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1 Samuel 28:13-15
New International Version
1 Samuel 28:13-15
New International Version
13 The king said to her, “Don’t be afraid. What do you see?”
The woman said, “I see a ghostly figure[a] coming up out of the earth.”(A)
14 “What does he look like?” he asked.
“An old man wearing a robe(B) is coming up,” she said.
Then Saul knew it was Samuel, and he bowed down and prostrated himself with his face to the ground.
15 Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?”
“I am in great distress,” Saul said. “The Philistines are fighting against me, and God has departed(C) from me. He no longer answers(D) me, either by prophets or by dreams.(E) So I have called on you to tell me what to do.”
Footnotes
- 1 Samuel 28:13 Or see spirits; or see gods
1 Samuel 28:13-15
New King James Version
1 Samuel 28:13-15
New King James Version
13 And the king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What did you see?”
And the woman said to Saul, “I saw (A)a[a] spirit ascending out of the earth.”
14 So he said to her, “What is his form?”
And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is covered with (B)a mantle.” And Saul perceived that it was Samuel, and he stooped with his face to the ground and bowed down.
15 Now Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you (C)disturbed me by bringing me up?”
And Saul answered, “I am deeply distressed; for the Philistines make war against me, and (D)God has departed from me and (E)does not answer me anymore, neither by prophets nor by dreams. Therefore I have called you, that you may reveal to me what I should do.”
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- 1 Samuel 28:13 Heb. elohim
1 Samuel 28:13-15
English Standard Version
1 Samuel 28:13-15
English Standard Version
13 The king said to her, “Do not be afraid. What do you see?” And the woman said to Saul, “I see a god coming up out of the earth.” 14 He said to her, “What is his appearance?” And she said, “An old man is coming up, and he is wrapped (A)in a robe.” And Saul knew that it was Samuel, and he bowed with his face to the ground and paid homage.
15 Then Samuel said to Saul, “Why have you disturbed me by bringing me up?” Saul answered, “I am in great distress, for the Philistines are warring against me, and (B)God has turned away from me and (C)answers me no more, either by prophets or by dreams. Therefore I have summoned you to tell me what I shall do.”
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New International Version (NIV) 
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
NIV Reverse Interlinear Bible: English to Hebrew and English to Greek. Copyright © 2019 by Zondervan.
New King James Version (NKJV) 
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
English Standard Version (ESV) 
The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025.