Israel Demands a King
1 Samuel 8
When Samuel is old and his sons prove corrupt judges, the elders of Israel ask him to set a king over them like the other nations; the Lord tells Samuel this is a rejection of his own rule, and though Samuel warns at length what a king will take from the people, they insist, and the Lord tells him to grant their request.
About these editions
The Septuagint (LXX) in Greek, with Charles Thomson’s 1808 and Sir Lancelot Brenton’s 1851 English translations, set beside the King James Version and the Jewish Masoretic text (JPS 1917) where they align, so you can compare the Greek and the Hebrew. All public domain; choose which to show with the controls above.
Thomson 1808Septuagint
Brenton 1851Septuagint
Greek · BrentonSeptuagint
KJV 1769Masoretic
JPS 1917Masoretic
1
ThomsonNOW when Samuel grew old he appointed his sons judges over Israel.
BrentonAnd it came to pass when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
GreekΚαὶ ἐγένετο ὡς ἐγήρασε Σαμουὴλ, καὶ κατέστησε τούς υἱοὺς αὐτοῦ δικαστὰς τῷ Ἰσραήλ.
KJVAnd it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
JPSAnd it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.
2
ThomsonAnd these were the names of his sons. His first born was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abia. They were judges in Bersabee.
BrentonAnd these are the names of his sons; Joel the first-born, and the name of the second Abia, judges in Bersabee.
GreekΚαὶ ταῦτα τὰ ὀνόματα τῶν υἱῶν αὐτοῦ· πρωτότοκος Ἰωήλ, καὶ ὄνομα τοῦ δευτέρου ʼΑβιά, δικασταὶ ἐν Βηρσαβεέ.
KJVNow the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba.
JPSNow the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judges in Beer-sheba.
3
ThomsonBut his sons did not walk in his way. They turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
BrentonAnd his sons did not walk in his way; and they turned aside after gain, and took gifts, and perverted judgments.
GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἐπορεύθησαν οἱ υἱοὶ αὐτοῦ ἐν ὁδῷ αὐτοῦ· καὶ ἐξέκλιναν ὀπίσω τῆς συντελείας, καὶ ἐλάμβανον δῶρα, καὶ ἐξέκλινον δικαιώματα.
KJVAnd his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.
JPSAnd his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
4
ThomsonWhereupon all the chief men of Israel assembled, and came to Armathaim, to Samuel,
BrentonAnd the men of Israel gather themselves together, and come to Armathaim to Samuel,
GreekΚαὶ συναθροίζονται ἄνδρες Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ παραγίνονται εἰς ʼΑρμαθαὶμ πρὸς Σαμουὴλ,
KJVThen all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah,
JPSThen all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah.
5
Thomsonand said to him, Behold thou art grown old, and thy sons do not walk in thy way. Now therefore appoint a king over us to judge us like the other nations.
Brentonand they said to him, Behold, thou art grown old, and thy sons walk not in thy way; and now set over us a king to judge us, as also the other nations have.
Greekκαὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ, ἰδοὺ, σὺ γεγήρακας, καὶ οἱ υἱοί σου οὐ πορεύονται ἐν τῇ ὁδῷ σου· καὶ νῦν κατάστησον ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς βασιλέα δικάζειν ἡμᾶς, καθὰ καὶ τὰ λοιπὰ ἔθνη.
KJVAnd said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
JPSAnd they said unto him: ‘Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways; now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.’
6
ThomsonAnd the thing was evil in the sight of Samuel, that they should say, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed to the Lord.
BrentonAnd the thing was evil in the eyes of Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us: and Samuel prayed to the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ πονηρὸν τὸ ῥῆμα ἐν ὀφθαλμοῖς Σαμουήλ, ὡς εἶπαν, δὸς ἡμῖν βασιλέα δικάζειν ἡμᾶς· καὶ προσηύξατο Σαμουὴλ πρὸς Κύριον.
KJVBut the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
JPSBut the thing displeased Samuel, when they said: ‘Give us a king to judge us.’ And Samuel prayed unto the LORD.
7
ThomsonAnd the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to the voice of this people as they have spoken to thee. For they have not rejected thee; but they have rejected Me, that I should not reign over them.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to Samuel, Hear the voice of the people, in whatever they shall say to thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me from reigning over them.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Σαμουήλ, ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς τοῦ λαοῦ, καθὰ ἂν λαλῶσί σοι, ὅτι οὐ σὲ ἐξουθενήκασιν, ἀλλʼ ἢ ἐμὲ ἐξουθενήκασι τοῦ μὴ βασιλεύειν ἐπʼ αὐτῶν.
KJVAnd 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.
JPSAnd 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 be king over them.
