1 Samuel

1 Samuel 12:12–19

12But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’— even though the LORD your God was your king.

13Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you.

14If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well.h 15But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.i

16Now, therefore, present yourselves and see this great thing that the LORD will do before your eyes. 17Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.”

18So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain.

As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

Footnotes

  • h 12:14 then all will be well is implied; Literally If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, (then) both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.
  • i 12:15 Hebrew; LXX against your king

Read all of 1 Samuel 12

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Samuel 12:12

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But when you sawוַתִּרְא֗וּwat·tir·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine pluralH7200 see
thatכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
Nahashנָחָ֞שׁnā·ḥāšNoun - proper - masculine singularH5176 Nachash
kingמֶ֣לֶךְme·leḵNoun - masculine singular constructH4428 king
of the Ammonitesבְּנֵֽי־bə·nê-Noun - masculine plural constructH1121 son
was movingבָּ֣אbāVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH935 come in, come, go in, go
against youעֲלֵיכֶם֒‘ă·lê·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine pluralH5921 height
you saidוַתֹּ֣אמְרוּwat·tō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
to meלִ֔יlîPreposition; first person common singular
Noלֹ֕אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
we must have a kingמֶ֖לֶךְme·leḵNoun - masculine singularH4428 king
to ruleיִמְלֹ֣ךְyim·lōḵVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH4427 be or become king, or queen, reign
over usעָלֵ֑ינוּ‘ā·lê·nūPreposition; first person common pluralH5921 height
even though the LORDוַיהוָ֥הYah·wehConjunctive waw; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶ֖ם’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵemNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine pluralH430 God
your kingמַלְכְּכֶֽם׃mal·kə·ḵemNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine pluralH4428 king

1 Samuel 12:13

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Nowוְעַתָּ֗הwə·‘at·tāhConjunctive waw; AdverbH6258 now
here isהִנֵּ֥הhin·nêhInterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
the kingהַמֶּ֛לֶךְham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
you have chosenבְּחַרְתֶּ֖םbə·ḥar·temVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralH977 choose
the oneאֲשֶׁ֥ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
you requestedשְׁאֶלְתֶּ֑םšə·’el·temVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralH7592 ask, inquire
Beholdוְהִנֵּ֨הwə·hin·nêhConjunctive waw; InterjectionH2009 lo! behold!
the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
has placedנָתַ֧ןnā·ṯanVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
a kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃me·leḵNoun - masculine singularH4428 king
over youעֲלֵיכֶ֖ם‘ă·lê·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine pluralH5921 height

1 Samuel 12:14

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Ifאִם־’im-ConjunctionH518 if
you fearתִּֽירְא֣וּtî·rə·’ūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH3372 fear
the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
and serveוַעֲבַדְתֶּ֤םwa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·temConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralH5647 work, serve
Himאֹתוֹ֙’ō·ṯōwDirect object marker; third person masculine singularH853 mark of the accusative
and obeyוּשְׁמַעְתֶּ֣םū·šə·ma‘·temConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralH8085 hear
His voiceבְּקֹל֔וֹbə·qō·lōwPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH6963 sound, voice
and if you do notוְלֹ֥אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
rebelתַמְר֖וּṯam·rūVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH4784 be contentious, refractory, rebellious
againstאֶת־’eṯ-Direct object markerH853 mark of the accusative
the commandפִּ֣יpîNoun - masculine singular constructH6310 mouth
of the LORDיְהוָ֑הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
and ifוִהְיִתֶ֣םwih·yi·ṯemConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
bothגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
youאַתֶּ֗ם’at·temPronoun - second person masculine pluralH859 thou
andוְגַם־wə·ḡam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
the kingהַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ham·me·leḵArticle; Noun - masculine singularH4428 king
whoאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
rulesמָלַ֣ךְmā·laḵVerb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singularH4427 be or become king, or queen, reign
over youעֲלֵיכֶ֔ם‘ă·lê·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine pluralH5921 height
followאַחַ֖ר’a·ḥarPrepositionH310 behind
the LORDיְהוָ֥הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
your Godאֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵemNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine pluralH430 God

