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1 Samuel 12:5

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And he said unto them, The LORD [is] witness against you, and his anointed [is] witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, [He is] witness.

And he said {H559} unto them, The LORD {H3068} is witness {H5707} against you, and his anointed {H4899} is witness {H5707} this day {H3117}, that ye have not found {H4672} ought {H3972} in my hand {H3027}. And they answered {H559}, He is witness {H5707}.

He said, "ADONAI is witness against you, and his anointed king is witness against you today, that you have found nothing in my hands?" They replied, "He is witness."

Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.

And he said unto them, Jehovah is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found aught in my hand. And they said, He is witness.

Commentary

In 1 Samuel 12:5, the prophet Samuel concludes his powerful farewell address to the people of Israel, challenging them to find any fault in his long and dedicated service as their judge and leader. This verse encapsulates his integrity and the people's affirmation of his blameless conduct.

Context

This verse is part of Samuel's significant speech delivered at Gilgal, following the anointing and confirmation of Saul as Israel's first king. Having served faithfully from childhood as prophet and judge, Samuel is now stepping down from his active leadership role as the nation transitions to a monarchy. He uses this opportunity to reaffirm his righteous administration and to remind the people of God's faithfulness despite their decision to reject the Lord as their direct king. He publicly invites scrutiny of his actions, demonstrating transparency and a clear conscience before God and man.

Key Themes

  • Samuel's Unblemished Integrity: The core message is Samuel's challenge: "ye have not found ought in my hand." This signifies that he had not taken bribes, defrauded anyone, or exploited his position for personal gain, a stark contrast to the corruption often seen in leaders, including his own sons (1 Samuel 8:3).
  • Divine and Human Witness: Samuel calls upon two supreme witnesses: "The LORD [is] witness against you, and his anointed [is] witness this day." God himself, the ultimate judge, and the newly established king, Saul (the "anointed one"), are invoked to attest to Samuel's purity. This dual witness emphasizes the gravity and truth of his declaration.
  • Public Vindication: The people's immediate response, "[He is] witness," serves as a public acknowledgment and vindication of Samuel's righteous leadership. This moment solidifies his legacy as a devoted and incorruptible servant of God and the nation.

Linguistic Insights

  • The term "anointed" (Hebrew: mashiach, מָשִׁיחַ) refers here specifically to King Saul, who had been anointed by Samuel (1 Samuel 10:1). It signifies a person set apart by God for a special office. This is the same root word from which "Messiah" is derived, though here it applies to the earthly king.
  • The word "witness" (Hebrew: 'ed, עֵד) carries legal weight, implying a testimony that confirms truth or establishes a fact. By calling God and Saul as witnesses, Samuel places his integrity under the highest possible scrutiny.

Practical Application

This verse offers powerful lessons for all, especially those in positions of leadership, whether in the church, community, or home:

  • Integrity Matters: Samuel's example underscores the vital importance of living with integrity and transparency. Leaders, particularly, should strive to be above reproach, ensuring their actions can withstand scrutiny.
  • Accountability: Samuel willingly subjected himself to public accountability, setting a standard for ethical conduct. This challenges us to live in a way that we can confidently invite examination of our character and actions.
  • God as Our Ultimate Witness: Ultimately, our lives are lived before God, who sees all. Knowing that the Lord is our witness should motivate us to pursue righteousness and blamelessness in all we do, trusting in His ultimate judgment and vindication, as seen in Psalm 7:8.
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 (May 20, 2025) 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 — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Exodus 22:4 (5 votes)

    If the theft be certainly found in his hand alive, whether it be ox, or ass, or sheep; he shall restore double.

  • Acts 23:9 (4 votes)

    And there arose a great cry: and the scribes [that were] of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God.

  • Acts 24:20 (4 votes)

    Or else let these same [here] say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council,

  • 2 Corinthians 1:12 (3 votes)

    ¶ For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, but by the grace of God, we have had our conversation in the world, and more abundantly to you-ward.

  • 1 Corinthians 4:4 (3 votes)

    For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord.

  • 1 Samuel 26:9 (2 votes)

    And David said to Abishai, Destroy him not: for who can stretch forth his hand against the LORD'S anointed, and be guiltless?

  • John 18:38 (2 votes)

    Pilate saith unto him, What is truth? And when he had said this, he went out again unto the Jews, and saith unto them, I find in him no fault [at all].