Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
Parallel translations
- WEB But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No; but we will have a king over us,
- BSB Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
- NKJV Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,
- NASB Yet the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,
- NLT But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said.
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
Despite the warning, the people refuse to listen and insist on having a king.
Overview
Israel's stubborn refusal shows that their demand springs from a settled rebellion, not mere ignorance. They hear the full cost yet still choose the king. Their hardness illustrates the human tendency to prefer visible security over trust in God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 5
- Jer 44:16As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.
- Jer 7:13And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;
- Ps 81:11But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.
- Isa 66:4I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.
- Ezek 33:31And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
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 8:19 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.