8
ThomsonAccording to all that they have done to Me, from the day I brought them out of Egypt even to this day—as they have forsaken Me, and served strange gods, so they do also to thee.
BrentonAccording to all their doings which they have done to me, from the day that I brought them out of Egypt until this day, even as they have deserted me, and served other gods, so they do also to thee.
GreekΚατὰ πάντα τὰ ποιήματα, ἃ ἐποίησάν μοι ἀφʼ ἧς ἡμέρας ἀνήγαγον αὐτοὺς ἐξ Αἰγύπτου ἕως τῆς ἡμέρας ταύτης, καὶ ἐγκατέλιπόν με, καὶ ἐδούλευον θεοῖς ἑτέροις, οὕτως αὐτοὶ ποιοῦσι καὶ σοί.
KJVAccording to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, wherewith they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
JPSAccording to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken Me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
9
ThomsonNow therefore hearken to their voice. Nevertheless testify to them, and tell them the prerogative of the king who shall reign over them.
BrentonAnd now hearken to their voice; only thou shalt solemnly testify to them, and thou shalt describe to them the manner of the king who shall reign over them.
GreekΚαὶ νῦν ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῶν· πλὴν ὅτι διαμαρτυρόμενος διαμαρτύρῃ αὐτοῖς, καὶ ἀπαγγελεῖς αὐτοῖς τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ βασιλέως ὃς βασιλεύσει ἐπʼ αὐτούς.
KJVNow therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit yet protest solemnly unto them, and shew them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
JPSNow therefore hearken unto their voice; howbeit thou shalt earnestly forewarn them, and shalt declare unto them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.’
10
ThomsonUpon this Samuel told the people who asked of him a king, all the words of the Lord,
BrentonAnd Samuel spoke every word of the Lord to the people who asked of him a king.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Σαμουὴλ πᾶν τὸ ῥῆμα τοῦ κυρίου πρὸς τὸν λαὸν τοὺς αἰτοῦντας παρʼ αὐτοῦ βασιλέα.
KJVAnd Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
JPSAnd Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king.
11
Thomsonand said, This will be the prerogative of the king who shall reign over you. He will take your sons, and appoint them for his chariots, and for his horsemen, and some to run before his chariots,
BrentonAnd he said, This shall be the manner of the king that shall rule over you: he shall take your sons, and put them in his chariots, and among his horsemen, and running before his chariots,
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε, τοῦτο ἔσται τὸ δικαίωμα τοῦ βασιλέως ὃς βασιλεύσει ἐφʼ ὑμᾶς· τοὺς υἱοὺς ὑμῶν λήψεται, καὶ θήσεται αὐτοὺς ἐν ἅρμασιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἐν ἱππεῦσιν αὐτοῦ, καὶ προτρέχοντας τῶν ἁρμάτων αὐτοῦ,
KJVAnd he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.
JPSAnd he said: ‘This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them unto him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots.
12
Thomsonand others to be made for him captains of hundreds, and captains of thousands, and some to reap his harvest, and gather his vintage, and to make his implements of war, and arms for his chariots.
Brentonand his manner shall be to make them to himself captains of hundreds and captains of thousands; and to reap his harvest, and gather his vintage, and prepare his instruments of war, and the implements of his chariots.
Greekκαὶ θέσθαι αὐτοὺς ἑαυτῷ ἑκατονάρχους καὶ χιλιάρχους, καὶ θερίζειν θερισμὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ τρυγᾷν τρυγητὸν αὐτοῦ, καὶ ποιεῖν σκεύη πολεμικὰ αὐτοῦ, καὶ σκεύη ἁρμάτων αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.
JPSAnd he will appoint them unto him for captains of thousands, and captains of fifties; and to plow his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and the instruments of his chariots.
13
ThomsonAnd he will take your daughters for confectioners, and cooks, and bakers.
BrentonAnd he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and cooks, and bakers.
GreekΚαὶ τὰς θυγατέρας ὑμῶν λήψεται εἰς μυρεψοὺς, καὶ εἰς μαγειρίσσας, καὶ εἰς πεσσούσας.
KJVAnd he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
JPSAnd he will take your daughters to be perfumers, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.
14
ThomsonAnd he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive orchards, and give them to his slaves.
BrentonAnd he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your good oliveyards, and give them to his servants.
GreekΚαὶ τοὺς ἀγροὺς ὑμῶν, καὶ τοὺς ἀμπελῶνας ὑμῶν, καὶ τοὺς ἐλαιῶνας ὑμῶν τοὺς ἀγαθοὺς λήψεται, καὶ δώσει τοῖς δούλοις ἑαυτοῦ.
KJVAnd he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
JPSAnd he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.
15
ThomsonAnd he will take the tenth of your crops, and vineyards, and give it to his officers and vassals.
