1 Samuel 8:5 net — They said to him,“Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, ju…

NET Bible

"They said to him,“Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.”"

— 1 Samuel 8:5, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 8:5 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 8 — Context

2

The name of his firstborn son was Joel, and the name of his second son was Abijah. They were judges in Beer Sheba.

3

But his sons did not follow his ways. Instead, they made money dishonestly, accepted bribes, and perverted justice.

4

So all the elders of Israel gathered together and approached Samuel at Ramah.

5

They said to him,“Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.”

6

But this request displeased Samuel, for they said,“Give us a king to lead us.” So Samuel prayed to the LORD.

7

The LORD said to Samuel,“Do everything the people request of you. For it is not you that they have rejected, but it is me that they have rejected as their king.

8

Just as they have done from the day that I brought them up from Egypt until this very day, they have rejected me and have served other gods. This is what they are also doing to you.

1 Samuel 8:5 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 8:5 say?
1 Samuel 8:5 in the NET Bible reads: “They said to him,“Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.””
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 (NET): “They said to him,“Look, you are old, and your sons don’t follow your ways. So now appoint over us a king to lead us, just like all the other nations have.”” 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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