1 Samuel

1 Samuel 8:4–10

⁴So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. ⁵“Look,” they said, “you are old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king to judge us like all the other nations.”

⁶But when they said, “Give us a king to judge us,” their demand was displeasing in the sight of Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.

⁷And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. ⁸Just as they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking Me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you. ⁹Now listen to their voice; but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them.”

¹⁰So Samuel spoke all the words of the LORD to the people who were asking him for a king.

Read all of 1 Samuel 8

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 8:4

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So all	כֹּ֖ל	kōl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the elders	זִקְנֵ֣י	ziq·nê	Adjective - masculine plural construct	H2205 old
of Israel	יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל	yiś·rā·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3478 Israel
gathered together	וַיִּֽתְקַבְּצ֔וּ	way·yiṯ·qab·bə·ṣū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H6908 gather, collect
and came	וַיָּבֹ֥אוּ	way·yā·ḇō·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Samuel	שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל	šə·mū·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8050 Samuel
at Ramah	הָרָמָֽתָה׃	hā·rā·mā·ṯāh	Article; Noun - proper - feminine singular; third person feminine singular	H7414 the Height, Rama

1 Samuel 8:5

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Look	הִנֵּה֙	hin·nêh	Interjection	H2009 lo! behold!
they said	וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ	way·yō·mə·rū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
you	אַתָּ֣ה	’at·tāh	Pronoun - second person masculine singular	H859 thou
are old	זָקַ֔נְתָּ	zā·qan·tā	Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular	H2204 be or become old
and your sons	וּבָנֶ֕יךָ	ū·ḇā·ne·ḵā	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct; second person masculine singular	H1121 son
do not	לֹ֥א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
walk	הָלְכ֖וּ	hā·lə·ḵū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H1980 go, come, walk
in your ways	בִּדְרָכֶ֑יךָ	biḏ·rā·ḵe·ḵā	Preposition-b; Noun - common plural construct; second person masculine singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
Now	עַתָּ֗ה	‘at·tāh	Adverb	H6258 now
appoint	שִֽׂימָה־	śî·māh-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H7760 put, place, set
a king	מֶ֛לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
to judge us	לְשָׁפְטֵ֖נוּ	lə·šā·p̄ə·ṭê·nū	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; first person common plural	H8199 judge, govern
like all	כְּכָל־	kə·ḵāl-	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the other nations	הַגּוֹיִֽם׃	hag·gō·w·yim	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H1471 nation, people

1 Samuel 8:6

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
But when	כַּאֲשֶׁ֣ר	ka·’ă·šer	Preposition-k; Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
they said	אָמְר֔וּ	’ā·mə·rū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H559 utter, say
Give	תְּנָה־	tə·nāh-	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H5414 give, put, set
us	לָּ֥נוּ	lā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
a king	מֶ֖לֶךְ	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
to judge us	לְשָׁפְטֵ֑נוּ	lə·šā·p̄ə·ṭê·nū	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct; first person common plural	H8199 judge, govern
their demand	הַדָּבָר֙	had·dā·ḇār	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H1697 speech, word
was displeasing	וַיֵּ֤רַע	way·yê·ra‘	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H7489 be evil, bad
in the sight	בְּעֵינֵ֣י	bə·‘ê·nê	Preposition-b; Noun - cdc	H5869 eye
of Samuel	שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל	šə·mū·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8050 Samuel
so he	שְׁמוּאֵ֖ל	šə·mū·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8050 Samuel
prayed	וַיִּתְפַּלֵּ֥ל	way·yiṯ·pal·lêl	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hitpael - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H6419 intervene, interpose
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the LORD	יְהוָֽה׃פ	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh

