1 Samuel 8:7

And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

And the LORD {H3068} said {H559} unto Samuel {H8050}, Hearken {H8085} unto the voice {H6963} of the people {H5971} in all that they say {H559} unto thee: for they have not rejected {H3988} thee, but they have rejected {H3988} me, that I should not reign {H4427} over them.

ADONAI said to Sh'mu'el, "Listen to the people, to everything they say to you; for it is not you they are rejecting; they are rejecting me; they don't want me to be king over them.

And the LORD said to Samuel, โ€œListen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.

And Jehovah said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.

Commentary

Context

This pivotal verse in 1 Samuel 8 occurs at a critical juncture in Israel's history, marking a transition from a theocracy, where God ruled directly through judges and prophets, to a monarchy. Samuel, the last of the great judges, is old, and his sons, Joel and Abiah, have proven corrupt, taking bribes and perverting justice (1 Samuel 8:1-3). Faced with this leadership crisis, the elders of Israel approach Samuel and demand a king "like all the nations" (1 Samuel 8:5). Samuel is deeply displeased by their request, seeing it as a personal affront. However, the Lord's response in verse 7 clarifies the true nature of their rejection.

Key Themes

  • Rejection of Divine Kingship: The core message of this verse is that Israel's demand for a human king was not merely a rejection of Samuel's leadership, but a profound and direct rejection of God's unique kingship over them. For centuries, God had been their visible and invisible ruler, delivering them from enemies and providing for their needs. Their desire to be "like all the nations" demonstrated a lack of faith in God's chosen way of governing them.
  • God's Sovereignty and Patience: Despite their rebellious desire, God instructs Samuel to "hearken unto the voice of the people." This demonstrates God's sovereign control, even over human choices that go against His perfect will. He allows them to have what they desire, but not without warning them of the dire consequences of having an earthly king (1 Samuel 8:11-18).
  • Samuel's Vindication: The Lord's words offer comfort and vindication to Samuel, assuring him that their rejection is not personal to him, but directed at God Himself. This helps Samuel process the situation and proceed with God's instructions.

Linguistic Insights

The Hebrew verb translated "rejected" is ืžึธืึทืก (ma'as), which carries a strong connotation of despising, abhorring, or casting off. It's not a light dismissal but a deliberate act of contempt. When God says, "they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them," it underscores the gravity of their choice. They were not merely seeking a new form of governance but actively choosing to remove God from His rightful position as their ultimate sovereign King, a role He had held since their exodus from Egypt (Exodus 15:18).

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless warning about the danger of seeking worldly solutions and imitating cultural norms rather than trusting in God's perfect plan and divine wisdom. Often, what seems practical or desirable from a human perspective can, at its core, be a subtle rejection of God's best for us. When we desire to be "like others" or rely on our own strength and systems, we risk displacing God from His rightful rule in our lives. The passage challenges us to examine our motives and ensure that our decisions are rooted in a deep trust that God knows what is best for us and that His kingdom and righteousness should always be our primary pursuit (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Note: If the commentary doesnโ€™t appear instantly, please allow 2โ€“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 โ€” the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • 1 Samuel 10:19 (10 votes)

    And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, [Nay], but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.

  • Exodus 16:8 (7 votes)

    And Moses said, [This shall be], when the LORD shall give you in the evening flesh to eat, and in the morning bread to the full; for that the LORD heareth your murmurings which ye murmur against him: and what [are] we? your murmurings [are] not against us, but against the LORD.

  • Luke 19:27 (7 votes)

    But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay [them] before me.

  • Luke 10:16 (7 votes)

    He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me.

  • Luke 19:14 (6 votes)

    But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this [man] to reign over us.

  • Hosea 13:10 (6 votes)

    I will be thy king: where [is any other] that may save thee in all thy cities? and thy judges of whom thou saidst, Give me a king and princes?

  • Hosea 13:11 (6 votes)

    I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took [him] away in my wrath.