1 Samuel 8:17 kjva — He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

King James Version with Apocrypha

"He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants."

— 1 Samuel 8:17, King James Version with Apocrypha

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1 Samuel 8:17 in Other Translations

6 versions All translations

1 Samuel 8 — Context

14

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16

And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17

He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

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.

19

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

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.

1 Samuel 8:17 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 8:17 say?
1 Samuel 8:17 in the King James Version with Apocrypha reads: “He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.”
Where is 1 Samuel 8:17 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 8:17 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 8, verse 17.
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 8:17.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 8:17 in?
1 Samuel 8:17 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 8:17?
1 Samuel 8:17 reads (KJVA): “He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.” 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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