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1 Samuel 8:3

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And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

And his sons {H1121} walked {H1980} not in his ways {H1870}, but turned aside {H5186} after {H310} lucre {H1215}, and took {H3947} bribes {H7810}, and perverted {H5186} judgment {H4941}.

However, his sons did not follow his way of life; they turned off it to pursue riches, so that they would take bribes to distort justice.

But his sons did not walk in his ways; they turned aside toward dishonest gain, accepting bribes and perverting justice.

And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

Commentary

Context

First Samuel chapter 8 marks a pivotal transition in Israel's history, moving from the era of judges to the monarchy. This verse specifically introduces the immediate catalyst for the people's demand for a king. Samuel, who had faithfully judged Israel (1 Samuel 7:15), appointed his sons, Joel and Abiah, as judges over Beer-sheba. However, unlike their father, Samuel's sons proved unworthy of their positions, setting the stage for the elders of Israel to approach Samuel with a request for a king to rule over them, like all the other nations (1 Samuel 8:5). This failure of leadership highlights a recurring problem in Israel's history when God's appointed leaders strayed from His ways.

Key Themes

  • Corruption and Leadership Failure: The verse vividly portrays the failure of Samuel's sons to uphold their responsibilities. Their actions stand in stark contrast to Samuel's integrity and the righteous standards expected of those in authority in Israel. This corruption was a direct abuse of their judicial power.
  • Greed and Dishonest Gain: The phrase "turned aside after lucre" points to their avarice and desire for ill-gotten wealth. This pursuit of personal gain led them to compromise their duties.
  • Perversion of Justice: Taking bribes directly resulted in "perverted judgment," meaning they twisted or distorted the law, failing to administer fair and impartial rulings. This was a severe offense against God's law, which commanded justice for all (Deuteronomy 16:19).
  • Consequences of Unrighteousness: The unrighteousness of Samuel's sons had far-reaching consequences, leading the nation to seek a different form of governance, ultimately paving the way for the Israelite monarchy.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV phrase "turned aside after lucre" translates the Hebrew term betsa` (בֶּצַע), which signifies dishonest gain, covetousness, or unjust profit. It emphasizes their motivation was driven by avarice. The phrase "perverted judgment" comes from the Hebrew natah mishpat (נָטָה מִשְׁפָּט), meaning to "bend" or "turn aside" justice from its straight course. This powerfully conveys the idea of twisting or corrupting what should be righteous and impartial.

Practical Application

This verse serves as a timeless warning about the dangers of corruption and the importance of integrity in leadership, whether in public office, religious institutions, or personal life.

  • Accountability in Leadership: It underscores the need for leaders to be held accountable and to lead by example, upholding justice and resisting the temptation of personal gain.
  • The Corrupting Power of Greed: The pursuit of "lucre" can blind individuals to righteousness and lead them to compromise their principles, impacting not only themselves but those they serve.
  • Upholding Justice: The call to not "pervert judgment" remains relevant, emphasizing the importance of fairness, impartiality, and truth in all dealings, advocating for justice, especially for the vulnerable.
  • Generational Integrity: While Samuel was righteous, his sons were not. This reminds us that spiritual heritage does not guarantee personal righteousness; each individual is responsible for their own walk with God and adherence to His ways.
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

  • Deuteronomy 16:19 (9 votes)

    Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.

  • 1 Timothy 6:10 (7 votes)

    For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.

  • Psalms 15:5 (7 votes)

    [He that] putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these [things] shall never be moved.

  • Exodus 23:8 (6 votes)

    And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.

  • Exodus 18:21 (6 votes)

    Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place [such] over them, [to be] rulers of thousands, [and] rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

  • Isaiah 33:15 (5 votes)

    He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;

  • 1 Timothy 3:3 (5 votes)

    Not given to wine, no striker, not greedy of filthy lucre; but patient, not a brawler, not covetous;