As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Notice how this seemingly simple encounter highlights the everyday nature of seeking God's guidance. Even for a king-in-waiting like Saul, finding the prophet wasn't about a grand, formal ceremony, but a casual question asked of young women at a common well. It reminds us that God's presence and direction can be found in the ordinary moments of life.
As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?”
English Standard Version (ESV)
Saul and his servant are on a quest, having lost their father's donkeys and seeking a prophet, Samuel, who they believe can help them. They've traveled to the town of Zuph and are ascending towards it, hoping to find the seer. This encounter with the young women is their first attempt to locate him, setting the stage for their momentous meeting.
Imagine needing to find someone with a divine connection. Where would you even look? In ancient Israel, you'd search for a 'seer.'
In this passage, Saul and his servant are desperately seeking Samuel, the prophet. The text calls him a 'seer,' which was an older term for a prophet.
What's a Seer?
This encounter highlights that God's messengers aren't always in grand temples. Sometimes, they're found in the most ordinary settings, like a city hill where people are just getting water.
Saul and his servant aren't just out for a stroll; they're on a mission driven by desperation. Their journey reveals a crucial step many of us take when we're lost.
Saul's father has lost his donkeys, a significant loss for a family. This mundane problem propels them on an unexpected journey, eventually leading them to Samuel.
The Pathway to Purpose
Ask a follow-up
This illustrates that even when our initial problems seem small or earthly, seeking God's help can lead us to discover His grander plans for our lives.
Understand the original words
ro’eh · Hebrew Noun
A prophet or someone who "sees" by divine revelation; an older term for a prophet who receives visions or insights from God regarding hidden or future matters.
c. 1050 BC
Saul's Tribe Faces Crisis
The tribe of Benjamin, Saul's tribe, was facing social and political instability, with a shortage of eligible young women contributing to a sense of crisis.
c. 1050 BC
Rise of the Prophet Samuel
Samuel was a pivotal leader, serving as a prophet, judge, and priest during a crucial transition period for Israel, bridging the era of judges to the monarchy.
c. 1050 BC
Seeking a New King
The people of Israel were clamoring for a king, a desire that God, through Samuel, was beginning to address.
c. 1050 BC
Saul's Unintentional Journey
Saul set out with his servant to find his father's lost donkeys, a mundane task that inadvertently led him toward his destiny.
c. 1050 BC— this verse
Encounter at the Well
As Saul and his servant ascended a hill into the town of Zuph, they encountered young women drawing water and inquired about the local seer, Samuel.
c. 1050 BC
Anointing of Saul
Following this encounter, Samuel would meet Saul, share a divine revelation, and ultimately anoint him as the first king of Israel.
This passage also describes women drawing water at a well, a common daily activity that often served as a meeting point for significant encounters.
Exodus 2:16Similar to the scene in 1 Samuel, this verse depicts young women gathered at a well, highlighting wells as places where important individuals or events could emerge.
John 4:6Jesus, a figure of great spiritual insight, encounters a woman at a well, showing how ordinary places can become the setting for divine interaction and revelation.
Judges 4:4This verse introduces Deborah, a prophetess and leader, showing that women played significant roles in spiritual and societal matters, much like the 'seer' being sought in 1 Samuel.
Notice how this seemingly simple encounter highlights the everyday nature of seeking God's guidance. Even for a king-in-waiting like Saul, finding the prophet wasn't about a grand, formal ceremony, but a casual question asked of young women at a common well. It reminds us that God's presence and direction can be found in the ordinary moments of life.
Saul and his servant are on a quest, having lost their father's donkeys and seeking a prophet, Samuel, who they believe can help them. They've traveled to the town of Zuph and are ascending towards it, hoping to find the seer. This encounter with the young women is their first attempt to locate him, setting the stage for their momentous meeting.
Saul and his servant are on a quest, having lost their father's donkeys and seeking a prophet, Samuel, who they believe can help them. They've traveled to the town of Zuph and are ascending towards it, hoping to find the seer. This encounter with the young women is their first attempt to locate him, setting the stage for their momentous meeting.
"As they went up the hill to the city, they met young women coming out to draw water and said to them, “Is the seer here?”" — Notice how this seemingly simple encounter highlights the everyday nature of seeking God's guidance. Even for a king-in-waiting like Saul, finding the prophet wasn't about a grand, formal ceremony,…
Get the original Greek and Hebrew, verse-by-verse context, and related passages inside the app.
Last reviewed October 2026