1 Samuel 12:12 net — “When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me,‘No! A king will rule over us…

NET Bible

"“When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me,‘No! A king will rule over us’– even though the LORD your God is your king!"

— 1 Samuel 12:12, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 12:12 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 12 — Context

9

“But they forgot the LORD their God, so he gave them into the hand of Sisera, the general in command of Hazor’s army, and into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

10

Then they cried out to the LORD and admitted,‘We have sinned, for we have forsaken the LORD and have served the Baals and the images of Ashtoreth. Now deliver us from the hand of our enemies so that we may serve you.’

11

So the LORD sent Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah, and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hand of the enemies all around you, and you were able to live securely.

12

“When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me,‘No! A king will rule over us’– even though the LORD your God is your king!

13

Now look! Here is the king you have chosen– the one that you asked for! Look, the LORD has given you a king!

14

If you fear the LORD, serving him and obeying him and not rebelling against what he says, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, all will be well.

15

But if you don’t obey the LORD and rebel against what the LORD says, the hand of the LORD will be against both you and your king.

1 Samuel 12:12 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 12:12 say?
1 Samuel 12:12 in the NET Bible reads: ““When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me,‘No! A king will rule over us’– even though the LORD your God is your king!”
Where is 1 Samuel 12:12 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 12:12 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 12, verse 12.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 12:12.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 12:12 in?
1 Samuel 12:12 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 12:12?
1 Samuel 12:12 reads (NET): ““When you saw that King Nahash of the Ammonites was advancing against you, you said to me,‘No! A king will rule over us’– even though the LORD your God is your king!” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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