1 Samuel 12:23

1 Samuel 12:23 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:
• New International Version (NIV)As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you, and I will instruct you in the good and the right way.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way.

Context of 1 Samuel 12:23

21You should not turn aside after empty things that can’t profit and can’t deliver, since they are empty. 22The Lord will not abandon his people because he wants to uphold his great reputation. The Lord was pleased to make you his own people. As far as I am concerned, far be it from me to sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you! I will instruct you in the way that is good and upright. 24However, fear the Lord and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you! 25But if you continue to do evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”

1 Samuel 12:23 word by word

גַּ֣ם אָנֹכִ֗י חָלִ֤ילָה לִּי֙ מֵחֲטֹ֣א לַֽיהוָ֔ה מֵחֲדֹ֖ל לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל בַּעַדְכֶ֑ם וְהוֹרֵיתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ הַטּוֹבָ֖ה וְהַיְשָׁרָֽה׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• Moreover as for meאָֽנֹכִ֫י'ânôkîy · IH595
• God forbidחָלִ֫ילָהchâlîylâh châlilâh · forbidH2486
• that I should sinחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
• against the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• in ceasingחָדַלchâdal · to ceaseH2308
• to prayפָּלַלpâlal · to prayH6419
• for you: but I will teachיָרָהyârâh yârâ' · to showH3384
• you the goodטוֹבţôb · pleasantH2896
• and the rightיָשָׁרyâshâr · uprightH3477
• wayדֶּ֫רֶךְderek · way: conductH1870

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 12:23

• Acts 12:5So Peter was kept in prison, but those in the church were earnestly praying to God for him.
• Romans 1:9For God, whom I serve in my spirit by preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness that I continually remember you
• Colossians 1:9For this reason we also, from the day we heard about you, have not ceased praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
• 1 Thessalonians 3:10We pray earnestly night and day to see you in person and make up what may be lacking in your faith.
• 2 Timothy 1:3I am thankful to God, whom I have served with a clear conscience as my ancestors did, when I remember you in my prayers as I do constantly night and day.
• Psalms 34:11Come children! Listen to me! I will teach you what it means to fear the Lord.
• Proverbs 4:11I will guide you in the way of wisdom and I will lead you in upright paths.
• Ecclesiastes 12:10The Teacher sought to find delightful words, and to write accurately truthful sayings.
• Acts 20:20You know that I did not hold back from proclaiming to you anything that would be helpful, and from teaching you publicly and from house to house,
• Colossians 1:28We proclaim him by instructing and teaching all people with all wisdom so that we may present every person mature in Christ.
• 1 Kings 8:36then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Certainly you will then teach them the right way to live and send rain on your land that you have given your people to possess.
• 2 Chronicles 6:27then listen from heaven and forgive the sin of your servants, your people Israel. Certainly you will then teach them the right way to live and send rain on your land that you have given your people to possess.
• Jeremiah 6:16The Lord said to his people: “You are standing at the crossroads. So consider your path. Ask where the old, reliable paths are. Ask where the path is that leads to blessing and follow it. If you do, you will find rest for your souls.” But they said, “We will not follow it!”

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 12:23

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 23God forbid that I should sin - They had earnestly begged him, 1 Samuel 12:19, to pray to God for them, that they might not die; and he tells them that he should consider himself a sinner, should he cease to be their intercessor. But I will teach you the good and the right way - I will show you, as long as I am with you, what true religion is; it is the way to happiness and heaven. It is right - there is no crookedness in it; it is good - there is no evil…Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 16-25Verses 16-25 At Samuel's word, God sent thunder and rain, at a season of the year when, in that country, the like was not seen. This was to convince them they had done wickedly in asking a king; not only by its coming at an unusual time, in wheat harvest, and on a clear day, but by the prophet's giving notice of it before. He showed their folly in desiring a king to save them, rather than God, or Samuel; promising themselves more from an arm of flesh…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 23I will continue to teach you: Samuel was both a mediator and a teacher. Although this speech ended Samuel's political leadership, he continued his spiritual work for a while (for example, 1 Samuel 19:24).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 17-2517-25. Is it not wheat harvest to-day?--That season in Palestine occurs at the end of June or beginning of July, when it seldom or never rains, and the sky is serene and cloudless. There could not, therefore, have been a stronger or more appropriate proof of a divine mission than the phenomenon of rain and thunder happening, without any prognostics of its approach, upon the prediction of a person professing himself to be a prophet of the Lord, and giving…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 12:23

• Intercession
• Prayer
• Zeal, Religious

In the dictionaries

• God
• god, false god, goddess, idol, idolater, idolatrous, idolatry
• Reason
• Samuel, Books of
• Far; Farther
• Forbid
• Good
• Judges, Period of
• Prayer
• Right

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