1 Samuel 8:5 nasb — and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to…

NASB

"and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations.""

— 1 Samuel 8:5, NASB

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1 Samuel 8:5 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 8 — Context

2

Now the name of his firstborn was Joel, and the name of his second, Abijah; they were judging in Beersheba.

3

His sons, however, did not walk in his ways, but turned aside after dishonest gain and took bribes and perverted justice.

4

Then all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah;

5

and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations."

6

But the thing was displeasing in the sight of Samuel when they said, "Give us a king to judge us." And Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7

The LORD said to Samuel, "Listen to the voice of the people in regard to all that they say to you, for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me from being king over them.

8

"Like all the deeds which they have done since the day that I brought them up from Egypt even to this day--in that they have forsaken Me and served other gods--so they are doing to you also.

1 Samuel 8:5 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 8:5 say?
1 Samuel 8:5 in the NASB reads: “and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations."”
Where is 1 Samuel 8:5 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 8:5 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 8, verse 5.
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 8:5.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 8:5 in?
1 Samuel 8:5 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 8:5?
1 Samuel 8:5 reads (NASB): “and they said to him, "Behold, you have grown old, and your sons do not walk in your ways. Now appoint a king for us to judge us like all the nations."” 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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