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, “I have carefully listened to everything you said to me and placed a king over you. Now you can see that the king is leading you. As for me, I’m old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have led you from my youth until now. 3Here I am. Bring charges against me before the Lord and his anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Who have I wronged or mistreated? Who gave me a bribe to overlook something? I will return it to you.” 4“You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone,” they responded.

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 8:20Then we’ll be like all the other nations: our king will judge us, go out before us, and fight our battles.”
• Numbers 27:17who will go out before them and come back in before them, and who will bring them out and bring them in, so that the Lord’s community won’t be like sheep without a shepherd.”
• 1 Samuel 8:1When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as judges over Israel.
• Psalms 71:18Even while I am old and gray, God, do not abandon me, while I proclaim your power to another generation, your strength to all who are to come.
• Isaiah 46:3“Listen to me, house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been sustained from the womb, carried along since birth.
• 2 Timothy 4:6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close.
• 2 Peter 1:14since I know that I will soon lay aside my tent, as our Lord Jesus Christ has indeed made clear to me.
• 1 Samuel 2:22Now Eli was very old. He heard about everything his sons were doing to all Israel and how they were sleeping with the women who served at the entrance to the tent of meeting.
• 1 Samuel 3:13I told him that I am going to judge his family forever because of the iniquity he knows about: his sons are cursing God, and he has not stopped them.
• 1 Samuel 8:3However, his sons did not walk in his ways — they turned toward dishonest profit, took bribes, and perverted justice.
• 1 Samuel 3:19Samuel grew. The Lord was with him, and he fulfilled everything Samuel prophesied.

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