Lectionary Calendar
Thursday, August 21st, 2025
the Week of Proper 15 / Ordinary 20
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Read the Bible

New American Standard Bible (1995)

1 Samuel 12:5

He said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Samuel;   Thompson Chain Reference - Appeal to God;  

Dictionaries:

- Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Witness;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Jesus Christ, Name and Titles of;   Samuel, First and Second, Theology of;   Charles Buck Theological Dictionary - Prayer;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Samuel, Books of;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Israel;   Samuel, Books of;   Witness;   Morrish Bible Dictionary - Anointed, the;   People's Dictionary of the Bible - Saul;   Smith Bible Dictionary - Messi'ah;  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Hebrew Monarchy, the;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Anointing;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Bat Ḳol;   Messiah;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
He said to them, “The Lord is a witness against you, and his anointed is a witness today that you haven’t found anything in my hand.”
Hebrew Names Version
He said to them, the LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. They said, He is witness.
King James Version
And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.
Lexham English Bible
So he said to them, "Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed one is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." Then they said, "He is witness."
English Standard Version
And he said to them, "The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."
New Century Version
Samuel said to them, "The Lord is a witness to what you have said. His appointed king is also a witness today that you did not find anything wrong in me." "He is our witness," they said.
New English Translation
He said to them, "The Lord is witness against you, and his chosen king is witness this day, that you have not found any reason to accuse me." They said, "He is witness!"
Amplified Bible
Samuel said to them, "The LORD is a witness against you, and [Saul] His anointed is a witness this day that you have not found anything in my hand." And they answered, "He is a witness."
New American Standard Bible
So he said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."
Geneva Bible (1587)
And he saide vnto them, The Lorde is witnesse against you, and his Anointed is witnesse this day, that yee haue founde nought in mine handes. And they answered, He is witnesse.
Legacy Standard Bible
So he said to them, "Yahweh is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."
Contemporary English Version
Samuel said, "The Lord and his chosen king are witnesses to what you have said." "That's true," they replied.
Complete Jewish Bible
He said, " Adonai is witness against you, and his anointed king is witness against you today, that you have found nothing in my hands?" They replied, "He is witness."
Darby Translation
And he said to them, Jehovah is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand! And [the people] said, [He is] witness!
Easy-to-Read Version
Samuel said to the Israelites, "The Lord and his chosen king are witnesses today. They heard what you said—that you found nothing wrong with me." The people answered, "Yes, the Lord is witness!"
George Lamsa Translation
And he said to them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything wrong with me. And they said, He is witness.
Good News Translation
Samuel replied, "The Lord and the king he has chosen are witnesses today that you have found me to be completely innocent." "Yes, the Lord is our witness," they answered.
Literal Translation
And he said to them, Jehovah is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they said, He is witness.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
He sayde: The LORDE be witnesse agaynst you, and so be his anoynted this daye, that ye haue founde nothinge in my hade. They saide: Yee they shalbe witnesses.
American Standard Version
And he said unto them, Jehovah is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand. And they said, He is witness.
Bible in Basic English
Then he said, The Lord is witness against you, and the man on whom he has put the holy oil is witness this day that you have seen no wrong in me. And they said, He is witness.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
He sayd vnto them againe: The Lord is witnesse against you, and his annoynted is witnesse this day, that ye haue found naught in my handes. And they aunswered: He is witnesse.
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And he said unto them: 'The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand.' And they said: 'He is witness.'
King James Version (1611)
And hee said vnto them, The Lord is witnesse against you, and his Anointed is witnesse this day, that ye haue not found ought in my hand: And they answered, He is witnesse.
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Samuel said to the people, The Lord is witness among you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found anything in my hand: and they said, He is witness.
English Revised Version
And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand. And they said, He is witness.
Berean Standard Bible
Samuel said to them, "The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand." "He is a witness," they said.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And he seide to hem, The Lord is witnesse ayens you, and his crist is witnesse in this day; for ye han not founde ony thing in myn hond. And thei seiden, Witnesse.
Young's Literal Translation
And he saith unto them, `A witness [is] Jehovah against you: and a witness [is] His anointed this day, that ye have not found anything in my hand;' and they say, `A witness.'
Update Bible Version
And he said to them, Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they said, He is witness.
Webster's Bible Translation
And he said to them, The LORD [is] witness against you, and his anointed [is] witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand. And they answered, [He is] witness.
World English Bible
He said to them, Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. They said, He is witness.
New King James Version
Then he said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they answered, "He is witness."
New Living Translation
"The Lord and his anointed one are my witnesses today," Samuel declared, "that my hands are clean." "Yes, he is a witness," they replied.
New Life Bible
Samuel said to them, "The Lord has heard you. And His chosen one has heard this day that you have found nothing in my hand." And they said, "The Lord has heard."
New Revised Standard
He said to them, "The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And he said unto them - Witness, is Yahweh against you, and, witness, is his Anointed, this day, that ye have not found in my hand, any thing! And they said: Witness!
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he said to them: The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found any thing in my hand. And they said: He is witness.
Revised Standard Version
And he said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."
THE MESSAGE
"That settles it then," said Samuel. " God is witness, and his anointed is witness that you find nothing against me—no faults, no complaints."

