1 Samuel

1 Samuel 12:19–24

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.”

20“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. 21Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty. 22Indeed, for the sake of His great name, the LORD will not abandon His people, because He was pleased to make you His own.

23As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way.

24Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

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 12:19

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

1 Samuel 12:20

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Do notאַל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
be afraidתִּירָ֔אוּtî·rā·’ūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH3372 fear
Samuelשְׁמוּאֵ֤לšə·mū·’êlNoun - proper - masculine singularH8050 Samuel
repliedוַיֹּ֨אמֶרway·yō·merConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singularH559 utter, say
Even though youאַתֶּ֣ם’at·temPronoun - second person masculine pluralH859 thou
have committedעֲשִׂיתֶ֔ם‘ă·śî·ṯemVerb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine pluralH6213 do, make
allכָּל־kāl-Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
thisהַזֹּ֑אתhaz·zōṯArticle; Pronoun - feminine singularH2063 this
evilהָרָעָ֖הhā·rā·‘āhArticle; Adjective - feminine singularH7451 bad, evil
do notאַל־’al-AdverbH408 prohibition, do not . . ., let not . . .
turn asideתָּס֙וּרוּ֙tā·sū·rūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH5493 turn aside
from followingמֵאַחֲרֵ֣יmê·’a·ḥă·rêPreposition-mH310 behind
the LORDיְהוָ֔הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
but serveוַעֲבַדְתֶּ֥םwa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·temConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralH5647 work, serve
the LORDיְהוָ֖הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
with allבְּכָל־bə·ḵālPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
your heartלְבַבְכֶֽם׃lə·ḇaḇ·ḵemNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine pluralH3824 inner man, mind, will, heart

1 Samuel 12:21

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Do notוְלֹ֖אwə·lōConjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
turn asideתָּס֑וּרוּtā·sū·rūVerb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine pluralH5493 turn aside
afterאַחֲרֵ֣י’a·ḥă·rêPrepositionH310 behind
worthlessהַתֹּ֗הוּhat·tō·hūArticle; Noun - masculine singularH8414 formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness
things thatאֲשֶׁ֧ר’ă·šerPronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
cannotלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
profitיוֹעִ֛ילוּyō·w·‘î·lūVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH3276 profit, avail, benefit
or deliverיַצִּ֖ילוּyaṣ·ṣî·lūVerb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine pluralH5337 strip, plunder
forכִּי־kî-ConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
theyהֵֽמָּה׃hêm·māhPronoun - third person masculine pluralH1992 they, them
emptyתֹ֥הוּṯō·hūNoun - masculine singularH8414 formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness

1 Samuel 12:22

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Indeedכִּ֠יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
for the sakeבַּעֲב֖וּרba·‘ă·ḇūrPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singularH5668 crossed, transit, account
of His greatהַגָּד֑וֹלhag·gā·ḏō·wlArticle; Adjective - masculine singularH1419 great
nameשְׁמ֣וֹšə·mōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH8034 name
the LORDיְהוָה֙Yah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
will notלֹֽא־lō-Adverb - Negative particleH3808 not
abandonיִטֹּ֤שׁyiṭ·ṭōšVerb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singularH5203 leave, forsake, permit
His peopleעַמּ֔וֹ‘am·mōwNoun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singularH5971 people
becauseכִּ֚יkîConjunctionH3588 burning, branding
was pleasedהוֹאִ֣ילhō·w·’îlVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularH2974 shew willingness, be pleased, determine, undertake
to makeלַעֲשׂ֥וֹתla·‘ă·śō·wṯPreposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH6213 do, make
youאֶתְכֶ֛ם’eṯ·ḵemDirect object marker; second person masculine pluralH853 mark of the accusative
Hisל֖וֹlōwPreposition; third person masculine singular

