1 Samuel 8:19

THE MESSAGE

But the people wouldn't listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We will have a king to rule us! Then we'll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles."

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

Hebrew Names Version
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Shemu'el; and they said, No: but we will have a king over us,

King James Version
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

Lexham English Bible
However, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel and they said, "No, but there must be a king over us,

English Standard Version
But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, "No! But there shall be a king over us,

New Century Version
But the people would not listen to Samuel. They said, "No! We want a king to rule over us.

New English Translation
But the people refused to heed Samuel's warning. Instead they said, "No! There will be a king over us!

Amplified Bible
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but there shall be a king over us,

New American Standard Bible
Yet the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but there shall be a king over us,

Geneva Bible (1587)
But the people would not heare the voyce of Samuel, but did say, Nay, but there shall be a King ouer vs.

Legacy Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but there shall be a king over us,

Contemporary English Version
The people would not listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We want to be like other nations. We want a king to rule us and lead us in battle."

Complete Jewish Bible
However, the people refused to listen to what Sh'mu'el told them, and they said, "No! We want a king over us,

Darby Translation
And the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us,

Easy-to-Read Version
But the people would not listen to Samuel. They said, "No, we want a king to rule over us.

George Lamsa Translation
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said to him, No; but we will have a king over us,

Good News Translation
The people paid no attention to Samuel, but said, "No! We want a king,

Literal Translation
And the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and said, No, but a king shall be over us.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
Neuerthelesse the people refused to heare the voyce of Samuel, and sayde: Not so, but there shall be a kynge ouer vs,

American Standard Version
But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay: but we will have a king over us,

Bible in Basic English
But the people gave no attention to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but we will have a king over us,

Bishop's Bible (1568)
Neuerthelesse, the people woulde not heare the voyce of Samuel, but did say, Nay, not so: But there shalbe a king ouer vs,

JPS Old Testament (1917)
But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said: 'Nay; but there shall be a king over us;

King James Version (1611)
Neuerthelesse, the people refused to obey the voyce of Samuel; and they said, Nay, but we will haue a King ouer vs:

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
But the people would not hearken to Samuel; and they said to him, Nay, but there shall be a king over us.

English Revised Version
But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

Berean Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We must have a king over us.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
Sotheli the puple nolde here the vois of Samuel, but thei seiden, Nay for a kyng schal be on vs;

Young's Literal Translation
And the people refuse to hearken to the voice of Samuel, and say, `Nay, but a king is over us,

Update Bible Version
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No: but we will have a king over us,

Webster's Bible Translation
Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but we will have a king over us;

World English Bible
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No: but we will have a king over us,

New King James Version
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No, but we will have a king over us,

New Living Translation
But the people refused to listen to Samuel's warning. "Even so, we still want a king," they said.

New Life Bible
But the people would not listen to Samuel. They said, "No! We will have a king rule over us,

New Revised Standard
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, "No! but we are determined to have a king over us,

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel, - and they said - Nay! but, a king, shall be over us:

Douay-Rheims Bible
But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said, Nay: but there shall be a king over us,

Revised Standard Version
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No! but we will have a king over us,

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, "No, but there shall be a king over us,

Contextual Overview

⁴Fed up, all the elders of Israel got together and confronted Samuel at Ramah. They presented their case: "Look, you're an old man, and your sons aren't following in your footsteps. Here's what we want you to do: Appoint a king to rule us, just like everybody else." ⁶ When Samuel heard their demand—"Give us a king to rule us!"—he was crushed. How awful! Samuel prayed to God . ⁷ God answered Samuel, "Go ahead and do what they're asking. They are not rejecting you. They've rejected me as their King. From the day I brought them out of Egypt until this very day they've been behaving like this, leaving me for other gods. And now they're doing it to you. So let them have their own way. But warn them of what they're in for. Tell them the way kings operate, just what they're likely to get from a king." ¹⁰So Samuel told them, delivered God 's warning to the people who were asking him to give them a king. He said, "This is the way the kind of king you're talking about operates. He'll take your sons and make soldiers of them—chariotry, cavalry, infantry, regimented in battalions and squadrons. He'll put some to forced labor on his farms, plowing and harvesting, and others to making either weapons of war or chariots in which he can ride in luxury. He'll put your daughters to work as beauticians and waitresses and cooks. He'll conscript your best fields, vineyards, and orchards and hand them over to his special friends. He'll tax your harvests and vintage to support his extensive bureaucracy. Your prize workers and best animals he'll take for his own use. He'll lay a tax on your flocks and you'll end up no better than slaves. The day will come when you will cry in desperation because of this king you so much want for yourselves. But don't expect God to answer." ¹⁹But the people wouldn't listen to Samuel. "No!" they said. "We will have a king to rule us! Then we'll be just like all the other nations. Our king will rule us and lead us and fight our battles." ²¹Samuel took in what they said and rehearsed it with God . God told Samuel, "Do what they say. Make them a king." Then Samuel dismissed the men of Israel: "Go home, each of you to your own city."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

refused to obey: Psalms 81:11, Jeremiah 7:13, Jeremiah 44:16, Ezekiel 33:31

Reciprocal: Deuteronomy 17:14 - I will set 1 Samuel 8:5 - now make 1 Samuel 9:20 - on whom 1 Samuel 10:1 - captain 1 Samuel 10:19 - And ye have 1 Samuel 11:15 - rejoiced greatly 1 Samuel 12:1 - Behold 1 Samuel 12:12 - Nay Hosea 13:10 - thy judges Hebrews 13:17 - Obey

Gill's Notes on the Bible

Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel,.... The advice he gave not to think of a king, but be content with the government under which they were; but to this they would not hearken, notwithstanding all the inconveniences that would attend such a change:

and they said, nay, but we will have a king over us; they would not believe what Samuel said concerning a king, even though they were the words of the Lord he delivered to them; and though they knew Samuel was a prophet, and spoke by a spirit of prophecy, and none of his words had ever fallen to the ground: but such was their stubbornness and obstinacy, and so set upon having a king, that one they would have, let them suffer what hardships, or be at what expenses they might; at all events, and against all remonstrances, they were determined to have one.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 8:19. The people refused to obey — They would have the king, his manner and all, notwithstanding the solemn warning which they here receive.