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Saul

biblical_person_name theological_term standard

A biblical personal name used for more than one figure, especially Saul son of Kish, Israel’s first king, and Saul of Tarsus, later known as Paul.

At a Glance

A shared biblical name used for at least two distinct figures: the first king of Israel and the Pharisee from Tarsus who became the apostle Paul.

Key Points

Description

Saul is a biblical personal name that is shared by more than one figure in Scripture. The best-known Old Testament Saul is Saul son of Kish, Israel’s first king, whose rise and decline are narrated chiefly in 1 Samuel. The name also identifies Saul of Tarsus in the New Testament before his conversion and subsequent ministry as the apostle Paul. Because these are different people in different settings, the term is too ambiguous to serve safely as a single standalone dictionary headword without disambiguation, splitting, or a redirect structure tied to a specific person entry.

Biblical Context

In the Old Testament, Saul is the first king of Israel and a major figure in the transition from the judges to the monarchy. In the New Testament, Saul of Tarsus appears as a Pharisee who persecuted the church before meeting the risen Christ and becoming Paul.

Historical Context

The name Saul reflects an ancient Israelite personal name found in both Hebrew Bible and New Testament contexts. Its reuse across different individuals creates a standard editorial disambiguation problem in biblical reference works.

Jewish and Ancient Context

In Jewish and broader ancient Near Eastern usage, personal names could be repeated across generations and settings. Biblical dictionaries commonly distinguish such names by role, lineage, or narrative setting rather than treating the shared name as a single topic.

Primary Key Texts

Secondary Key Texts

Original Language Note

Hebrew שָׁאוּל (Sha’ul), a name meaning “asked for” or “requested”; the New Testament form reflects the same underlying name in Greek usage.

Theological Significance

Saul of Kish illustrates Israel’s need for a king who would obey the Lord, while Saul of Tarsus illustrates conversion, calling, and apostolic commissioning. These are distinct theological narratives and should not be collapsed into one entry.

Philosophical Explanation

A dictionary entry should represent one clear referent whenever possible. When one label names multiple historical persons, responsible editing requires disambiguation rather than forcing a single definition.

Interpretive Cautions

Do not confuse Saul son of Kish with Saul of Tarsus. Do not treat this shared name as a doctrine, office, or theological category.

Major Views

No substantive doctrinal debate attaches to the name itself; the editorial issue is only identification and disambiguation.

Doctrinal Boundaries

This entry should remain a personal-name disambiguation issue, not a theological construct. It should not imply any special doctrinal significance apart from the biblical figures who bear the name.

Practical Significance

Readers looking up Saul need a clear path to the correct person, especially when reading 1 Samuel or Acts. A split entry or redirect system would reduce confusion.

Related Entries

See Also

Data

Machine-readable JSON for Saul

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