King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, [even] the best [of them], and give [them] to his servants.
Complete Jewish Bible:
He will expropriate your fields, vineyards and olive groves - the very best of them! - and hand them over to his servants.
Berean Standard Bible:
He will take the best of your fields and vineyards and olive groves and give them to his servants.
American Standard Version:
And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And he will take{H3947} your fields{H7704}, and your vineyards{H3754}, and your oliveyards{H2132}, even the best{H2896} of them, and give{H5414} them to his servants{H5650}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Ezekiel 46:18
- Moreover the prince shall not take of the people's inheritance by oppression, to thrust them out of their possession; [but] he shall give his sons inheritance out of his own possession: that my people be not scattered every man from his possession.
1 Kings 21:7
- And Jezebel his wife said unto him, Dost thou now govern the kingdom of Israel? arise, [and] eat bread, and let thine heart be merry: I will give thee the vineyard of Naboth the Jezreelite.
1 Samuel 22:7
- Then Saul said unto his servants that stood about him, Hear now, ye Benjamites; will the son of Jesse give every one of you fields and vineyards, [and] make you all captains of thousands, and captains of hundreds;
1 Kings 21:19
- And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, Hast thou killed, and also taken possession? And thou shalt speak unto him, saying, Thus saith the LORD, In the place where dogs licked the blood of Naboth shall dogs lick thy blood, even thine.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for 1 Samuel 8:14
1 Samuel 8:14 is part of a pivotal moment in the history of ancient Israel, where the people demand a king to rule over them, rejecting the theocratic system of judges that had been guided by God. This request is met with reluctance and warning from the prophet Samuel, who is the last of the judges. In the verse, Samuel is warning the people about the consequences of their desire for a monarchy, specifically detailing how a king will exploit their resources and labor for his own benefit.
The verse highlights themes of God's sovereignty versus human desires for earthly power structures. It speaks to the inherent risks of a monarchy, where the king holds the power to expropriate the best lands and resources—including fields, vineyards, and oliveyards—and redistribute them to his officials or use them to sustain his court. This practice would not only centralize wealth and power but also create a system of dependency and servitude among the people, undermining the egalitarian ethos of the Israelite tribes.
Historically, this passage reflects the transition of Israel from a loose confederation of tribes to a centralized monarchy, a change that would bring both political stability and potential for abuse of power. The warning given by Samuel underscores the tension between the prophetic ideal of justice and righteousness and the pragmatic considerations of governance in the ancient world. It also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of autocratic rule and the importance of accountability and justice in leadership—themes that continue to resonate in discussions about governance and power dynamics in contemporary societies.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H3947
There are 909 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: לָקַח
Transliteration: lâqach
Pronunciation: law-kakh'
Description: a primitive root; to take (in the widest variety of applications); accept, bring, buy, carry away, drawn, fetch, get, infold, [idiom] many, mingle, place, receive(-ing), reserve, seize, send for, take (away, -ing, up), use, win. - Strong's Number: H7704
There are 309 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׂדֶה
Transliteration: sâdeh
Pronunciation: saw-deh'
Description: or שָׂדַי; from an unused root meaning to spread out; a field (as flat); country, field, ground, land, soil, [idiom] wild. - Strong's Number: H3754
There are 82 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: כֶּרֶם
Transliteration: kerem
Pronunciation: keh'-rem
Description: from an unused root of uncertain meaning; a garden or vineyard; vines, (increase of the) vineyard(-s), vintage. See also בֵּית הַכֶּרֶם. - Strong's Number: H2132
There are 36 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: זַיִת
Transliteration: zayith
Pronunciation: zay'-yith
Description: probably from an unused root (akin to זִו); an olive (as yielding illuminating oil), the tree, the branch or the berry; olive (tree, -yard), Olivet. - Strong's Number: H2896
There are 517 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: טוֹב
Transliteration: ṭôwb
Pronunciation: tobe
Description: from טוֹב; good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well); beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant, [phrase] pleaseth, pleasure, precious, prosperity, ready, sweet, wealth, welfare, (be) well(-favoured). - Strong's Number: H5414
There are 1816 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָתַן
Transliteration: nâthan
Pronunciation: naw-than'
Description: a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.); add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, [idiom] avenge, [idiom] be (healed), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, [phrase] cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, [idiom] doubtless, [idiom] without fail, fasten, frame, [idiom] get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), [idiom] have, [idiom] indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), [phrase] lie, lift up, make, [phrase] O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, [idiom] pull, put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), [phrase] sing, [phrase] slander, strike, (sub-) mit, suffer, [idiom] surely, [idiom] take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, [phrase] weep, [phrase] willingly, [phrase] withdraw, [phrase] would (to) God, yield. - Strong's Number: H5650
There are 714 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֶבֶד
Transliteration: ʻebed
Pronunciation: eh'-bed
Description: from עָבַד; a servant; [idiom] bondage, bondman, (bond-) servant, (man-) servant.