Contextual Overview

1 Then Samuel said to all Israel, "Behold, I have listened to your voice in all that you said to me and I have appointed a king over you. 2 "Now, here is the king walking before you, but I am old and gray, and behold my sons are with you. And I have walked before you from my youth even to this day. 3 "Here I am; bear witness against me before the LORD and His anointed. Whose ox have I taken, or whose donkey have I taken, or whom have I defrauded? Whom have I oppressed, or from whose hand have I taken a bribe to blind my eyes with it? I will restore it to you." 4 They said, "You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man's hand." 5 He said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day that you have found nothing in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

The Lord: Job 31:35-40, Job 42:7

his anointed: 1 Samuel 26:9

ye have: John 18:38, Acts 23:9, Acts 24:16, Acts 24:20, 1 Corinthians 4:4, 2 Corinthians 1:12

in my hand: Exodus 22:4, Psalms 17:3

Reciprocal: Genesis 31:50 - God Judges 11:10 - The Lord 1 Samuel 12:3 - his anointed Job 16:19 - my witness Jeremiah 42:5 - The Lord be Lamentations 4:20 - the anointed Malachi 2:14 - the Lord Hebrews 11:12 - as the sand

Cross-References

Genesis 10:19
The territory of the Canaanite extended from Sidon as you go toward Gerar, as far as Gaza; as you go toward Sodom and Gomorrah and Admah and Zeboiim, as far as Lasha.
Genesis 11:31
Terah took Abram his son, and Lot the son of Haran, his grandson, and Sarai his daughter-in-law, his son Abram's wife; and they went out together from Ur of the Chaldeans in order to enter the land of Canaan; and they went as far as Haran, and settled there.
Genesis 12:5
Abram took Sarai his wife and Lot his nephew, and all their possessions which they had accumulated, and the persons which they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Canaan; thus they came to the land of Canaan.
Genesis 12:8
Then he proceeded from there to the mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, with Bethel on the west and Ai on the east; and there he built an altar to the LORD and called upon the name of the LORD.
Genesis 12:9
Abram journeyed on, continuing toward the Negev.
Genesis 14:14
When Abram heard that his relative had been taken captive, he led out his trained men, born in his house, three hundred and eighteen, and went in pursuit as far as Dan.
Genesis 14:21
The king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give the people to me and take the goods for yourself."
Acts 7:4
"Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And he said unto them, the Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day,.... Should they hereafter reproach and vilify him, and charge him with any acts of corruption, injustice, and violence:

that ye have not found ought in my hand; that they had nothing to accuse him of and charge him with throughout his whole administration, but had asserted his innocence and integrity, had honourably acquitted him, and given him a fair character: and they answered, he is witness; the omniscient God is a witness against us, should we depart from this testimony, and Saul, the Lord's anointed, is a witness that we have fully cleared thee from any imputations of maladministration. The word is singular, he "said" or answered g, that is, Israel said, the whole body of the people, they all replied as one man: the reason why Samuel made such a speech at this time, when he resigned his government to Saul, was not only to secure his own character, but to suggest to Saul how he should rule and govern according to his example; and that having established his own character, he could the more freely, and with the better grace, reprove the people for their sin, as in some following verses.

g ויאמר "et dixit", Pagninus, Montanus, Vatablus; Drusius.


 
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