Saul

American  

[sawl] / sɔl /

noun

1. the first king of Israel. 1 Samuel 9.

2. Also called Saul of Tarsus.  the original name of the apostle Paul. Acts 9:1–30; 22:3.

3. a male given name.

---

Saul British  

/ sɔːl /

noun

1. Old Testament the first king of Israel (?1020–1000 _bc ). He led Israel successfully against the Philistines, but was in continual conflict with the high priest Samuel. He became afflicted with madness and died by his own hand; succeeded by David

2. New Testament the name borne by Paul prior to his conversion (Acts 9: 1–30)

---

Saul Cultural  

1. The first king of Israel, who battled repeatedly with the Philistines. He often felt great despair, which was soothed by David playing his harp. Saul later became jealous of David and tried to have him killed in battle. After a prophesied defeat by the Philistines, Saul killed himself.

---

Discover More

Saul was also the Apostle Paul's original name.

Etymology

Origin of Saul

From Late Latin Saul, from Greek Saoúl, from Hebrew Shāʾūl “asked for (from God)”

Example Sentences

"I think stronger focus would be a positive thing," Ben Saul, the UN special rapporteur on protecting rights while countering terrorism, told AFP.

From Barron's • Mar. 24, 2026

However, the court did not award damages to a Peruvian farmer, Saul Luciano Lliuya, who had brought the case against utility firm RWE.

From Barron's • Mar. 23, 2026

Saul Eslake, a former chief economist of Merrill Lynch in Australia, said the public should know how individual board members vote.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

The works she focused on included Harriet Beecher Stowe’s “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and Saul Bellow’s “Henderson the Rain King” with an eye toward the depictions of black characters.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 10, 2026

He brooded for hours in his tent like Saul, receiving no visitors, while his elite guard of corporals stood discouraged watch outside.

From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller