New King James Version
1 Samuel 12:2
2And 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.
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 Living Translation (NLT)Your king is now your leader. I stand here before you—an old, gray-haired man—and my sons serve you. I have served as your leader from the time I was a boy to this very day.
Context of 1 Samuel 12:2
1Now Samuel said to all Israel: “Indeed I have heeded your voice in all that you said to me, and have made a king over you. 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. 3Here I am. Witness against me before the Lord and before His anointed: Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I cheated? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I received any bribe with which to blind my eyes? I will restore it to you.” 4And they said, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.”
Read all of 1 Samuel 121 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 8:20that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
- Numbers 27:17who may go out before them and go in before them, who may lead them out and bring them in, that the congregation of the Lord may not be like sheep which have no shepherd.”
- 1 Samuel 8:1Now it came to pass when Samuel was old that he made his sons judges over Israel.
- Psalms 71:18Now also when I am old and grayheaded, O God, do not forsake me, Until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come.
- Isaiah 46:3“Listen to Me, O house of Jacob, And all the remnant of the house of Israel, Who have been upheld by Me from birth, Who have been carried from the womb:
- 2 Timothy 4:6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand.
- 2 Peter 1:14knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.
- 1 Samuel 2:22Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting.
- 1 Samuel 3:13For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.
- 1 Samuel 8:3But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside after dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.
- 1 Samuel 3:19So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
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
In the dictionaries
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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries