“No,” they replied, “you have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe.”
Parallel translations
- WEB They said, “You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from anyone’s hand.”
- KJV And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man’s hand.
- BSB “You have not wronged us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.”
- NKJV And they said, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.”
- NASB And they said, “You have not exploited us or oppressed us, or taken anything from anyone’s hand.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
The people affirm that Samuel has never defrauded or oppressed them. His blameless leadership is publicly confirmed.
Overview
Israel's testimony vindicates Samuel and clears him of any wrongdoing. Their acknowledgment establishes the moral authority from which he will plead with them. This confirmed integrity gives weight to the covenant warnings he is about to deliver.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 3
- Ps 37:5–6Commit your way to Yahweh. Trust also in him, and he will do this:
- 3 Jn 1:12Demetrius has the testimony of all, and of the truth itself; yes, we also testify, and you know that our testimony is true.
- Dan 6:4Then the presidents and the satraps sought to find occasion against Daniel as touching the kingdom; but they could find no occasion nor fault, because he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 12:4 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.