, despite having outlawed spirit mediums, visits the witch of Endor to seek a prophecy.
c. 1005 BC
Battle of Mount Gilboa
Saul and his sons are killed in battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, a direct consequence of his disobedience and failed leadership.
This passage shows that Saul's disobedience led to the Lord's rejection, setting the stage for why the Lord would no longer answer him.
Proverbs 1:28-29This proverb warns that when people reject wisdom and the fear of the Lord, they will seek Him later but find Him absent, mirroring Saul's desperate situation.
Isaiah 1:15This verse describes a similar spiritual deafness, where the Lord refuses to listen because His people have turned away from Him through their actions.
Ezekiel 14:3This prophetic passage uses the imagery of seeking the Lord but finding Him silent, highlighting that God's silence can be a response to idolatry and seeking Him in wrong ways.
This verse isn't just about God being silent; it's about the methods He used to be silent. The fact that Saul's usual channels of divine communication—dreams, the sacred lot of Urim, and prophets—were all cut off highlights the profound depth of his estrangement from God. It underscores that this was a deliberate, multi-pronged divine withdrawal, not just a passive lack of response.
Saul, desperate and facing the Philistine army, is completely cut off from God's guidance, having previously disregarded divine commands. After this verse, he will descend into even darker methods by seeking a medium, further alienating himself from God and sealing his tragic fate. This moment marks a critical point where Saul's persistent disobedience has led to divine silence.
Saul, desperate and facing the Philistine army, is completely cut off from God's guidance, having previously disregarded divine commands. After this verse, he will descend into even darker methods by seeking a medium, further alienating himself from God and sealing his tragic fate. This moment marks a critical point where Saul's persistent disobedience has led to divine silence.
"And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreams, or by Urim, or by prophets." — This verse isn't just about God being silent; it's about the methods He used to be silent. The fact that Saul's usual channels of divine communication—dreams, the sacred lot of Urim, and prophets…
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Last reviewed October 2026