1 Samuel 12:15

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
But ifוְאִם־wə·’im-ConjunctionH518 if
you disobeyלֹ֤אlōAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
and rebelוּמְרִיתֶ֖םū·mə·rî·ṯemConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralH4784 be contentious, refractory, rebellious
against Hisיְהוָ֑הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
commandפִּ֣יpîNoun - masculine singular constructH6310 mouth
then the handיַד־yaḏ-Noun - feminine singular constructH3027 hand
of the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
will beוְהָיְתָ֧הwə·hā·yə·ṯāhConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person feminine singularH1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
against youבָּכֶ֖םbā·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine plural
asוּבַאֲבֹתֵיכֶֽם׃ū·ḇa·’ă·ḇō·ṯê·ḵemConjunctive waw, Preposition-b; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine pluralH1 father

1 Samuel 12:16

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Nowעַתָּה֙‘at·tāhAdverbH6258 now
thereforeגַּם־gam-ConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
present yourselvesהִתְיַצְּב֣וּhiṯ·yaṣ·ṣə·ḇūVerb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine pluralH3320 set or station oneself, take one's stand
and seeוּרְא֔וּū·rə·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH7200 see
thisהַזֶּ֑הhaz·zehArticle; Pronoun - masculine singularH2088 this, that
greatהַגָּד֖וֹלhag·gā·ḏō·wlArticle; Adjective - masculine singularH1419 great
thingהַדָּבָ֥רhad·dā·ḇārArticle; Noun - masculine singularH1697 speech, word
thatאֲשֶׁ֣ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
will doעֹשֶׂ֖ה‘ō·śehVerb - Qal - Participle - masculine singularH6213 do, make
before your eyesלְעֵינֵיכֶֽם׃lə·‘ê·nê·ḵemPreposition-l; Noun - cdc; second person masculine pluralH5869 eye

1 Samuel 12:17

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Is it notהֲל֤וֹאhă·lō·wAdverb - Negative particleH3808 not
the wheatחִטִּים֙ḥiṭ·ṭîmNoun - feminine pluralH2406 wheat
harvestקְצִיר־qə·ṣîr-Noun - masculine singular constructH7105 harvesting, harvest
todayהַיּ֔וֹםhay·yō·wmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
I will callאֶקְרָא֙’eq·rāVerb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
onאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
to sendוְיִתֵּ֥ןwə·yit·tênConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
thunderקֹל֖וֹתqō·lō·wṯNoun - masculine pluralH6963 sound, voice
and rainוּמָטָ֑רū·mā·ṭārConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH4306 rain
so that you will knowוּדְע֣וּū·ḏə·‘ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH3045 know
and seeוּרְא֗וּū·rə·’ūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH7200 see
what a greatרַבָּה֙rab·bāhAdjective - feminine singularH7227 much, many, great
evilרָעַתְכֶ֤םrā·‘aṯ·ḵemNoun - feminine singular construct; second person masculine pluralH7451 bad, evil
you have committedעֲשִׂיתֶם֙‘ă·śî·ṯemVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralH6213 do, make
in the sightבְּעֵינֵ֣יbə·‘ê·nêPreposition-b; Noun - cdcH5869 eye
of the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
by askingלִשְׁא֥וֹלliš·’ō·wlPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7592 ask, inquire
forלָכֶ֖םlā·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine plural
a kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃סme·leḵNoun - masculine singularH4428 king

