Brief Overview of Σαούλ (Strong’s G4549: Saoul)

Strong’s G4549: The Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name שָׁאוּל (Sha’ul), meaning “asked for” or “prayed for.” This name carries profound significance in biblical narrative, representing both the first king of Israel and the former name of the Apostle Paul, marking dramatic transformations in biblical history.

U- Unveiling the Word

Σαούλ represents more than just a name in the New Testament – it embodies transformation and divine purpose. While primarily known as the former name of the Apostle Paul, it connects the narratives of two significant biblical figures: King Saul of the Old Testament and Saul of Tarsus. In the New Testament context, the name carries special significance as it represents Paul’s pre-conversion identity, highlighting the dramatic nature of his transformation from persecutor to apostle. The early church saw in this name change a powerful testimony to God’s transformative grace, a theme that continues to resonate in Christian teaching about conversion and new identity in Christ.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: Σαούλ, Saoul, /sah-ool/
• Pronunciation Guide: ‘sa’ as in ‘father’, ‘oul’ as in ‘cool’
• Part of Speech: Proper Noun

Etymology:

• Derived from Hebrew שָׁאוּל (Sha’ul)
• Root meaning: “asked for” or “prayed for”
• Related to Hebrew verb שָׁאַל (sha’al) meaning “to ask” or “to request”

D – Defining Meanings

• Primary meaning: Personal name meaning “asked for” or “prayed for”
• Secondary meaning: Historically associated with the first king of Israel
• In New Testament context: The pre-conversion name of the Apostle Paul

Translation Options:

• Saul – Traditional English rendering
• Sha’ul – More precise Hebrew transliteration
• Saoul – Direct Greek transliteration

E – Exploring Similar Words

• Παῦλος (Paulos) /pow’-los/ – The Greek name Paul adopted after conversion. See G3972
• Σαῦλος (Saulos) /sow’-los/ – Alternative Greek form of Saul. See G4569

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Morphological features as a proper noun:

• Case: Indeclinable
• Number: Singular
• Gender: Masculine
• Declension: None (remains unchanged in all cases)

This proper noun maintains its form regardless of its grammatical function in the sentence, unlike most Greek nouns. As a Semitic name transliterated into Greek, it doesn’t follow typical Greek declension patterns.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG identifies Σαούλ as the Greek representation of the Hebrew name שָׁאוּל. Thayer’s emphasizes its connection to both the first king of Israel and the Apostle Paul. LSJ notes its use in Hellenistic Jewish literature. Vine’s highlights the significance of the name change to Paul. Strong’s connects it to the Hebrew meaning of “asked for.” Moulton and Milligan document its usage in Jewish contexts in Koine Greek.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Acts 9:4: “And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul [Σαούλ], Saul [Σαούλ], why persecutest thou me?”

Additional References:
Acts 9:17, Acts 13:21, Acts 22:7, Acts 22:13, Acts 26:14

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Σαούλ represents a powerful testimony to God’s transformative work. From its meaning “asked for” to its association with both Israel’s first king and the great apostle, this name reminds us that God answers prayers in unexpected ways. The dramatic conversion of Saul to Paul demonstrates that no one is beyond the reach of God’s grace, offering hope to all who encounter the risen Christ.

D – Did You Know?

1. The name appears in Jesus’ direct speech only in the context of Paul’s conversion
2. In Hebrew gematria, the numerical value of שָׁאוּל (Saul) is 337, which some rabbis connected to prophecy
3. The Greek form Σαούλ preserves the exact pronunciation of the Hebrew name better than the English “Saul”

Strong’s G4549: Greek transliteration of the Hebrew name שָׁאוּל (Sha’ul), meaning “asked for.” Significant in both Old and New Testaments, representing Israel’s first king and the Apostle Paul’s pre-conversion identity. Demonstrates divine selection and transformation in biblical narrative.

Part of speech: Proper Noun

Tags: paul, conversion, damascus-road, hebrew-names, apostle-paul, transformation, king-saul, biblical-names, divine-calling, persecution​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​