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

4So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 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.” But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD. 7And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. 8Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.

1 Samuel 8:6 word by word

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

• But whenכַּאֲשֶׁר'ăsher · as whichH834
• they saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
• Giveנָתַןnâthan · to give: giveH5414
• a kingמֶ֫לֶךְmelek · kingH4428
• to judge usשָׁפַטshâphaţ · to judgeH8199
• their demandדָּבָרdâbâr · word: thingH1697
• was displeasingרָעַעrâ‛a‛ · be evilH7489
• in the sightעַ֫יִן‛ayin · eye: appearanceH5869
• of Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלshemû'êl · SamuelH8050
• prayedפָּלַלpâlal · to prayH6419
• toאֶל'êl 'el · to(wards)H413
• the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 8:6

• 1 Samuel 12:17Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.”
• 1 Samuel 15:11“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.
• Exodus 32:21“What did this people do to you,” Moses asked Aaron, “that you have led them into so great a sin?”
• Numbers 16:15Then Moses became very angry and said to the LORD, “Do not regard their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them or mistreated a single one of them.”
• Ezra 9:3When I heard this report, I tore my tunic and cloak, pulled out some hair from my head and beard, and sat down in horror.
• Psalms 109:4In return for my love they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer.
• Luke 6:11But the scribes and Pharisees were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
• Philippians 4:6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
• James 1:5Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, 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