Samuelשמואל
Description
Samuel is a figure who, in the narratives of the Hebrew Bible, plays a key role in the transition from the biblical judges to the United Kingdom of Israel under Saul, and again in the monarchy's transition from Saul to David. He is venerated as a prophet in Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. In addition to his role in the Jewish Bible/Old Testament, Samuel is mentioned in Jewish rabbinical literature, in the Christian New Testament, and in the second chapter of the Quran. He is also treated in the fifth through seventh books of Antiquities of the Jews, written by the Jewish scholar Josephus in the first century. He is first called "the Seer" in 1 Samuel 9:9.
Facts
| Born | c. 1070 BCE, Ramathaim-Zophim (traditional) |
| Died | c. 1012 BCE, Ramah in Benjamin (traditional) |
| Venerated in | JudaismChristianityIslamBaháʼí FaithRastafari |
| Feast | August 20 (Catholicism, Eastern Orthodoxy, Lutheranism)July 30 (Armenian Apostolic Church)9 Paoni (Coptic Orthodox Church) |
Life & work in brief
Summarised by section — one row per topic, for fast reading.
| Topic | Summary |
|---|---|
| Biblical account | Samuel's mother was Hannah and his father was Elkanah. |
| Documentary hypothesis | The birth-narrative of the prophet Samuel is found at 1 Samuel 1:1-28. |
| Perspectives on Samuel | According to the Book of Jeremiah and one of the Psalms, Samuel had a high devotion to God. |
| Portrayals | Actors who have portrayed Samuel include Denis Quilley in the 1985 film King David, Leonard Nimoy in the 1997 television film David, Eamonn Walker in the 2009 television series Kings, Mohammad Bakri in the 2016 television series Of Kings and Prophets, and Stephen Lang in the 2025 television series House of David. |
Prophecies
Key prophetic utterances and visions attributed to Samuel, with sources.
| Prophecy / vision | Source |
|---|---|
| The Lord has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day, and given it to a neighbor better than you | 1 Sam 15:28 |
| You shall be changed into another man … God is with you; now you do as occasion serves you | 1 Sam 10:6-7 |
| The Lord has sought out a man after his own heart, and appointed him prince over his people | 1 Sam 13:14 |