Now when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.
2
The name of his first son was Joel and the name of his second Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.
3
And his sons did not go in his ways, but moved by the love of money took rewards, and were not upright in judging.
4
Then all the responsible men of Israel got together and went to Samuel at Ramah,
1 Samuel 8:1 — Frequently Asked Questions
7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 8:1 say?
1 Samuel 8:1 in the Bible in Basic English reads: “Now when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.”
Where is 1 Samuel 8:1 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 8:1 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 8, verse 1.
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 8:1.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 8:1 in?
1 Samuel 8:1 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 8:1?
1 Samuel 8:1 reads (BBE): “Now when Samuel was old, he made his sons judges over Israel.” 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.