שָׁאוּל

From the study of 1 Samuel 28:12

Range of meaning

The name means 'asked for' (from šāʾal, 'to ask, inquire'). Without vowels it is spelled exactly like שְׁאוֹל (šəʾôl), 'Sheol', the underworld where the dead were believed to reside.

Against the English

English readers cannot see the pun. In Hebrew, 'and you are Saul' is spelled with the same letters as 'and you are Sheol'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Wordplay on the name runs through 1 Samuel. The people 'asked for' a king (8:10; 12:13, 17). In 28:6 Saul 'inquired' (wayyišʾal) of the LORD. In 28:16 Samuel asks, 'Why do you ask me?' (tišʾālēnî). Commentators have long noted the Saul/Sheol spelling. The text does not spell it out, so it is suggestive rather than certain.

From the study of 2 Samuel 22:1

Range of meaning

A personal name meaning 'asked (for)'. It is the name of Israel's first king.

Against the English

English shows no wordplay. In Hebrew, Sha'ul is spelled with the same consonants as She'ol, the world of the dead, which appears in v. 6 ('the cords of Sheol entangled me').

Used elsewhere in the period

Saul's pursuit of David fills 1 Samuel 18–31. The name echoes Israel 'asking' for a king (1 Sam 8:10; 12:13, 17). Several commentators note the Saul/Sheol sound-play in this poem, but it is not certain the author intended it.