BrentonAnd he will take the tithe of your seeds and your vineyards, and give it to his eunuchs, and to his servants.
GreekΚαὶ τὰ σπέρματα ὑμῶν καὶ τοὺς ἀμπελῶνας ὑμῶν ἀποδεκατώσει, καὶ δώσει τοῖς εὐνούχοις αὐτοῦ, καὶ τοῖς δούλοις αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
JPSAnd he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
16
ThomsonHe will take also your men servants, and your maid servants, and the best of your herds, and your asses, even the tenth of them, for his own works.
BrentonAnd he will take your servants, and your handmaids, and your good herds and your asses, and will take the tenth of them for his works.
GreekΚαὶ τοὺς δούλους ὑμῶν, καὶ τὰς δούλας ὑμῶν, καὶ τὰ βουκόλια ὑμῶν τὰ ἀγαθὰ, καὶ τοὺς ὄνους ὑμῶν λήψεται, καὶ ἀποδεκατώσει εἰς τὰ ἔργα αὐτοῦ·
KJV—
JPSAnd he will take your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.
17
ThomsonHe will also take a tenth of your flocks; and you shall be his slaves.
BrentonAnd he will tithe your flocks; and ye shall be his servants.
GreekΚαὶ τὰ ποίμνια ὑμῶν ἀποδεκατώσει, καὶ ὑμεῖς ἔσεσθε αὐτῷ δοῦλοι.
KJVHe will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
JPSHe will take the tenth of your flocks; and ye shall be his servants.
18
ThomsonAnd in that day you will cry aloud, because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves: but the Lord will not hearken to you in those days, because you have chosen a king for yourselves.
BrentonAnd ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye have chosen to yourselves, and the Lord shall not hear you in those days, because ye have chosen to yourselves a king.
GreekΚαὶ βοήσεσθε ἐν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἐκ προσώπου βασιλέως ὑμῶν οὗ ἐξελέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς, καὶ οὐκ ἐπακούσεται Κύριος ὑμῶν ἐν ταῖς ἡμέραις ἐκείναις, ὅτι ὑμεῖς ἐξελέξασθε ἑαυτοῖς βασιλέα.
KJVAnd ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
JPSAnd ye shall cry out in that day because of your king whom ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not answer you in that day.’
19
ThomsonBut the people would not hearken to Samuel, but said to him, None but a king shall be over us.
BrentonBut the people would not hearken to Samuel; and they said to him, Nay, but there shall be a king over us.
GreekΚαὶ οὐκ ἐβούλετο ὁ λαὸς ἀκοῦσαι τοῦ Σαμουὴλ, καὶ εἶπαν αὐτῷ, οὐχὶ, ἀλλʼ ἢ βασιλεὺς ἔσται ἐφʼ ἡμᾶς.
KJVNevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
JPSBut the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said: ‘Nay; but there shall be a king over us;
20
ThomsonWe will be like all the nations, and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
BrentonAnd we also will be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and shall go out before us, and fight our battles.
GreekΚαὶ ἐσόμεθα καὶ ἡμεῖς καθὰ πάντα τὰ ἔθνη· καὶ δικάσει ἡμᾶς βασιλεὺς ἡμῶν, καὶ ἐξελεύσεται ἔμπροσθεν ἡμῶν, καὶ πολεμήσει τὸν πόλεμον ἡμῶν.
KJVThat we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
JPSthat we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.’
21
ThomsonAnd when Samuel heard all the words of the people, and rehearsed them in the hearing of the Lord,
BrentonAnd Samuel heard all the words of the people, and spoke them in the ears of the Lord.
GreekΚαὶ ἤκουσε Σαμουὴλ πάντας τοὺς λόγους τοῦ λαοῦ, καὶ ἐλάλησεν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὰ ὦτα Κυρίου.
KJVAnd Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
JPSAnd Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he spoke them in the ears of the LORD.
22
Thomsonthe Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to their voice, and appoint a king over them. Then Samuel said to the men of Israel, Depart every man to his city.
BrentonAnd the Lord said to Samuel, Hearken to their voice, and appoint them a king. And Samuel said to the men of Israel, Let each man depart to his city.
GreekΚαὶ εἶπε Κύριος πρὸς Σαμουήλ, ἄκουε τῆς φωνῆς αὐτῶν, καὶ βασίλευσον αὐτοῖς βασιλέα· καὶ εἶπε Σαμουὴλ πρὸς ἄνδρας Ἰσραήλ, ἀποτρεχέτω ἕκαστος εἰς τὴν πόλιν αὐτοῦ.
KJVAnd the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
JPSAnd the LORD said to Samuel: ‘Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king.’ And Samuel said unto the men of Israel: ‘Go ye every man unto his city.’