1 Samuel 8:20

1 Samuel 8:20 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
• New International Version (NIV)Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.”
• English Standard Version (ESV)that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles."
• New King James Version (NKJV)that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”

Context of 1 Samuel 8:20

18When that day comes, you will beg for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you on that day.” 19Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.” 21Samuel listened to all the words of the people and repeated them in the hearing of the LORD. 22“Listen to their voice,” the LORD said to Samuel. “Appoint a king for them.” Then Samuel told the men of Israel, “Everyone must go back to his city.”

1 Samuel 8:20 word by word

וְהָיִ֥ינוּ גַם־אֲנַ֖חְנוּ כְּכָל־הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וּשְׁפָטָ֤נוּ מַלְכֵּ֙נוּ֙ וְיָצָ֣א לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ וְנִלְחַ֖ם אֶת־מִלְחֲמֹתֵֽנוּ׃Read the interlinear

• Then we willאֲנַ֫חְנוּ'ănachnû · weH587
• beהָיָהhâyâh · to beH1961
• beגַּםgam · alsoH1571
• like allכֹּלkôl kôl · allH3605
• the other nationsגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
• with a kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• to judge usשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
• to go outיָצָאyâtsâ' · to come out: comeH3318
• before usפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• and to fightלָחַםlâcham · to fightH3898
• ·אֵת'êth · [Obj.]H853
• our battlesמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 8:20

• 1 Samuel 8:5“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”
• Exodus 33:16For how then can it be known that Your people and I have found favor in Your sight, unless You go with us? How else will we be distinguished from all the other people on the face of the earth?”
• Leviticus 20:24But I have told you that you will inherit their land, since I will give it to you as an inheritance—a land flowing with milk and honey. I am the LORD your God, who has set you apart from the peoples.
• Numbers 23:9For I see them from atop the rocky cliffs, and I watch them from the hills. Behold, a people dwelling apart, not reckoning themselves among the nations.
• Deuteronomy 7:6For you are a people holy to the LORD your God. The LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for His prized possession out of all peoples on the face of the earth.
• Psalms 106:35but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs.
• John 15:19If you were of the world, it would love you as its own. Instead, the world hates you, because you are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
• Romans 12:12Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, persistent in prayer.
• 2 Corinthians 6:17“Therefore come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord. Touch no unclean thing, and I will receive you.”
• Philippians 3:20But our citizenship is in heaven, and we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
• 1 Peter 2:9But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 8:20

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 20May judge us - This appears to be a rejection of Samuel. Go out before us - Be in every respect our head and governor. And fight our battles - Be the general of our armies.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 20Fight our battles - It appears from 1 Samuel 12:12, that the warlike movements of Nahash had already begun to excite alarm.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 10-22Verses 10-22 If they would have a king to rule them, as the eastern kings ruled their subjects, they would find the yoke exceedingly heavy. Those that submit to the government of the world and the flesh, are told plainly, what hard masters they are, and what tyranny the dominion of sin is. The law of God and the manner of men widely differ from each other; the former should be our rule in the several relations of life; the latter should be the measure of…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 20God had set Israel apart from other nations (Leviticus 20:26; Numbers 23:9). By wanting a king and wishing to be like other nations, they were rejecting God's plan (see 1 Samuel 8:5–7; compare Deuteronomy 17:14). to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”: Kings had three main roles: waging wars, both offensive and defensive, enforcing laws, and ensuring economic stability.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 19-2219-22. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel--They sneered at Samuel's description as a bugbear to frighten them. Determined, at all hazards, to gain their object, they insisted on being made like all the other nations, though it was their glory and happiness to be unlike other nations in having the Lord for their King and Lawgiver (Nu 23:9; De 33:28). Their demand was conceded, for the government of a king had been provided for in…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 8:20

• Government
• Israel
• Samuel
• Worldliness

In the dictionaries

• Manner
• Samuel
• Samuel, Books of
• Saul
• Sharpen
• Army
• Israel, History of
• Judah, Kingdom of
• Judges, Period of
• Judging Judgment

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