Bible Strands
1 Samuel 12:20
“Do not be afraid,” Samuel replied. “Even though you have committed all this evil, do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — Samuel addresses the Israelites immediately after they confess to compounding their sins by demanding a human king.
The words — אַל־ תִּירָאוּ (al-tira'u) translates literally to "do not be afraid," establishing the imperative that frames the subsequent command to serve.
The thread — The prohibition against turning aside from the LORD aligns with Deuteronomy 11:16's warning against enticement to other gods, Joshua 23:6's charge to keep the Law without deviation, and Psalm 101:3's rejection of worthless things.
Why it lands — The text commands the people to abandon fear and continue serving the LORD with whole hearts despite their past rebellion, requiring the reader to maintain exclusive loyalty rather than retreat into guilt or idolatry.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the Lord, but serve the Lord with all your heart;
Cross-references
- Deuteronomy 11:16 But be careful that you are not enticed to turn aside to worship and bow down to other gods,
- Joshua 23:6 Be very strong, then, so that you can keep and obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, not turning aside from it to the right or to the left.
- Psalms 101:3 I will set no worthless thing before my eyes. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me.
- Psalms 125:5 But those who turn to crooked ways the LORD will banish with the evildoers. Peace be upon Israel.
- Exodus 20:19 “Speak to us yourself and we will listen,” they said to Moses. “But do not let God speak to us, or we will die.”
- Deuteronomy 31:29 For I know that after my death you will become utterly corrupt and turn from the path I have commanded you. And in the days to come, disaster will befall you because you will do evil in the sight of the LORD to provoke Him to anger by the work of your hands.”
- Jeremiah 3:1 “If a man divorces his wife and she leaves him to marry another, can he ever return to her? Would not such a land be completely defiled? But you have played the harlot with many lovers—and you would return to Me?” declares the LORD.
- 1 Peter 3:16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.
- Psalms 40:4 Blessed is the man who has made the LORD his trust, who has not turned to the proud, nor to those who lapse into falsehood.