The Meaning of 1 Samuel 8:19 Explained

1 Samuel 8:19

KJV: Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;

YLT: And the people refuse to hearken to the voice of Samuel, and say, 'Nay, but a king is over us,

Darby: And the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us,

ASV: But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay: but we will have a king over us,

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Nevertheless the people  refused  to obey  the voice  of Samuel;  and they said,  Nay; but we will have a king  over us; 

What does 1 Samuel 8:19 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 8:10-22 - Rejecting The Prophet's Warning
The people had entreated Samuel to cry unto God in their behalf; and now we see him going to and fro between the people and God, as a true mediator and intercessor. "He told all the words of the Lord unto the people," 1 Samuel 8:10; and, "He rehearsed all the words of the people in the ears of the Lord," 1 Samuel 8:21. See also 1 Samuel 8:22. Samuel is fitly described in the Psalter as one who called upon God's name, Psalms 99:6. How much we may influence the life of a nation or of an individual if we will only pray with persistent and believing earnestness! We cannot dispense with our statesmen, but our prophets-the Samuels and the Elijahs-are the most efficient chariots and horsemen of protection, 2 Kings 2:12.
The people could not answer Samuel's grave and graphic words. They contented themselves with repeating their request, and soon they learned the bitterness of imposing their own will upon God. They would have a king, and God gave them their hearts' desire, but see Psalms 106:15. When Samuel had received God's reply, he set himself, with all his power, to further the matter, at all cost to himself. We are reminded of that noble reply of the Baptist in John 3:31. God's will ever first and supreme! [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 8

1  By occasion of the ill government of Samuel's sons, the Israelites ask a king
6  Samuel praying in grief is comforted by God
10  He tells the manner of a king
19  God wills Samuel to yield unto the importunity of the people

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 8:19 mean?

And nevertheless refused the people to obey the voice of Samuel and they said No for but a king we will have over us
וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ הָעָ֔ם לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ בְּק֣וֹל שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ לֹּ֔א כִּ֥י אִם־ מֶ֖לֶךְ יִֽהְיֶ֥ה עָלֵֽינוּ

וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ  And  nevertheless  refused 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: מָאַן  
Sense: (Piel) to refuse.
הָעָ֔ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ  to  obey 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּק֣וֹל  the  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל  of  Samuel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁמוּאֵל  
Sense: son of Elkanah by his wife Hannah and judge or prophet of Israel during the days of Saul and David.
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ  and  they  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
לֹּ֔א  No 
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
מֶ֖לֶךְ  a  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
יִֽהְיֶ֥ה  we  will  have 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
עָלֵֽינוּ  over  us 
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 8:19?

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