The Meaning of 1 Samuel 8:20 Explained

1 Samuel 8:20

KJV: That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

YLT: and we have been, even we, like all the nations; and our king hath judged us, and gone out before us, and fought our battles.'

Darby: that we also may be like all the nations; and our king shall judge us, and go out before us, and conduct our wars.

ASV: that we also may be like all the nations, and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That we also may be like all the nations;  and that our king  may judge  us, and go out  before  us, and fight  our battles. 

What does 1 Samuel 8:20 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 8:20 mean?

That may be also we like all the nations that may judge us our king and go out before us and fight - our battles
וְהָיִ֥ינוּ גַם־ אֲנַ֖חְנוּ כְּכָל־ הַגּוֹיִ֑ם וּשְׁפָטָ֤נוּ מַלְכֵּ֙נוּ֙ וְיָצָ֣א לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ וְנִלְחַ֖ם אֶת־ מִלְחֲמֹתֵֽנוּ

וְהָיִ֥ינוּ  That  may  be 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, first person common plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
גַם־  also 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: גַּם  
Sense: also, even, indeed, moreover, yea.
כְּכָל־  like  all 
Parse: Preposition-k, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
הַגּוֹיִ֑ם  the  nations 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: גֹּוי 
Sense: nation, people.
וּשְׁפָטָ֤נוּ  that  may  judge  us 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, first person common plural
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
מַלְכֵּ֙נוּ֙  our  king 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common plural
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
וְיָצָ֣א  and  go  out 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: יׄוצֵאת 
Sense: to go out, come out, exit, go forth.
לְפָנֵ֔ינוּ  before  us 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: לִפְנֵי 
Sense: face.
וְנִלְחַ֖ם  and  fight 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: לָחַם 
Sense: to fight, do battle, make war.
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.
מִלְחֲמֹתֵֽנוּ  our  battles 
Parse: Noun, feminine plural construct, first person common plural
Root: מִלְחָמָה  
Sense: battle, war.