1 Samuel 8 · Verse 19

1 Samuel 8:19

Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
1 Samuel 8:19, King James Version

1 Samuel 8:19 in other translations

BSBNevertheless, the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We must have a king over us.
WEBBut the people refused to listen to the voice of Samuel; and they said, “No, but we will have a king over us,
ASVBut the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay: but we will have a king over us,
YLTAnd the people refuse to hearken to the voice of Samuel, and say, ‘Nay, but a king is over us,
DARBYAnd the people refused to hearken to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but there shall be a king over us,
BBEBut the people gave no attention to the voice of Samuel; and they said, No, but we will have a king over us,
WebsterNevertheless, the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, No; but we will have a king over us;

What does 1 Samuel 8:19 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 8:19-22
19-22. Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel--They sneered at Samuel's description as a bugbear to frighten them. Determined, at all hazards, to gain their object, they insisted on being made like all the other nations, though it was their glory and happiness to be unlike other nations in having the Lord for their King and Lawgiver (Nu 23:9; De 33:28). Their demand was conceded, for the government of a king had been provided for in the law; and they were dismissed to wait the appointment, which God had reserved to Himself (De 17:14-20).

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 The people refused to obey - They would have the king, his manner and all, notwithstanding the solemn warning which they here receive.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 8:10-22

If they would have a king to rule them, as the eastern kings ruled their subjects, they would find the yoke exceedingly heavy. Those that submit to the government of the world and the flesh, are told plainly, what hard masters they are, and what tyranny the dominion of sin is. The law of God and the manner of men widely differ from each other; the former should be our rule in the several relations of life; the…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 8:10-22 →

1 Samuel 8:19 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיְמָאֲנ֣וּvay.ma.'a.Nuand they refusedH3985
הָעָ֔םha.'Amthe peopleH5971
לִשְׁמֹ֖עַlish.Mo.a'to listenH8085
בְּק֣וֹלbe.Kolto [the] voice ofH6963
שְׁמוּאֵ֑לshe.mu.'ElSamuelH8050
וַיֹּאמְר֣וּvai.yo.me.Ruand they saidH559
לֹּ֔אLo'No!H3808
כִּ֥יkiforH3588
אִם\־'im-exceptH518
מֶ֖לֶךְMe.lekha kingH4428
יִֽהְיֶ֥הyih.Yehhe will beH1961
עָלֵֽינוּ\׃'a.Lei.nuover usH5921

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 8:19

  • 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.

  • Ezekiel 33:31

    And they come unto thee as the people cometh, and they sit before thee as my people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them: for with their mouth they shew much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness.

  • Isaiah 66:4

    I also will choose their delusions, and will bring their fears upon them; because when I called, none did answer; when I spake, they did not hear: but they did evil before mine eyes, and chose that in which I delighted not.

  • 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;

  • Psalms 81:11

    But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
refused to obey.
Ps 81:11; Jer 7:13; 44:16; Eze 33:31

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 8:18

    And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.

  • 1 Samuel 8:19

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

  • 1 Samuel 8:20

    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.

Read all of 1 Samuel 8

1 Samuel 8:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Empero el pueblo no quiso oir la voz de Samuel; antes dijeron: No, sino que habrá rey sobre nosotros:
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		Et le peuple refusa d’écouter la voix de Samuel; et ils dirent: Non, mais il y aura un roi sur nous,
German
Elberfelder 1871		Aber das Volk weigerte sich, auf die Stimme Samuels zu hören; und sie sprachen: Nein, sondern ein König soll über uns sein,
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Noluit autem populus audire vocem Samuelis, sed dixerunt: Nequaquam: rex enim erit super nos,