1 Samuel 8:19
New International Version
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us.

New Living Translation
But the people refused to listen to Samuel’s warning. “Even so, we still want a king,” they said.

English Standard Version
But the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel. And they said, “No! But there shall be a king over us,

Berean Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

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

New King James Version
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,

New American Standard Bible
Yet the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,

NASB 1995
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,

NASB 1977
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,

Legacy Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,

Amplified Bible
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel, and they said, “No, but there shall be a king over us,

Christian Standard Bible
The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No! ” they said. “We must have a king over us.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

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

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

GOD'S WORD® Translation
But the people refused to listen to Samuel. They said, "No, we want a king!

Good News Translation
The people paid no attention to Samuel, but said, "No! We want a king,

International Standard Version
The people refused to listen to Samuel. Instead, they insisted, "No! Let a king rule over us instead!

Majority Standard Bible
Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.

NET Bible
But the people refused to heed Samuel's warning. Instead they said, "No! There will be a king over us!

New Heart English Bible
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, "No; but we will have a king over us,

Webster's Bible Translation
Nevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but we will have a king over us;

World English Bible
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the people refuse to listen to the voice of Samuel, and say, “No, but a king is over us,

Young's Literal Translation
And the people refuse to hearken to the voice of Samuel, and say, 'Nay, but a king is over us,

Smith's Literal Translation
And the people will refuse to hear to the voice of Samuel; and they will say, Nay; but a king shall be over us.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
But the people would not hear the voice of Samuel, and they said: Nay: but there shall be a king over us.

Catholic Public Domain Version
But the people were not willing to listen to the voice of Samuel. Instead, they said: “By no means! For there shall be a king over us,

New American Bible
The people, however, refused to listen to Samuel’s warning and said, “No! There must be a king over us.

New Revised Standard Version
But the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; they said, “No! but we are determined to have a king over us,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said to him, No; but we will have a king over us,

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the people did not choose to listen to the voice of Shemueil, and they said to him: “Not so, but there shall be a King be over us!
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said: 'Nay; but there shall be a king over us;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
But the people would not hearken to Samuel; and they said to him, Nay, but there shall be a king over us.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
God Grants the Request
19Nevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us. 20Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to judge us, to go out before us, and to fight our battles.”…

Cross References
Hosea 13:10-11
Where is your king now to save you in all your cities, and the rulers to whom you said, “Give me a king and princes”? / So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.

Judges 21:25
In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.

Deuteronomy 17:14-20
When you enter the land that the LORD your God is giving you and have taken possession of it and settled in it, and you say, “Let us set a king over us like all the nations around us,” / you are to appoint over yourselves the king whom the LORD your God shall choose. Appoint a king from among your brothers; you are not to set over yourselves a foreigner who is not one of your brothers. / But the king must not acquire many horses for himself or send the people back to Egypt to acquire more horses, for the LORD has said, ‘You are never to go back that way again.’ ...

1 Samuel 10:19
But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”

1 Samuel 12:12
But when you saw that Nahash king of the Ammonites was moving against you, you said to me, ‘No, we must have a king to rule over us’—even though the LORD your God was your king.

1 Samuel 12:17-19
Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.” / So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. / They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”

1 Samuel 10:18-19
and said to the Israelites, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘I brought Israel up out of Egypt, and I rescued you from the hands of the Egyptians and of all the kingdoms that oppressed you.’ / But today you have rejected your God, who saves you from all your troubles and afflictions, and you have said to Him, ‘No, set a king over us.’ Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes and clans.”

1 Samuel 12:13-15
Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you. / If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well. / But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.

1 Samuel 12:1-5
Then Samuel said to all Israel, “I have listened to your voice in all that you have said to me, and I have set over you a king. / Now here is the king walking before you, and I am old and gray, and my sons are here with you. I have walked before you from my youth until this day. / Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” ...

1 Samuel 7:15-17
So Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. / Every year he would go on a circuit from Bethel to Gilgal to Mizpah, judging Israel in all these places. / Then he would return to Ramah because his home was there, and there he judged Israel and built an altar to the LORD.

1 Samuel 9:16-17
“At this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you are to anoint him ruler over My people Israel; he will save them from the hand of the Philistines. For I have looked upon My people, because their cry has come to Me.” / When Samuel saw Saul, the LORD told him, “Here is the man of whom I spoke; he shall rule over My people.”

1 Samuel 11:14-15
Then Samuel said to the people, “Come, let us go to Gilgal and renew the kingship there.” / So all the people went to Gilgal and confirmed Saul as king in the presence of the LORD. There they sacrificed peace offerings before the LORD, and Saul and all the Israelites rejoiced greatly.

