English Standard Version
1 Samuel 8:6
6But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel 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.
- 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.
- New Living Translation (NLT)Samuel was displeased with their request and went to the Lord for guidance.
Context of 1 Samuel 8:6
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah 5and said to him, "Behold, you are old and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint for us a king to judge us like all the nations." But the thing displeased Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7And the Lord said to Samuel, "Obey the voice of the people in all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected me from being king over them. 8According to all the deeds that they have done, from the day I brought them up out of Egypt even to this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are also doing to you.
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 12:17Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, that he may send thunder and rain. And you shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the sight of the Lord, in asking for yourselves a king."
- 1 Samuel 15:11"I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments." And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the Lord all night.
- Exodus 32:21And Moses said to Aaron, "What did this people do to you that you have brought such a great sin upon them?"
- Numbers 16:15And Moses was very angry and said to the Lord, "Do not respect their offering. I have not taken one donkey from them, and I have not harmed one of them."
- Ezra 9:3As soon as I heard this, I tore my garment and my cloak and pulled hair from my head and beard and sat appalled.
- Psalms 109:4In return for my love they accuse me, but I give myself to prayer.
- Luke 6:11But they were filled with fury and discussed with one another what they might do to Jesus.
- Philippians 4:6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
- James 1:5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given 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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