Num et Saul inter prophetas?
“Is Saul also among the prophets?”
Vulgate, 1 Samuel 10:11
What does “Num et Saul inter prophetas?” mean?
Num et Saul inter prophetas? translates as “Is Saul also among the prophets?”
It expresses astonishment when someone suddenly behaves in a way nobody expected of them. People use it for an unlikely convert or a surprising change of heart.
“Num et Saul inter prophetas?” word by word
| Latin | English | Grammar |
|---|---|---|
| Num | interrogative particle (a question expecting the answer “no”) | introduces a question; the questioner expects a negative answer, which fits the people’s disbelief |
| et | also, even | adverb here: “also”, not the conjunction “and” |
| Saul | Saul | nominative singular; Saul is the subject; a Hebrew name left undeclined, so it does not change its form |
| inter | among | preposition taking the accusative case |
| prophetas | the prophets | accusative plural of propheta, “prophet”, a masculine noun of the first declension; object of inter |
How to pronounce “Num et Saul inter prophetas?”
Both pronunciations sound the same here. Saul has two syllables, SAH-ool, with stress on the first; stress falls on the second syllable of prophetas.
The story behind it
Word for word the line asks “Surely Saul is not also among the prophets?”, or more naturally “Is Saul also among the prophets?”. The Latin comes from the Vulgate, the Latin Bible translated by Jerome, in 1 Samuel 10:11.
In the story, Saul has just been anointed as the first king of Israel. Those who knew him are amazed to see him join a band of prophets and prophesy with them, and they ask the question in surprise.
The same words appear again in 1 Samuel 19:24, and the saying became a proverb. Today it is used for any sudden, unlikely change in a person, such as a sceptic who turns into an advocate.
How to use “Num et Saul inter prophetas?”
A witty remark in a speech or toast when someone known for the opposite view or habit turns up on the other side. It also works as an essay title or a sarcastic caption for a surprising change of heart.
- Latin
- Num et Saul inter prophetas?
- English
- Is Saul also among the prophets?
- Source
- Vulgate, 1 Samuel 10:11
- Era
- Church Latin
- Theme
- Surprise
Common mistakes
- Do not read num as plain “not”. It only marks the question and hints that the answer is expected to be “no”.
- The et here means “also” or “even”. Translating it as “and” (“Saul and the prophets?”) loses the sense.
- The quote is a question, so it is not a statement that Saul was a prophet.
- Prophetas is the accusative plural after inter. Writing prophetae or prophetis would be wrong.
Questions about “Num et Saul inter prophetas?”
What does “Num et Saul inter prophetas?” mean?
It means “Is Saul also among the prophets?”. It is a question asked in surprise when someone does something unexpected.
Where does “Num et Saul inter prophetas?” come from?
It comes from the Vulgate, the Latin Bible, in 1 Samuel 10:11. It also appears in 1 Samuel 19:24.
How do you pronounce “Num et Saul inter prophetas?”
Say it noom et SAH-ool IN-ter proh-FEH-tahs. Classical and Church pronunciation sound the same for this line.
When do people use “Num et Saul inter prophetas?”
People use it when someone surprises everyone by acting out of character, for example a former critic who becomes a supporter.
More to explore
Translation and grammar checked by Latin Quoter · last reviewed November 2026
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