1 Samuel 15:22-23
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams. / For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”

2 Kings 17:7-8
All this happened because the people of Israel had sinned against the LORD their God, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt from under the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. They had worshiped other gods / and walked in the customs of the nations that the LORD had driven out before the Israelites, as well as in the practices introduced by the kings of Israel.

Isaiah 1:2-4
Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me. / The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s manger, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.” / Alas, O sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, children who act corruptly! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him.


Treasury of Scripture

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but we will have a king over us;

refused to obey

Psalm 81:11
But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

Jeremiah 7:13
And now, because ye have done all these works, saith the LORD, and I spake unto you, rising up early and speaking, but ye heard not; and I called you, but ye answered not;

Jeremiah 44:16
As for the word that thou hast spoken unto us in the name of the LORD, we will not hearken unto thee.

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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














Nevertheless, the people refused
The Hebrew word for "refused" is "מָאֵן" (ma'en), which conveys a strong sense of rejection or unwillingness. This refusal is not just a passive act but an active decision against divine guidance. Historically, this reflects Israel's persistent pattern of disobedience and desire to conform to surrounding nations, despite God's unique covenant relationship with them. The people's refusal signifies a pivotal moment of spiritual rebellion, choosing human leadership over divine sovereignty.

to listen to the voice of Samuel
Samuel, whose name means "heard of God," was a prophet and judge, serving as God's mouthpiece. The phrase "to listen" in Hebrew is "שָׁמַע" (shama), implying not just hearing but obeying. The people's failure to heed Samuel's voice is symbolic of their broader spiritual deafness to God's will. In the historical context, this marks a transition from theocratic judgeship to monarchy, highlighting a shift in Israel's spiritual and political landscape.

'No!' they said
The emphatic "No!" underscores the people's determination and defiance. This rejection is not merely against Samuel but against God's established order. The Hebrew word "לֹא" (lo) is a strong negation, reflecting the people's resolute decision to pursue their own desires. This moment is a critical juncture, illustrating the human tendency to reject divine wisdom in favor of self-determined paths.

'We must have a king over us.'
The insistence "We must have" reveals a deep-seated desire for conformity and security, mirroring the political structures of neighboring nations. The Hebrew word for "king" is "מֶלֶךְ" (melek), signifying a ruler with authority and power. This request for a king represents a fundamental shift in Israel's identity, moving from a unique nation under God's direct rule to one seeking human governance. Scripturally, this foreshadows the complexities and challenges of monarchy, as seen in the subsequent narratives of Saul, David, and Solomon. Theologically, it serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing worldly systems over divine guidance.

(19) The people refused.--The warning words of the prophet-judge were evidently carefully considered and debated in a formal assembly, but the majority at least abided by the terms of their request.

Verses 19, 20. - The people refused to obey - literally, to hearken to - the voice of Samuel. The words of Samuel were no doubt formally considered by the elders, and we may be sure that there would not be wanting men to urge attention and obedience to his warning; but when the decision had to be made, whether by vote or acclamation, the majority persisted in their choice, and for a reason which completely justified Samuel's displeasure; for they say - That we also may be like all the nations. Their wish was not to develop and perfect their own institutions, but to revolt from them, and escape from the rigour of the Mosaic law. It is remarkable that their nearest neighbours and most inveterate enemies, the Philistines, had no king, but an oligarchy of five princes. Probably it had been argued, in the assembly of the elders, that if the whole power of Israel were gathered into one hand it would be more than a match for the Philistines, whose energy must often have been diminished by discords among its rulers. That our king may judge - i.e. govern (1 Samuel 7:17) - us, and fight our battles. Here the people had reason on their side. Both the internal administration of justice and the defence of the country would be better managed under a permanent and regular authority than under the judges, whose rule was extemporised to meet difficulties, and had no inherent stability.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Nevertheless, the people
הָעָ֔ם (hā·‘ām)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

refused
וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּ (way·mā·’ă·nū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3985: To refuse

to listen
לִשְׁמֹ֖עַ (liš·mō·a‘)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

to Samuel.
שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל (šə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

“No!”
לֹּ֔א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

they said.
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“We must have
יִֽהְיֶ֥ה (yih·yeh)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

a king
מֶ֖לֶךְ (me·leḵ)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

over us.
עָלֵֽינוּ׃ (‘ā·lê·nū)
Preposition | first person common plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against


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OT History: 1 Samuel 8:19 But the people refused to listen (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 8:18
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