The Meaning of 1 Samuel 12:21 Explained

1 Samuel 12:21

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

YLT: and ye do not turn aside after the vain things which do not profit nor deliver, for they are vain,

Darby: and turn ye not aside; for it would be after vain things which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does 1 Samuel 12:21 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 12:14-25 - His Warning Confirmed From Heaven
Having handed his office over to Saul, who henceforth was to shepherd and lead the Chosen People, Samuel assured them that the Lord would not forsake them, "for his great name's sake," 1 Samuel 12:22. Oh, take these words to heart, and let them linger like a strain of sweet music in your memory! You may have missed the mark, lost your way, and drifted from the ancient moorings, but the love of God has not forsaken you. Being disappointed, it lingers; being repelled, it returns; being buffeted, it entreats. God's name-that is, His honor-is at stake. See Joshua 7:9; Isaiah 48:9; Isaiah 48:11.
Terrified by the thunder-storm, which was God's endorsement of His servant's faith, the people entreated for Samuel's continued prayers; and the aged seer assured them that he would count it a great sin if he ceased to pray for them. Prayerlessness is not only an evidence of a besotted and demoralized nature, but is in itself a sin which requires confession and cleansing. When the heart is right with God, prayer arises like a fountain, from unseen depths. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 12

1  Samuel testifies his integrity
6  He reproves the people of ingratitude
16  He terrifies them with thunder in harvest time
20  he comforts them in God's mercy

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 12:21 mean?

and not do turn aside for [then you would go] after empty things which cannot profit or deliver for nothing they [are]
וְלֹ֖א תָּס֑וּרוּ כִּ֣י ׀ אַחֲרֵ֣י הַתֹּ֗הוּ אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹֽא־ יוֹעִ֛ילוּ וְלֹ֥א יַצִּ֖ילוּ כִּי־ תֹ֥הוּ הֵֽמָּה

וְלֹ֖א  and  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
תָּס֑וּרוּ  do  turn  aside 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
כִּ֣י ׀  for  [then  you  would  go] 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
אַחֲרֵ֣י  after 
Parse: Preposition
Root: אַחַר 
Sense: after the following part, behind (of place), hinder, afterwards (of time).
הַתֹּ֗הוּ  empty  things 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: תֹּהוּ  
Sense: formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness.
לֹֽא־  cannot 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יוֹעִ֛ילוּ  profit 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: יָעַל  
Sense: (Hiphil) to gain, profit, benefit, avail.
יַצִּ֖ילוּ  deliver 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: נָצַל  
Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.
תֹ֥הוּ  nothing 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: תֹּהוּ  
Sense: formlessness, confusion, unreality, emptiness.
הֵֽמָּה  they  [are] 
Parse: Pronoun, third person masculine plural
Root: הֵם 
Sense: they, these, the same, who.