1 Samuel 12:23

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
As forגַּ֣םgamConjunctionH1571 also, moreover, yea
meאָנֹכִ֗י’ā·nō·ḵîPronoun - first person common singularH595 I
far be it from meחָלִ֤ילָהḥā·lî·lāhInterjection; third person feminine singularH2486 far be it
that Iלִּי֙lîPreposition; first person common singular
should sinמֵחֲטֹ֣אmê·ḥă·ṭōPreposition-m; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH2398 miss
against the LORDלַֽיהוָ֔הYah·wehPreposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
by ceasingמֵחֲדֹ֖לmê·ḥă·ḏōlPreposition-m; Verb - Qal - Infinitive constructH2308 cease
to prayלְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣לlə·hiṯ·pal·lêlPreposition-l; Verb - Hitpael - Infinitive constructH6419 intervene, interpose
for youבַּעַדְכֶ֑םba·‘aḏ·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine pluralH1157 separation
And I will continue to teachוְהוֹרֵיתִ֣יwə·hō·w·rê·ṯîConjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singularH3384 throw, shoot
youאֶתְכֶ֔ם’eṯ·ḵemDirect object marker; second person masculine pluralH853 mark of the accusative
the goodהַטּוֹבָ֖הhaṭ·ṭō·w·ḇāhArticle; Noun - feminine singularH2896 pleasant, agreeable, good
and rightוְהַיְשָׁרָֽה׃wə·hay·šā·rāhConjunctive waw, Article; Adjective - feminine singularH3477 straight, right
wayבְּדֶ֥רֶךְbə·ḏe·reḵPreposition-b; Noun - common singular constructH1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner

1 Samuel 12:24

EnglishHebrewSounds likeGrammarWord study
Above allאַ֣ךְ׀’aḵAdverbH389 surely
fearיְר֣אוּyə·r·’ūVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH3372 fear
the LORDיְהוָ֗הYah·wehNoun - proper - masculine singularH3068 Yahweh
and serveוַעֲבַדְתֶּ֥םwa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·temConjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine pluralH5647 work, serve
Himאֹת֛וֹ’ō·ṯōwDirect object marker; third person masculine singularH853 mark of the accusative
faithfullyבֶּאֱמֶ֖תbe·’ĕ·meṯPreposition-b; Noun - feminine singularH571 firmness, faithfulness, truth
with allבְּכָל־bə·ḵālPreposition-b; Noun - masculine singular constructH3605 the whole, all
your heartלְבַבְכֶ֑םlə·ḇaḇ·ḵemNoun - masculine singular construct; second person masculine pluralH3824 inner man, mind, will, heart
considerרְא֔וּrə·’ūVerb - Qal - Imperative - masculine pluralH7200 see
whatאֲשֶׁר־’ă·šer-Pronoun - relativeH834 particle of relation
great things He has doneהִגְדִּ֖לhiḡ·dilVerb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singularH1431 grow up, become great
for youעִמָּכֶֽם׃‘im·mā·ḵemPreposition; second person masculine pluralH5973 with

Cross-references

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

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

1 Samuel 12:20 Deuteronomy 11:16 · Joshua 23:6 · Psalm 101:3 · Psalm 125:5

1 Samuel 12:21 Habakkuk 2:18 · Jeremiah 16:19 · Jeremiah 10:15 · Jeremiah 14:22 · Deuteronomy 11:16 · Jeremiah 2:13 · Isaiah 44:9–10 · Isaiah 45:20 · Jonah 2:8 · 1 Corinthians 8:4 · Isaiah 46:7

1 Samuel 12:22 Deuteronomy 14:2 · 1 Kings 6:13 · Psalm 106:8 · Philippians 1:6 · Jeremiah 14:21 · Romans 11:29 · Deuteronomy 7:7–8 · Joshua 7:9 · Psalm 94:14 · Lamentations 3:31–32 · Ezekiel 20:9 · Ephesians 1:12

1 Samuel 12:23 Colossians 1:9 · Romans 1:9 · 2 Timothy 1:3 · 1 Thessalonians 3:10 · 1 Kings 8:36 · Acts 12:5 · Psalm 34:11 · Jeremiah 6:16 · Colossians 1:28 · 2 Chronicles 6:27 · Proverbs 4:11 · Acts 20:20

1 Samuel 12:24 Deuteronomy 10:21 · Proverbs 1:7 · Isaiah 5:12 · Ecclesiastes 12:13 · Psalm 126:2–3 · Hebrews 12:29 · Psalm 111:10 · Exodus 12:13 · Psalm 119:80 · Job 28:28 · Romans 12:1 · John 1:47

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.