1 Samuel 8:3
 1 Samuel 8:3 
New International Version (©2011)
But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

New Living Translation (©2007)
But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.

English Standard Version (©2001)
Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.

King James Bible (Cambridge Ed.)
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Holman Christian Standard Bible (©2009)
However, his sons did not walk in his ways--they turned toward dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

International Standard Version (©2012)
His sons did not follow Samuel's example. Instead, they pursued dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

NET Bible (©2006)
But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
The sons didn't follow their father's example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice.

King James 2000 Bible (©2003)
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after gain, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

American King James Version
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

American Standard Version
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

Douay-Rheims Bible
And his sons walked not in his ways: but they turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Darby Bible Translation
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

English Revised Version
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Webster's Bible Translation
And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

World English Bible
His sons didn't walk in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

Young's Literal Translation
and his sons have not walked in his ways, and turn aside after the dishonest gain, and take a bribe, and turn aside judgment.

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary

8:1-3 It does not appear that Samuel's sons were so profane and vicious as Eli's sons; but they were corrupt judges, they turned aside after lucre. Samuel took no bribes, but his sons did, and then they perverted judgment. What added to the grievance of the people was, that they were threatened by an invasion from Nahash, king of the Ammonites.


Pulpit Commentary

Verse 3. - His sons...took bribes. This sin was expressly forbidden in Exodus 23:6, 8; Deuteronomy 16:19, and it marks the high spirit of the nation that it was so indignant at justice being thus perverted. They walked not in his way (singular - so the written text); for Samuel's own administration of justice had been most upright (1 Samuel 12:4), nor is it laid to his charge that he connived at the misconduct of his sons. On the contrary, after remonstrance indeed, not for his sons' sake, but for the honour of the theocracy, and that the people might be on their guard against a despotic exercise of the power with which they were about to intrust a single man, he superseded not them only, but also himself. His conduct in this trying conjuncture was most admirable, and few commentators have done justice to the man, who, possessed of what was virtually kingly power, yet gave it over for the nation's good into the hands of another.


Gill's Exposition of the Entire Bible

And his sons walked not in his ways,.... The meaning of which is not that they did not go the circuit he did, which is too low a sense of the words some Jewish writers give; but they did not walk in the fear of God, in the paths of religion and righteousness, truth and holiness; they neither served God, nor did justice to men, as Samuel had done:

but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment; indulged to covetousness, sought to get riches at any rate, took bribes, which blind the eyes of judges; and so passed wrong judgment, and gave the cause to those that gave the largest gifts, right or wrong.


1 Samuel 8:3 Parallel Commentaries

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Israel Demands a King
1And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. 3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

Exodus 23:6 "Do not deny justice to your poor people in their lawsuits.
Exodus 23:8 "Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds those who see and twists the words of the innocent.
Deuteronomy 16:19 Do not pervert justice or show partiality. Do not accept a bribe, for a bribe blinds the eyes of the wise and twists the words of the innocent.
1 Samuel 2:35 I will raise up for myself a faithful priest, who will do according to what is in my heart and mind. I will firmly establish his priestly house, and they will minister before my anointed one always.
1 Samuel 12:2 Now you have a king as your leader. As for me, I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have been your leader from my youth until this day.