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

1Samuel said to all the Israelites, ‘I have done everything that you asked me to do. I have given you a king to rule over you. Listen! You now have a king to be your leader, instead of me. I am old and my hair is grey. My sons are here with you. I have been your leader from the time when I was young until now. 3Look at me. I stand here where the Lord and his chosen king can see me. Speak now if I have done any wrong thing against you. Have I taken anyone's cow or anyone's donkey? Have I cheated anyone? Have I been cruel to anyone? Have I received bribes from anyone to say that they are not guilty? If I have done any of those things, tell me! Then I will pay back my debt.’ 4The Israelites answered, ‘You have not cheated us. You have not been cruel to us. You have not robbed any of us.’

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 8:20We want to be like all the other nations! We want a king to rule us. He will be our leader when we go to fight our enemies.’
• Numbers 27:17He will lead them when they go out to fight, and he will bring them back safely. Then the Lord's people will not be like sheep who have no shepherd.’
• 1 Samuel 8:1When Samuel was old, he made his sons judges for the Israelites.
• Psalms 71:18And even when I am old and my hair is grey, do not turn away from me, God. I need to tell the people still to be born about your great strength. My descendants need to know about your power.
• Isaiah 46:3The Lord says, ‘Listen to me, you family of Jacob. Yes, listen to me, all you Israelites who are still alive. I have taken care of you since you first became a nation. I have carried you since you were born.
• 2 Timothy 4:6As for me, it is nearly time for me to die. My death will be like a drink offering that they pour out to God. My life as God's servant will end.
• 2 Peter 1:14I know that I will die soon. Our Lord Jesus Christ has shown me that clearly.
• 1 Samuel 2:22Eli was very old now. He heard about everything that his sons were doing to all the Israelites. He knew that his sons had sex with some of the women helpers. Those women worked at the door of the Tent of Meeting.
• 1 Samuel 3:13I have warned Eli that I would punish his family for all time. He knew that his sons were doing very bad things. They were insulting me, God, and Eli did not stop them.
• 1 Samuel 8:3But Samuel's sons did not live in a good way, as Samuel had done. They took money from people in ways that were not honest. They accepted bribes so that they did not judge in a fair way.
• 1 Samuel 3:19The Lord was with Samuel while he continued to grow up. So every message that Samuel spoke became true.

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