The Meaning of 1 Samuel 12:23 Explained

1 Samuel 12:23

KJV: Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

YLT: 'I, also, far be it from me to sin against Jehovah, by ceasing to pray for you, and I have directed you in the good and upright way;

Darby: Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah in ceasing to pray for you; and I will teach you the good and right way.

ASV: Moreover as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against Jehovah in ceasing to pray for you: but I will instruct you in the good and the right way.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Moreover as for me,  God forbid  that I should sin  against the LORD  in ceasing  to pray  for you: but I will teach  you the good  and the right  way: 

What does 1 Samuel 12:23 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 12:23 mean?

Moreover as for me far be it from me that I should sin against Yahweh in ceasing to pray for you but I will teach you way the good and the right
גַּ֣ם אָנֹכִ֗י חָלִ֤ילָה לִּי֙ מֵחֲטֹ֣א לַֽיהוָ֔ה מֵחֲדֹ֖ל לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל בַּעַדְכֶ֑ם וְהוֹרֵיתִ֣י אֶתְכֶ֔ם בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ הַטּוֹבָ֖ה וְהַיְשָׁרָֽה

גַּ֣ם  Moreover 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
אָנֹכִ֗י  as  for  me 
Parse: Pronoun, first person common singular
Root: אָנׄכִי  
Sense: I (first pers.
חָלִ֤ילָה  far  be  it  from  me 
Parse: Interjection, third person feminine singular
Root: חָלִיל  
Sense: far be it (from me), God forbid that, let it not be.
לִּי֙  that  I 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
מֵחֲטֹ֣א  should  sin 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
לַֽיהוָ֔ה  against  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
מֵחֲדֹ֖ל  in  ceasing 
Parse: Preposition-m, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: חָדַל 
Sense: to stop, cease, desist, forego, cease to be, leave undone, forbear.
לְהִתְפַּלֵּ֣ל  to  pray 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hitpael, Infinitive construct
Root: פָּלַל 
Sense: to intervene, interpose, pray.
בַּעַדְכֶ֑ם  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: בַּעַד 
Sense: behind, through, round about, on behalf of, away from, about.
וְהוֹרֵיתִ֣י  but  I  will  teach 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Conjunctive perfect, first person common singular
Root: יׄורֶה 
Sense: to throw, shoot, cast, pour.
בְּדֶ֥רֶךְ  way 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
הַטּוֹבָ֖ה  the  good 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: טָבַב 
Sense: good, pleasant, agreeable.
וְהַיְשָׁרָֽה  and  the  right 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Article, Adjective, feminine singular
Root: יָשָׁר 
Sense: straight, upright, correct, right.