1 Samuel 12:21

And turn ye not aside: for [then should ye go] after vain [things], which cannot profit nor deliver; for they [are] vain.

And turn ye not aside {H5493}: for then should ye go after {H310} vain {H8414} things, which cannot profit {H3276} nor deliver {H5337}; for they are vain {H8414}.

Don't turn to the side; because then you would go after useless things that can neither help nor rescue, they are so futile.

Do not turn aside after worthless things that cannot profit you or deliver you, for they are empty.

and turn ye not aside; for then would ye go after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver, for they are vain.

Commentary

1 Samuel 12:21 is a pivotal verse from Samuel's farewell address to the Israelites as they transition into a monarchy under King Saul. It serves as a solemn warning against spiritual deviation and a call to unwavering faithfulness to God.

Context

This verse is part of Samuel's powerful discourse to the nation of Israel, delivered after they had demanded a king, thereby effectively rejecting God's direct rule (1 Samuel 8:7). Having just demonstrated God's power and their sin through a miraculous thunderstorm, Samuel reassures the repentant people that God will not forsake them if they remain faithful. He urges them to serve the Lord with all their heart, reminding them of God's past faithfulness and warning them against turning away from Him.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Warning Against Apostasy: Samuel explicitly warns the people not to "turn... aside" from following the Lord. This speaks to the danger of spiritual wandering and abandoning the covenant relationship with God.
  • The Futility of Idolatry: The phrase "vain things" (Hebrew: tohu) refers to idols or anything that attempts to usurp God's place in one's life. These are inherently worthless, offering no true benefit or salvation. They are empty, profitless, and cannot "deliver" from real trouble, unlike the living God. This echoes warnings found throughout the Old Testament against relying on false gods, such as those described in Psalm 115:4.
  • God's Exclusive Ability to Deliver: By contrasting the inability of "vain things" to profit or deliver, Samuel implicitly highlights God's unique power and faithfulness to save and provide. True security and help come only from Him.
  • Call to Wholehearted Devotion: The verse is a strong appeal for continued obedience and devotion to the one true God, emphasizing that any alternative path leads to emptiness and destruction.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew word translated "vain" is tohu (ΧͺΦΉΦΌΧ”Χ•ΦΌ), which also appears in Genesis 1:2 describing the earth as "without form, and void." It conveys a sense of emptiness, chaos, waste, or nothingness. When applied to idols or false gods, it emphasizes their utter lack of substance, power, or purpose. They are fundamentally useless and deceptive, leading to spiritual emptiness rather than fulfillment or profit.

Practical Application

For believers today, 1 Samuel 12:21 serves as a timeless warning against placing our trust, hope, or devotion in anything other than God. The "vain things" can manifest in modern forms such as:

  • Materialism: The pursuit of wealth or possessions as the ultimate source of security or happiness.
  • Human Achievement: Relying solely on personal success, status, or intellect for identity and worth.
  • Worldly Ideologies: Adopting philosophies or political systems that elevate human reason or desires above divine truth.
  • Self-Reliance: Trusting in one's own strength rather than God's provision and guidance.
This verse calls us to examine our hearts and ensure that our primary allegiance is to the Lord, who alone can truly profit, deliver, and bring lasting satisfaction. Just as Samuel urged Israel to remain faithful to God, we are encouraged to turn not aside from His path, recognizing that only He offers true life and purpose.

Note: If the commentary doesn’t appear instantly, please allow 2–5 seconds for it to load. It is generated by Gemini 2.5 Flash using a prompt focused on Biblical fidelity over bias. While the insights have been consistently reliable, we encourage prayerful discernment through the Holy Spirit.

Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated β€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Habakkuk 2:18

    What profiteth the graven image that the maker thereof hath graven it; the molten image, and a teacher of lies, that the maker of his work trusteth therein, to make dumb idols?

  • Jeremiah 16:19

    O LORD, my strength, and my fortress, and my refuge in the day of affliction, the Gentiles shall come unto thee from the ends of the earth, and shall say, Surely our fathers have inherited lies, vanity, and [things] wherein [there is] no profit.

  • Jeremiah 10:15

    They [are] vanity, [and] the work of errors: in the time of their visitation they shall perish.

  • Jeremiah 14:22

    Are there [any] among the vanities of the Gentiles that can cause rain? or can the heavens give showers? [art] not thou he, O LORD our God? therefore we will wait upon thee: for thou hast made all these [things].

  • Deuteronomy 11:16

    Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

  • Isaiah 46:7

    They bear him upon the shoulder, they carry him, and set him in his place, and he standeth; from his place shall he not remove: yea, [one] shall cry unto him, yet can he not answer, nor save him out of his trouble.

  • Isaiah 44:9

    ΒΆ They that make a graven image [are] all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they [are] their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.
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