Bible Strands
1 Samuel 8:7
And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king.
Berean Standard Bible
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Study note
Setting — The LORD addresses Samuel immediately after the elders demand a human king. This divine response follows Samuel’s prayer upon hearing their request.
The words — The Hebrew שְׁמַע (she.Ma') commands "listen," and בְּקֹל הָעָם (be./Kol ha./'Am) literally renders "to the voice of the people." These terms frame the divine instruction to heed their collective demand.
The thread — The rejection motif echoes in 1 Samuel 10:19 and finds a structural parallel in Luke 10:16 regarding listening and rejection. The pattern of divine provision and hearing connects to Exodus 16:8.
Why it lands — The text states that the people's demand constitutes a direct rejection of Yahweh's kingship, not merely Samuel's leadership. A reader must recognize that political demands can function as spiritual apostasy requiring divine acknowledgment.
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 the Lord said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.
Cross-references
- Luke 10:16 Whoever listens to you listens to Me; whoever rejects you rejects Me; and whoever rejects Me rejects the One who sent Me.”
- 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.”
- Exodus 16:8 And Moses added, “The LORD will give you meat to eat this evening and bread to fill you in the morning, for He has heard your grumbling against Him. Who are we? Your grumblings are not against us but against the LORD.”
- Luke 19:14 But his subjects hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want this man to rule over us.’
- Luke 19:27 And these enemies of mine who were unwilling for me to rule over them, bring them here and slay them in front of me.’”
- Hosea 13:10 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”?
- Matthew 10:40 He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives the One who sent Me.
- Psalms 81:11 But My people would not listen to Me, and Israel would not obey Me.
- Numbers 22:20 That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, get up and go with them, but you must only do what I tell you.”
- 1 Samuel 12:17 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.”