The Meaning of 1 Samuel 12:22 Explained

1 Samuel 12:22

KJV: For the LORD will not forsake his people for his great name's sake: because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.

YLT: for Jehovah doth not leave His people, on account of His great name; for Jehovah hath been pleased to make you to Him for a people.

Darby: For Jehovah will not cast away his people for his great name's sake; because it has pleased Jehovah to make you his people.

ASV: For Jehovah will not forsake his people for his great name's sake, because it hath pleased Jehovah to make you a people unto himself.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For the LORD  will not forsake  his people  for his great  name's  sake: because it hath pleased  the LORD  to make  you his people. 

What does 1 Samuel 12:22 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 12:22 mean?

For not will forsake Yahweh - His people for sake of His name great because it has pleased Yahweh to make you His people
כִּ֠י לֹֽא־ יִטֹּ֤שׁ יְהוָה֙ אֶת־ עַמּ֔וֹ בַּעֲב֖וּר שְׁמ֣וֹ הַגָּד֑וֹל כִּ֚י הוֹאִ֣יל יְהוָ֔ה לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת אֶתְכֶ֛ם ל֖וֹ לְעָֽם

יִטֹּ֤שׁ  will  forsake 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: נָטַשׁ  
Sense: to leave, permit, forsake, cast off or away, reject, suffer, join, spread out or abroad, be loosed, cease, abandon, quit, hang loose, cast down, make a raid, lie fallow, let fall, forgo, draw.
יְהוָה֙  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
עַמּ֔וֹ  His  people 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
בַּעֲב֖וּר  for  sake 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עֲבוּר  
Sense: for the sake of, on account of, because of, in order to conj.
שְׁמ֣וֹ  of  His  name 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: שֵׁם  
Sense: name.
הַגָּד֑וֹל  great 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: גָּבֹול 
Sense: great.
כִּ֚י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
הוֹאִ֣יל  it  has  pleased 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יָאַל  
Sense: to begin, make a beginning, show willingness, undertake to do, be pleased, be determined.
יְהוָ֔ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לַעֲשׂ֥וֹת  to  make 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
ל֖וֹ  His 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
לְעָֽם  people 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.