1 Samuel 8:19 net — But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. Instead they said,“No! There will be a king over us!

NET Bible

"But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. Instead they said,“No! There will be a king over us!"

— 1 Samuel 8:19, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 8:19 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 8 — Context

16

He will take your male and female servants, as well as your best cattle and your donkeys, and assign them for his own use.

17

He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants.

18

In that day you will cry out because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD won’t answer you in that day.”

19

But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. Instead they said,“No! There will be a king over us!

20

We will be like all the other nations. Our king will judge us and lead us and fight our battles.”

21

So Samuel listened to everything the people said and then reported it to the LORD.

22

The LORD said to Samuel,“Do as they say and install a king over them.” Then Samuel said to the men of Israel,“Each of you go back to his own city.”

1 Samuel 8:19 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 8:19 say?
1 Samuel 8:19 in the NET Bible reads: “But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. Instead they said,“No! There will be a king over us!”
Where is 1 Samuel 8:19 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 8:19 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 8, verse 19.
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 8:19.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 8:19 in?
1 Samuel 8:19 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 8:19?
1 Samuel 8:19 reads (NET): “But the people refused to heed Samuel’s warning. Instead they said,“No! There will be a king over us!” 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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