Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from SaulThis phrase indicates a significant turning point in Saul's life and reign as king. The Spirit of the LORD had previously empowered Saul for leadership and victory (
1 Samuel 10:10). The departure signifies God's rejection of Saul as king due to his disobedience (
1 Samuel 15:26). This event marks the transition of divine favor from Saul to David, who is anointed in the preceding verses (
1 Samuel 16:13). Theologically, it underscores the importance of obedience to God and the consequences of rebellion.
and a spirit of distress from the LORD began to torment him
The "spirit of distress" is understood as a form of divine judgment, reflecting the ancient belief that God is sovereign over all spirits. This spirit caused Saul great mental anguish and instability, which is evident in his erratic behavior throughout the rest of his life (1 Samuel 18:10-11). Theologically, this can be seen as a form of divine retribution, illustrating the principle that God allows consequences for disobedience. This torment also sets the stage for David's introduction to Saul's court, as David's music soothes Saul (1 Samuel 16:23), foreshadowing David's future role as king and his typological connection to Christ, the ultimate Shepherd and King who brings peace.
Persons / Places / Events
1.
SaulThe first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel. Saul's reign was marked by initial success but later marred by disobedience to God, leading to his rejection as king.
2.
The Spirit of the LORDRefers to the divine presence and empowerment given by God. In the Old Testament, the Spirit would come upon individuals for specific purposes and could also depart from them.
3.
Evil Spirit from the LORDA troubling spirit allowed by God to afflict Saul. This spirit's presence signifies God's judgment and the consequences of Saul's disobedience.
4.
SamuelThe prophet who anointed Saul and later David. Samuel served as a judge and spiritual leader in Israel.
5.
DavidAlthough not directly mentioned in this verse, David's anointing as the future king occurs in the same chapter, marking the transition of God's favor from Saul to David.
Teaching Points
The Importance of ObedienceSaul's loss of the Spirit underscores the necessity of obedience to God. Disobedience can lead to spiritual consequences and a loss of divine favor.
God's SovereigntyThe allowance of an evil spirit to torment Saul demonstrates God's control over all circumstances, even those that seem negative. It serves as a reminder of God's ultimate authority.
The Role of the Holy SpiritIn the Old Testament, the Spirit's presence was conditional and temporary. In contrast, New Testament believers have the promise of the Holy Spirit's permanent indwelling.
Repentance and RestorationWhile Saul's account is tragic, it serves as a warning and an invitation to seek repentance and restoration with God before it's too late.
Spiritual WarfareThe presence of an evil spirit highlights the reality of spiritual warfare. Believers must be vigilant and rely on God's strength to overcome spiritual challenges.
Bible Study Questions and Answers
1.What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 16:14?
2.How does 1 Samuel 16:14 illustrate the consequences of disobedience to God?
3.What role does the "evil spirit from the LORD" play in Saul's life?
4.How can we seek God's presence to avoid spiritual decline like Saul?
5.Compare Saul's experience with the Holy Spirit's role in believers today.
6.How can we discern and address spiritual struggles in our own lives?
7.Why did the Spirit of the LORD depart from Saul in 1 Samuel 16:14?
8.How does 1 Samuel 16:14 align with the concept of God's unchanging nature?
9.What does the "evil spirit from the LORD" mean in 1 Samuel 16:14?
10.What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 16?
11.What does the Bible say about Christian exorcism?
12.Why does Saul suddenly prophesy (1 Samuel 19:23) despite being portrayed as abandoned by God in earlier chapters?
13.In 1 Samuel 16:14, why would God send an “evil spirit” to torment Saul, contradicting the idea of a benevolent deity?
14.Can the Holy Spirit leave a believer?What Does 1 Samuel 16:14 Mean
Now the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul• Saul once enjoyed the empowering presence of the Holy Spirit for kingly service (1 Samuel 10:6, 10), but repeated rebellion—spared Amalek (1 Samuel 15:23), built a monument to himself (15:12)—cost him that privilege.
• The verse speaks of a real, historical withdrawal, similar to Samson’s loss of strength when “the LORD had left him” (Judges 16:20).
• The Spirit’s departure is about forfeiting divine enablement, not about the loss of eternal salvation. David later pleads, “Do not take Your Holy Spirit from me” (Psalm 51:11), showing that leaders feared losing this empowering presence when they sinned.
• God’s faithfulness to His word is underscored: Samuel had already said, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you” (1 Samuel 15:28). The departure of the Spirit is the invisible proof of that visible judgment.
…and a spirit of distress…• The text immediately contrasts the absence of God’s Spirit with the arrival of a tormenting one. Without divine protection, Saul becomes vulnerable to spiritual affliction.
• Scripture portrays evil spirits producing agitation or madness (Judges 9:23;Mark 9:17–18). Saul’s later rages and spear-throwing episodes (1 Samuel 18:10–11; 19:9–10) show the ongoing effect of this distressing spirit.
• The term “distress” captures emotional turmoil—depression, paranoia, fits of anger—that breed instability in Saul’s leadership and personal life.
• Theologically, it demonstrates that there is no neutral ground: when one steps away from obedient fellowship with God, something else will fill the vacuum.
…from the LORD began to torment him• Scripture plainly states the distressing spirit was “from the LORD.” God remains sovereign even over evil forces (Job 1:12;1 Kings 22:21–23).
• This is not God committing evil; it is His righteous judgment, permitting a malevolent agent to carry out discipline (Romans 1:24, 26;2 Thessalonians 2:11).
• The torment serves multiple divine purposes:
– Exposes Saul’s unfitness to rule and paves the way for David’s rise (1 Samuel 16:18–23).