1 Samuel 8:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And the LORD	יְהוָה֙	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
said	וַיֹּ֤אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
Samuel	שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל	šə·mū·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8050 Samuel
Listen	שְׁמַע֙	šə·ma‘	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H8085 hear
to the voice	בְּק֣וֹל	bə·qō·wl	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct	H6963 sound, voice
of the people	הָעָ֔ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
in all	לְכֹ֥ל	lə·ḵōl	Preposition-l; Noun - masculine singular	H3605 the whole, all
that	אֲשֶׁר־	’ă·šer-	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
they say	יֹאמְר֖וּ	yō·mə·rū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine plural	H559 utter, say
to you	אֵלֶ֑יךָ	’ê·le·ḵā	Preposition; second person masculine singular	H413 motion to
For	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
it is not	לֹ֤א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
you	אֹֽתְךָ֙	’ō·ṯə·ḵā	Direct object marker; second person masculine singular	H853 mark of the accusative
they have rejected	מָאָ֔סוּ	mā·’ā·sū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3988 reject
but	כִּֽי־	kî-	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
they have rejected	מָאֲס֖וּ	mā·’ă·sū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3988 reject
Me	אֹתִ֥י	’ō·ṯî	Direct object marker; first person common singular	H853 mark of the accusative
as their king	מִמְּלֹ֥ךְ	mim·mə·lōḵ	Preposition-m; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H4427 be or become king, or queen, reign

1 Samuel 8:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Just as	כְּכָֽל־	kə·ḵāl-	Preposition-k; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
they have done	עָשׂ֗וּ	‘ā·śū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H6213 do, make
from the day	מִיּוֹם֩	mî·yō·wm	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct	H3117 day
I brought them up	הַעֲלֹתִ֨י	ha·‘ă·lō·ṯî	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive construct; first person common singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
out of Egypt	מִמִּצְרַ֙יִם֙	mim·miṣ·ra·yim	Preposition-m; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H4714 Egypt, Egyptians
until	וְעַד־	wə·‘aḏ-	Conjunctive waw; Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
this	הַזֶּ֔ה	haz·zeh	Article; Pronoun - masculine singular	H2088 this, that
day	הַיּ֣וֹם	hay·yō·wm	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H3117 day
forsaking Me	וַיַּ֣עַזְבֻ֔נִי	way·ya·‘az·ḇu·nî	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; first person common singular	H5800 leave, forsake, loose
and serving	וַיַּעַבְד֖וּ	way·ya·‘aḇ·ḏū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5647 work, serve
other	אֲחֵרִ֑ים	’ă·ḥê·rîm	Adjective - masculine plural	H312 another
gods	אֱלֹהִ֣ים	’ĕ·lō·hîm	Noun - masculine plural	H430 God
so	כֵּ֛ן	kên	Adverb	H3651 right, veritable, honest
they	הֵ֥מָּה	hêm·māh	Pronoun - third person masculine plural	H1992 they, them
are doing	עֹשִׂ֖ים	‘ō·śîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H6213 do, make
to you	לָֽךְ׃	lāḵ	Preposition; second person feminine singular

1 Samuel 8:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now	וְעַתָּ֖ה	wə·‘at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H6258 now
listen to	שְׁמַ֣ע	šə·ma‘	Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular	H8085 hear
their voice	בְּקוֹלָ֑ם	bə·qō·w·lām	Preposition-b; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine plural	H6963 sound, voice
but	אַ֗ךְ	’aḵ	Adverb	H389 surely
you must solemnly warn	הָעֵ֤ד	hā·‘êḏ	Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute	H5749 return, go about, repeat, do again
them	בָּהֶ֔ם	bā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural
and show	וְהִגַּדְתָּ֣	wə·hig·gaḏ·tā	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular	H5046 be conspicuous
them	לָהֶ֔ם	lā·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural
the manner	מִשְׁפַּ֣ט	miš·paṭ	Noun - masculine singular construct	H4941 judgment
of the king	הַמֶּ֔לֶךְ	ham·me·leḵ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king
who	אֲשֶׁ֥ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
will reign	יִמְלֹ֖ךְ	yim·lōḵ	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H4427 be or become king, or queen, reign
over them	עֲלֵיהֶֽם׃ס	‘ă·lê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H5921 height

1 Samuel 8:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So Samuel	שְׁמוּאֵ֔ל	šə·mū·’êl	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H8050 Samuel
spoke	וַיֹּ֣אמֶר	way·yō·mer	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular	H559 utter, say
all	כָּל־	kāl-	Noun - masculine singular construct	H3605 the whole, all
the words	דִּבְרֵ֣י	diḇ·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H1697 speech, word
of the LORD	יְהוָ֑ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the people	הָעָ֕ם	hā·‘ām	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H5971 people
who were asking him for	הַשֹּׁאֲלִ֥ים	haš·šō·’ă·lîm	Article; Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H7592 ask, inquire
a king	מֶֽלֶךְ׃ס	me·leḵ	Noun - masculine singular	H4428 king