That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
Parallel translations
- WEB that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”
- BSB Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”
- NKJV that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
- NASB so that we also may be like all the nations, and our king may judge us and go out before us and fight our battles.”
- NLT “We want to be like the nations around us. Our king will judge us and lead us into battle.”
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
They want a king to make them like other nations, to lead them and fight their battles.
Overview
Israel's reasons expose their loss of faith: they want a human leader to do what God Himself had always done for them. The desire to be 'like all the nations' rejects their calling to be a distinct, God-ruled people. They forget that the LORD had been their warrior and judge.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 1 Sam 8:5And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
- Exod 33:16For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth.
- Phil 3:20For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
- Ps 106:35But were mingled among the heathen, and learned their works.
- Num 23:9For from the top of the rocks I see him, and from the hills I behold him: lo, the people shall dwell alone, and shall not be reckoned among the nations.
- Deut 7:6For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.
- 1 Pet 2:9But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
- 2 Cor 6:17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,
- John 15:19If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.
- Lev 20:24–26But I have said unto you, Ye shall inherit their land, and I will give it unto you to possess it, a land that floweth with milk and honey: I am the LORD your God, which have separated you from other people.
- Rom 12:12Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;
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 8:20 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.