Christian Standard Bible
1 Samuel 8:6
6When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the Lord.
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 went to Samuel at Ramah. 5They said to him, “Look, you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Therefore, appoint a king to judge us the same as all the other nations have.” When they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” Samuel considered their demand wrong, so he prayed to the Lord. 7But the Lord told him, “Listen to the people and everything they say to you. They have not rejected you; they have rejected me as their king. 8They are doing the same thing to you that they have done to me, since the day I brought them out of Egypt until this day, abandoning me and worshiping other gods.
Read all of 1 Samuel 81 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 12:17Isn’t the wheat harvest today? I will call on the Lord, and he will send thunder and rain so that you will recognize what an immense evil you committed in the Lord’s sight by requesting a king for yourselves.”
- 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 instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the Lord all night.
- Exodus 32:21Then Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you have led them into such a grave sin?”
- Numbers 16:15Then Moses became angry and said to the Lord, “Don’t respect 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 robe, pulled out some of the hair from my head and beard, and sat down devastated.
- Psalms 109:4In return for my love they accuse me, but I continue to pray.
- Luke 6:11They, however, were filled with rage and started discussing with one another what they might do to Jesus.
- Philippians 4:6Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through 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 to all generously and ungrudgingly — 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
In the dictionaries
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
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