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

4Then all the leaders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. 5They told him, “You’re old, and your sons aren’t following your example. Now appoint a king to judge us so that we will be like all the other nations.” But Samuel considered it wrong for them to request a king to judge them. So Samuel prayed to the Lord. 7The Lord told Samuel, “Listen to everything the people are saying to you. They haven’t rejected you; they’ve rejected me. 8They’re doing just what they’ve done since I took them out of Egypt—leaving me and serving other gods.

1 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 being harvested today? I will call on the Lord, and he’ll send thunder and rain. Then you will realize what a wicked thing you did in the Lord’s presence when you asked for a king.”
• 1 Samuel 15:11“I regret that I made Saul king. He turned away from me and did not carry out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he prayed to the Lord all night.
• Exodus 32:21Moses asked Aaron, “What did these people do to you that you encouraged them to commit such a serious sin?”
• Numbers 16:15Moses became angry and said to the Lord, “Don’t accept their offering. I haven’t taken anything from them, not even a donkey. And I haven’t mistreated any of them.”
• Ezra 9:3When I heard this, I tore my clothes ⌞in distress⌟, pulled hair from my scalp and my beard, and sat down in shock.
• Psalms 109:4In return for my love, they accuse me, but I pray for them.
• Luke 6:11The experts in Moses’ Teachings and Pharisees were furious and began to discuss with each other what they could do to Jesus.
• Philippians 4:6Never worry about anything. But in every situation let God know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks.
• James 1:5If any of you needs wisdom to know what you should do, you should ask God, and he will give it to you. God is generous to everyone and doesn’t find fault with them.

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