1 Samuel 12:2

1 Samuel 12:2 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And now, behold, the king walketh before you: and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my childhood unto this day.
• New International Version (NIV)Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And now, behold, the king walks before you, and I am old and gray; and behold, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day.
• New King James Version (NKJV)And now here is the king, walking before you; and I am old and grayheaded, and look, my sons are with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day.

Context of 1 Samuel 12:2

1Then Samuel said to all Israel, “Behold, I have listened to your voice in everything that you have said to me and have appointed a king over you. And now, here is the king walking before you. As for me, I am old and gray, and here are my sons with you. I have walked before you from my childhood to this day. 3Here I am; testify against me before the Lord and [Saul] His anointed [if I have done someone wrong]. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I exploited? Whom have I oppressed or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes [to the truth]? [Tell me and] I will restore it to you.” 4They said, “You have not exploited us or oppressed us or taken anything at all from a man’s hand.”

1 Samuel 12:2 word by word

וְעַתָּ֞ה הִנֵּ֥ה הַמֶּ֣לֶךְ׀ מִתְהַלֵּ֣ךְ לִפְנֵיכֶ֗ם וַאֲנִי֙ זָקַ֣נְתִּי וָשַׂ֔בְתִּי וּבָנַ֖י הִנָּ֣ם אִתְּכֶ֑ם וַאֲנִי֙ הִתְהַלַּ֣כְתִּי לִפְנֵיכֶ֔ם מִנְּעֻרַ֖י עַד־הַיּ֥וֹם הַזֶּֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And now, behold, the kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• walkethהָלַךְhâlak · to go: walkH1980
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• you: and I am oldזָקֵןzâqên · be oldH2204
• and grayheadedשִׂיבώîyb · be grayH7867
• and, behold, my sonsבֵּןbên · son: childH1121
• you from my childhoodנְעוּרִיםnâ‛ûr nâ‛ûr ne‛ûrâh · youthH5271
• unto this dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 12:2

• 1 Samuel 8:20so that we too may be like all the nations [around us], that our king may judge [and govern] us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
• Numbers 27:17who will go out and come in before them, and will lead them out and bring them in, so that the congregation of the Lord will not be as sheep without a shepherd.”
• 1 Samuel 8:1And it came about when Samuel was old that he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
• Psalms 71:18And even when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not abandon me, Until I declare Your [mighty] strength to this generation, Your power to all who are to come.
• Isaiah 46:3“Listen to Me,” [says the Lord], “O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, You who have been carried by Me from your birth And have been carried [in My arms] from the womb,
• 2 Timothy 4:6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure [from this world] is at hand and I will soon go free.
• 2 Peter 1:14knowing that the laying aside of this earthly tent of mine is imminent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me.
• 1 Samuel 2:22Now Eli was very old; and he heard about everything that his sons were doing to all [the people of] Israel, and how they were lying with the women who served at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting (tabernacle).
• 1 Samuel 3:13Now I have told him that I am about to judge his house forever for the sinful behavior which he knew [was happening], because his sons were bringing a curse on themselves [dishonoring and blaspheming God] and he did not rebuke them.
• 1 Samuel 8:3His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
• 1 Samuel 3:19Now Samuel grew; and the Lord was with him and He let none of his words fail [to be fulfilled].

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 12:2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 2My sons are with you - It is generally agreed that these words intimate that Samuel had deprived them of their public employ, and reduced them to a level with the common people. Have walked before you from my childhood - He had been a long, steady, and immaculate servant of the public.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 2My sons are with you - Possibly, however, a tinge of mortified feeling at the rejection of himself and his family, mixed with a desire to recommend his sons to the favor and goodwill of the nation, is at the bottom of this mention of them.Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-25The confirmation of Saul as king at Gilgal was the last step in making him king (1 Samuel 11:12–15). It was also a suitable time for Samuel to give his farewell speech as Israel's leader.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-51Sa 12:1-5. Samuel Testifies his Integrity. 1-4. Samuel said unto all Israel--This public address was made after the solemn re-instalment of Saul, and before the convention at Gilgal separated. Samuel, having challenged a review of his public life, received a unanimous testimony to the unsullied honor of his personal character, as well as the justice and integrity of his public administration.Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 12:2

• Samuel

In the dictionaries

• Reason
• Samuel, Books of
• Judges, Period of
• Samuel, Books of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings