1 Samuel 8:6

1 Samuel 8:6 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the Lord.
• New International Version (NIV)But when they said, “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the Lord.
• English Standard Version (ESV)But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord.

Context of 1 Samuel 8:6

4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5and said to him, “Look, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint us a king to judge us [and rule over us] like all the other nations.” But their demand displeased Samuel when they said, “Give us a king to judge and rule over us.” So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7The Lord said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being King over them. 8Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day—in that they have abandoned (rejected) Me and served other gods—so they are doing to you also.

1 Samuel 8:6 word by word

וַיֵּ֤רַע הַדָּבָר֙ בְּעֵינֵ֣י שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר אָמְר֔וּ תְּנָה־לָּ֥נוּ מֶ֖לֶךְ לְשָׁפְטֵ֑נוּ וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל אֶל־יְהוָֽה׃ פRead the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• But the thingדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• displeasedעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• displeasedיָרַעyâra‛ · quiverH3415
• Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלshemû'êl · SamuelH8050
• when they saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• us a kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• to judgeשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
• prayedפָּלַלpâlal · to prayH6419
• unto the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 8:6

• 1 Samuel 12:17Is it not [the beginning of the] wheat harvest today? I will call to the Lord and He will send thunder and rain; then you will know [without any doubt], and see that your evil which you have done is great in the sight of the Lord by asking for yourselves a king.”
• 1 Samuel 15:11“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” Samuel was angry [over Saul’s failure] and he cried out to the Lord all night.
• Exodus 32:21Then Moses said to Aaron, “What did this people do to you, that you have brought so great a sin on them?”
• Numbers 16:15Then Moses became very angry and said to the Lord, “Pay no attention to their offering! I have not taken one donkey from them, nor have I harmed any one of them.”
• Ezra 9:3When I heard this, I tore my clothing and my robe [in grief], I pulled out some of the hair from my head and my beard, and sat down appalled [at the shame of it].
• Psalms 109:4In return for my love, they attack me, But I am in prayer.
• Luke 6:11But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with senseless rage [and lacked spiritual insight], and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
• Philippians 4:6Do not be anxious or worried about anything, but in everything [every circumstance and situation] by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, continue to make your [specific] requests known to God.
• James 1:5If any of you lacks wisdom [to guide him through a decision or circumstance], he is to ask of [our benevolent] God, who gives to everyone generously and without rebuke or blame, and it will be given to him.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 8:6

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 6The thing displeased Samuel - Because he saw that this amounted to a formal renunciation of the Divine government. Samuel prayed unto the Lord - He begged to know his mind in this important business.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 6See the margin which implies that the thing spoken of caused anger, indignation, or some revulsion of feeling (see Genesis 21:11-12). The answer of the Lord 1 Samuel 8:7 shows that Samuel‘s personal feelings had been hurt. They were soothed by being reminded of the continued ingratitude of the people to God Himself, upon whom, in fact, a greater slight was put by this very request for a king “like all the nations,” than upon Samuel (compare Matthew 10:24…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 4-9Verses 4-9 Samuel was displeased; he could patiently bear what reflected on himself, and his own family; but it displeased him when they said, Give us a king to judge us, because that reflected upon God. It drove him to his knees. When any thing disturbs us, it is our interest, as well as our duty, to show our trouble before God. Samuel is to tell them that they shall have a king. Not that God was pleased with their request, but as sometimes he opposes us…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 6Samuel was unhappy. He likely felt personally rejected (1 Samuel 8:7).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 6-106-10. the thing displeased Samuel when they said, Give us a king to judge us--Personal and family feelings might affect his views of this public movement. But his dissatisfaction arose principally from the proposed change being revolutionary in its character. Though it would not entirely subvert their theocratic government, the appointment of a visible monarch would necessarily tend to throw out of view their unseen King and Head. God intimated, through…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 8:6

• Government
• Israel
• Samuel

In the dictionaries

• Samuel
• Manner
• Samuel, Books of
• Saul
• Sharpen
• Theocracy
• Intercession
• Israel, History of
• Judah, Kingdom of
• Judges, Period of

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 8

• 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
• Original Douay–Rheims Annotations
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings