1 Samuel 8:9

Easy-to-Read Version

So listen to the people and do what they say. But give them a warning. Tell the people what a king will do to them. Tell them how a king rules people."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Listen to them, but solemnly warn them and tell them about the customary rights of the king who will reign over them.”

Hebrew Names Version
Now therefore listen to their voice: however you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.

King James Version
Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Lexham English Bible
And so then, listen to their voice. However, you must earnestly warn them; you must explain to them the custom of the king who will rule over them."

English Standard Version
Now then, obey their voice; only you shall solemnly warn them and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

New Century Version
Now listen to the people, but warn them what the king who rules over them will do."

New English Translation
So now do as they say. But seriously warn them and make them aware of the policies of the king who will rule over them."

Amplified Bible
"So now listen to their voice; only solemnly warn them and tell them the ways of the king who will reign over them."

New American Standard Bible
"Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall warn them strongly and tell them of the practice of the king who will reign over them."

Geneva Bible (1587)
Nowe therefore hearken vnto their voyce: howbeit yet testifie vnto them, and shewe them the maner of ye King that shall reigne ouer them.

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly testify to them and tell them of the custom of the king who will reign over them."

Contemporary English Version
Do everything they ask, but warn them and tell them how a king will treat them.

Complete Jewish Bible
So do what they say, but give them a sober warning, telling them what kinds of rulings their king will make."

Darby Translation
And now hearken unto their voice; only, testify solemnly unto them, and declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

George Lamsa Translation
Now therefore hearken to their voice; but testify solemnly to them, and show them the law of the king who shall reign over them.

Good News Translation
So then, listen to them, but give them strict warnings and explain how their kings will treat them."

Literal Translation
And now listen to their voice. Only, protesting you shall protest to them, and shall declare to them the privilege of the king who shall reign over them.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Herke now therfore vnto their voyce. Yet testifye vnto them, and shewe them the lawe of the kynge that shall raigne ouer them.

American Standard Version
Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Bible in Basic English
Give ear now to their voice: but make a serious protest to them, and give them a picture of the sort of king who will be their ruler.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Now therefore hearken vnto their voyce: howbeit yet testifie vnto them, & shewe them the maner of the king that shall raigne ouer them.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
Now therefore hearken unto their voice; howbeit thou shalt earnestly forewarn them, and shalt declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.'

King James Version (1611)
Nowe therefore hearken vnto their voyce: howbeit, yet protest solemnly vnto them, and shew them the maner of the King that shall reigne ouer them.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And now hearken to their voice; only thou shalt solemnly testify to them, and thou shalt describe to them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.

English Revised Version
Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Berean Standard Bible
Now listen to them, but you must solemnly warn them and show them the manner of the king who will reign over them."

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Now therfor here thou her vois; netheles witnesse thou to hem; biforseie thou to hem the riyt of the kyng, that schal regne on hem.

Young's Literal Translation
And now, hearken to their voice; only, surely thou dost certainly protest to them, and hast declared to them the custom of the king who doth reign over them.'

Update Bible Version
Now therefore listen to their voice: nevertheless you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.

Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore hearken to their voice: yet protest solemnly to them, and show them the manner of the king that will reign over them.

World English Bible
Now therefore listen to their voice: however you shall protest solemnly to them, and shall show them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.

New King James Version
Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them."

New Living Translation
Do as they ask, but solemnly warn them about the way a king will reign over them."

New Life Bible
So listen to their voice. But tell them of the danger and show them the ways of the king who will rule over them."

New Revised Standard
Now then, listen to their voice; only—you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
Now, therefore, hearken to their voice, - save that thou, enter protest, against them, and tell them the manner of the king who will reign over them.

Douay-Rheims Bible
Now, therefore, hearken to their voice: but yet testify to them, and foretell them the right of the king, that shall reign over them.

Revised Standard Version
Now then, hearken to their voice; only, you shall solemnly warn them, and show them the ways of the king who shall reign over them."

New American Standard Bible (1995)
"Now then, listen to their voice; however, you shall solemnly warn them and tell them of the procedure of the king who will reign over them."

Contextual Overview

⁴ So all the elders of Israel met together and went to Ramah to meet with Samuel. ⁵ The elders said to Samuel, "You're old, and your sons don't live right. They are not like you. Now, give us a king to rule us like all the other nations." ⁶ So the elders asked for a king to lead them. Samuel thought this was a bad idea, so he prayed to the Lord . ⁷ The Lord told Samuel, "Do what the people tell you. They have not rejected you. They have rejected me. They don't want me to be their king. ⁸ They are doing the same thing they have always done. I took them out of Egypt, but they left me and served other gods. They are doing the same to you. ⁹ So listen to the people and do what they say. But give them a warning. Tell the people what a king will do to them. Tell them how a king rules people." ¹⁰ Those people asked for a king. So Samuel told them everything the Lord said. ¹¹ Samuel said, "If you have a king ruling over you, this is what he will do: He will take away your sons and force them to serve him. He will force them to be soldiers—they must fight from his chariots and become horse soldiers in his army. Your sons will become guards running in front of the king's chariot. ¹² "A king will force your sons to become soldiers. He will choose which of your sons will be officers over 1000 men and which will be officers over 50 men. "A king will force some of your sons to plow his fields and gather his harvest. He will force some of your sons to make weapons for war and to make things for his chariots. ¹³ "A king will take your daughters and force some of them to make perfume for him and some to cook and bake for him.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