1 Samuel 12:18

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
So Samuelשְׁמוּאֵל֙šə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel
calledוַיִּקְרָ֤אway·yiq·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH7121 call, proclaim, read
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
and on thatהַה֑וּאha·hūArticle; Pronoun - third person masculine singularH1931 he, she
dayבַּיּ֣וֹםbay·yō·wmPreposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singularH3117 day
the LORDיְהוָ֛הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
sentוַיִּתֵּ֧ןway·yit·tênConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH5414 give, put, set
thunderקֹלֹ֥תqō·lōṯNoun - masculine pluralH6963 sound, voice
and rainוּמָטָ֖רū·mā·ṭārConjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singularH4306 rain
As a resultכָל־ḵālNoun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
allכָל־ḵālNoun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
the peopleהָעָ֥םhā·‘āmArticle; Noun - masculine singularH5971 people
greatlyמְאֹ֛דmə·’ōḏAdverbH3966 muchness, force, abundance, exceedingly
fearedוַיִּירָ֨אway·yî·rāConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH3372 fear
the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
andוְאֶת־wə·’eṯ-Conjunctive waw; Direct object markerH853 mark of the accusative
Samuelשְׁמוּאֵֽל׃šə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel

1 Samuel 12:19

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Theyכָל־ḵālNoun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
pleadedוַיֹּאמְר֨וּway·yō·mə·rūConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine pluralH559 utter, say
withאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֗לšə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel
Prayהִתְפַּלֵּ֧לhiṯ·pal·lêlVerb - Hitpael - Imperative - masculine singularH6419 intervene, interpose
toאֶל־’el-PrepositionH413 motion to
the LORDיְהוָ֥הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
your Godאֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ’ĕ·lō·he·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH430 God
forבְּעַד־bə·‘aḏ-PrepositionH1157 separation
your servantsעֲבָדֶ֛יךָ‘ă·ḇā·ḏe·ḵāNoun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singularH5650 slave, servant
so that we will notוְאַל־wə·’al-Conjunctive waw; AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
dieנָמ֑וּתnā·mūṯVerb - Qal - Imperfect Cohortative if contextual - first person common pluralH4191 die
Forכִּֽי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
we have addedיָסַ֤פְנוּyā·sap̄·nūVerb - Qal - Perfect - first person common pluralH3254 add
toעַל־‘al-PrepositionH5921 height
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
our sinsחַטֹּאתֵ֙ינוּ֙ḥaṭ·ṭō·ṯê·nūNoun - feminine plural construct; first person common pluralH2403 offence, penalty, occasion
the evilרָעָ֔הrā·‘āhAdjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
of askingלִשְׁאֹ֥לliš·’ōlPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH7592 ask, inquire
forלָ֖נוּlā·nūPreposition; first person common plural
a kingמֶֽלֶךְ׃סme·leḵNoun - masculine singularH4428 king

Cross-references

Other passages that speak to the same thing. Point at one to read it.

1 Samuel 12:12 Judges 8:23 · 1 Samuel 8:5–7 · 1 Samuel 11:1–2 · 1 Samuel 10:19 · Genesis 17:7

1 Samuel 12:13 1 Samuel 10:24 · Hosea 13:11 · 1 Samuel 8:5

1 Samuel 12:14 Joshua 24:14 · Deuteronomy 28:1–14 · Psalm 81:12–15 · Isaiah 3:10 · Joshua 24:20 · Leviticus 20:1–13

1 Samuel 12:15 Joshua 24:20 · Isaiah 1:20 · Isaiah 3:11 · 1 Samuel 12:9 · Leviticus 26:14–30 · Romans 2:8–9 · Deuteronomy 28:15–68

1 Samuel 12:16 Exodus 14:13 · Exodus 14:31 · 1 Samuel 12:7 · 1 Samuel 15:16

1 Samuel 12:17 1 Samuel 8:7 · Proverbs 26:1 · 1 Samuel 7:9–10 · James 5:16–18

1 Samuel 12:18 Exodus 14:31 · Ezra 10:9 · Exodus 9:23–25

1 Samuel 12:19 Exodus 9:28 · 1 John 5:16 · 1 Samuel 12:23 · Exodus 10:17

Cross-references from OpenBible.info, used under CC BY 4.0. The best-supported references for each verse are shown.

Scripture text: Berean Standard Bible.