– Warns Israel—and us—of the cost of hardened rebellion (Proverbs 1:24–31).
– Highlights the contrast between a life under God’s favor and a life under God’s chastening hand.
• Even in judgment, God shows mercy by providing relief through David’s harp (1 Samuel 16:23), foreshadowing Christ, the ultimate Anointed One who brings lasting peace (Luke 4:18).
summary1 Samuel 16:14 records a literal historical shift: God’s empowering Spirit leaves Saul because of persistent disobedience, and God allows a distressing spirit to afflict him. The verse teaches the sobering reality that sin forfeits divine favor, God remains sovereign over all spiritual powers, and His judgments are both just and purposeful.
Verses 14, 15. - From this time forward David is the central figure of the history. Saul has been rejected, and though, as being the actual king, he must still play his part, more especially as his decline goes on side by side with David s growth in every kingly quality, yet the record of it is no longer given on Saul's account. Interesting, then, as may be the information concerning the mental malady with which Saul was visited, yet the object of this section is to acquaint us with the manner in which David was first brought into connection with him. From the description given of David in ver. 1 Samuel 16:18 it is evident that there has been a considerable interval of time between this and the previous section. David is no longer a child, but a "mighty valiant man." The connection is ethical, and lies in the contrasted moral state of the two men, as shown in the two parallel statements: "the Spirit of Jehovah came upon David;" "the Spirit of Jehovah departed from Saul." There was a gradual decline and debasement of his character; and as David grew from a child into a hero in war and a scholar in peace, so Saul, from being a hero, degenerated into a moody and resentful tyrant.
An evil spirit from Jehovah troubled him. Really, as in the margin,
terrified him; that is, Saul became subject to fits of intense mental agony, under which his reason gave way, and temporary insanity, accompanied by outbreaks of violence, came on. It is very difficult for us with our richer language to give the exact force of the Hebrew; for the word rendered
spirit is literally
wind, air, breath. A student of Hebrew can trace the word
ruach through all its modifications, from its physical signification as the material wind, to its metaphysical meaning as an influence from God; and then still onward up to the beings who minister before God, and of whom the Psalmist says, "He maketh his angels to be winds" (
Psalm 104:4); till finally we reach up unto the third person of the blessed Trinity: and then, as with this full knowledge of the Divine nature we read backward, we find the presence of the Holy Ghost indicated, where to the Israelite probably there was mention only of a material agency. Jost, in his 'History of the Jews since the time of the Maccabees,' vol. 1. p. 12, says that Saul suffered under that form of madness called
hypochondria, and that the Jews gave this the name of
bad air, the words translated here "evil spirit;" for they held, he says, that "the devil inhabited the air." So St. Paul speaks of the "wicked spiritual beings that are in high places,"
i.e. in the loftier regions of the atmosphere (
Ephesians 6:12). A study of Saul's character makes it probable that, as is often the case with men of brilliant genius, there was always a touch of insanity in his mental constitution. His joining in the exercises of the prophets (
1 Samuel 10:10-12) was an outburst of eccentric enthusiasm; and the excitement of his behaviour in the occurrences narrated in ch. 14. indicate a mind that might easily be thrown off its balance. And now he seems to have brooded over his deposition by Samuel, and instead of repenting to have regarded himself as an ill-used man, and given himself up to despondency, until he became a prey to melancholy, and his mind was overclouded. His servants rightly regarded this as a Divine punishment, but their words are remarkable.
Behold, an evil spirit from God terrifieth
thee. And so again, in ver. 16,
the evil spirit from God, as if they were unwilling to ascribe to Jehovah, their covenant Deity, the sending of this evil "influence," while rightly they saw that evil as well as good must come from the Almighty, inasmuch as all things are in his hand, and whatever is must be by his permission. The writer of the book has no such scruples; he calls it "an evil spirit from Jehovah," because it was Jehovah, their own theocratic King, who had dethroned Saul, and withdrawn from him his blessing and protection.
Parallel Commentaries ...
Hebrew
After the Spiritוְר֧וּחַ(wə·rū·aḥ)Conjunctive waw | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 7307:Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spiritof the LORDיְהוָ֛ה(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelhad departedסָ֖רָה(sā·rāh)Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 5493:To turn asidefromמֵעִ֣ם(mê·‘im)Preposition-m
Strong's 5973:With, equally withSaul,שָׁא֑וּל(šā·’ūl)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586:Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelitesa spiritרֽוּחַ־(rū·aḥ-)Noun - common singular
Strong's 7307:Wind, breath, exhalation, life, anger, unsubstantiality, a region of the sky, spiritof distressרָעָ֖ה(rā·‘āh)Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 7451:Bad, evilfromמֵאֵ֥ת(mê·’êṯ)Preposition-m | Direct object marker
Strong's 853:Untranslatable mark of the accusative casethe LORDיְהוָֽה׃(Yah·weh)Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068:LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israelbegan to torment him.וּבִֽעֲתַ֥תּוּ(ū·ḇi·‘ă·ṯat·tū)Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singular | third person masculine singular
Strong's 1204:To fall upon, startle, terrify
Links
1 Samuel 16:14 NIV1 Samuel 16:14 NLT1 Samuel 16:14 ESV1 Samuel 16:14 NASB1 Samuel 16:14 KJV
1 Samuel 16:14 BibleApps.com1 Samuel 16:14 Biblia Paralela1 Samuel 16:14 Chinese Bible1 Samuel 16:14 French Bible1 Samuel 16:14 Catholic Bible
OT History: 1 Samuel 16:14 Now the Spirit of Yahweh departed (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) 