hearken unto: or, obey

howbeit: etc. or, notwithstanding when thou hast solemnly protested against them, then thou shalt shew, etc. Ezekiel 3:18

the manner: 1 Samuel 8:11-18, 1 Samuel 2:13, 1 Samuel 10:25, 1 Samuel 14:52, Ezekiel 45:7, Ezekiel 45:8, Ezekiel 46:18

Reciprocal: Genesis 21:12 - hearken 1 Samuel 10:1 - captain 2 Kings 17:26 - know not Jeremiah 11:7 - I earnestly 1 Corinthians 15:31 - protest

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 28:65
"You will not have any peace among these nations. You will have no place to rest. The Lord will fill your mind with worry. Your eyes will feel tired. You will be very upset.

Psalms 116:7
My soul, relax! The Lord is caring for you.

Isaiah 60:8
Look at the people. They are rushing toward you like clouds quickly crossing the sky. They are like doves flying to their nests.

Ezekiel 7:16
"But some people will escape. The survivors will run to the mountains, but they will not be happy. They will be sad for all their sins. They will cry and make sad noises like doves.

Matthew 11:28
"Come to me all of you who are tired from the heavy burden you have been forced to carry. I will give you rest.

John 16:33
"I have told you these things so that you can have peace in me. In this world you will have troubles. But be brave! I have defeated the world!"

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Now therefore hearken unto their voice,.... And appoint them a king as they desire:

howbeit, yet protest solemnly unto them; not against the thing itself, which was permitted, but against the evil of their request, as to the unseasonable time, ill manner, and unjustifiable reason, in and for which it was made; the Lord would have Samuel lay before them their evil in requesting it, and the evils that would follow upon it to them, and faithfully represent them to them, that they might be left without excuse, and have none to blame but themselves when they, should come upon them:

and show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them: or the right or judgment z; not a legal right or form of government, but an assumed, arbitrary, and despotic power, such as the kings of the east exercised over their subjects, a king like whom the Israelites desired to have; namely, what unbounded liberties he would take with them, what slaves he would make of them, and what of their property he would take to himself at pleasure, as is after related. The word signifies, not a divine law, according to which the king should govern, but a custom, or a custom he would introduce, as the word is rendered, 1 Samuel 2:13 and is different from that in 1 Samuel 10:25.

z משפט המלך "jus regis", V. L. Tigurine version, Munster; "judicium regis", Vatablus, Drusius.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 8:9. Show them the manner of the king — The word משפט mishpat, which we here render manner, signifies simply what the king would and might require, according to the manner in which kings in general ruled; all of whom, in those times, were absolute and despotic.

The whole of this manner of the king is well illustrated by Puffendorf. "Hitherto," says he, "the people of Israel had lived under governors raised up of God, who had exacted no tribute of them, nor put them to any charge; but, little content with this form of government. they desire to have a king like other nations, who should live in magnificence and pomp, keep armies, and be able to resist any invasion. Samuel informs them what it was they desired; that when they understood it, they might consider whether they would persist in their choice If they would have a king splendidly attended, he tells them that he would take their sons for his chariots, c. if they would have him keep up constant forces, then he would appoint them for colonels and captains, and employ those in his wars who were accustomed to follow their family business; and since, after the manner of other kings, he must keep a stately court, they must be content that their daughters should serve in several offices, which the king would think below the dignity of his wives and daughters, 1 Samuel 8:13. Many ministers also, in several departments, both of war and peace, must have salaries to support them, which must be paid out of their fields and vineyards, 1 Samuel 8:14. In one word, that to sustain his dignity their king would exact the tenth of all they possessed, and be maintained in a royal manner out of their estates,"

It is perfectly vain in Grotius, or any one else, to state that this shows what a king, as king, may any where in virtue of his office, claim and exact; and that he can take the property and persons of his subjects, and dispose of them as he may judge necessary for the exigence of the state. This was the manner of Saul, but Saul was not a king of God's choosing: "He gave him in his wrath, and took him away in his displeasure;" and the manner of such a king should not be arrogated by any potentate who affects to rule jure divino, by Divine right. The manner of the king of God's choice is distinctly detailed, Deuteronomy 17:15-20, to which the reader will do well to refer, that he may have an impartial statement of the subject.