And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth: but now deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee.

1 SAMUEL 12:10KJV
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1 Samuel 12:10 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 12:10 mean?

1 Samuel 12:10 describes how the Israelites admitted their wrongdoing to God, confessing that they had abandoned Him to worship other gods, specifically Baalim and Ashtaroth, and pleaded for God to rescue them from their enemies, promising to serve Him if He delivered them. This verse shows a moment of national repentance and a request for deliverance based on their renewed commitment.

Samuel is recounting the Israelites’ history to the people, reminding them of a time when they turned away from the LORD by serving other gods and then cried out for help when they faced trouble. The verse highlights the cycle of Israel’s unfaithfulness, their confession (“We have sinned”), and their plea for God’s intervention, showing both their failure and their hope for mercy.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 12:10

  • “cried” (זָעַק, za‘aq) means to call out or cry for help, often in desperation. This word emphasizes the urgency and distress of the Israelites’ plea to God.
  • “forsaken” (עָזַב, ‘azav) means to leave or abandon. The Israelites admit they have deliberately turned away from the LORD, not just drifted unintentionally.
  • “served” (עָבַד, ‘avad) is used both for serving false gods and for the promise to serve the LORD. The repetition underlines the contrast between their past disloyalty and their renewed vow.
  • “deliver” (נָצַל, natsal) means to snatch away or rescue. The Israelites are not just asking for help, but for a decisive act of salvation from their enemies.

Why 1 Samuel 12:10 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Israel’s troubles were directly connected to their choice to abandon God and worship other deities, not just random misfortune.
  • The verse highlights the pattern of repentance in Israel’s history: confession, plea for deliverance, and a promise to change, which is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament.
  • By naming Baalim and Ashtaroth, the verse makes clear the specific idols that drew Israel away, helping readers understand the real temptations and cultural pressures the Israelites faced.

Where else these words appear

“Ashtaroth” Hebrew H6252 · used in 12 verses

  • Deuteronomy 1:4 After he had slain Sihon the king of the Amorites, which dwelt in Heshbon, and Og the king of Bashan, which dwelt at Astaroth in Edrei:
  • Joshua 13:12 All the kingdom of Og in Bashan, which reigned in Ashtaroth and in Edrei, who remained of the remnant of the giants: for these did Moses smite, and cast them out.
  • 1 Samuel 7:3 And Samuel spake unto all the house of Israel, saying, If ye do return unto the LORD with all your hearts, then put away the strange gods and Ashtaroth from among you, and prepare your hearts unto the LORD, and serve him only: and he will deliver you out of the hand of the Philistines.

“Baalim” Hebrew H1168 · used in 68 verses

  • Judges 2:11 And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD, and served Baalim:
  • 1 Kings 22:53 For he served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.
  • 2 Chronicles 23:17 Then all the people went to the house of Baal, and brake it down, and brake his altars and his images in pieces, and slew Mattan the priest of Baal before the altars.

“cried” Hebrew H2199 · used in 73 verses

  • Exodus 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
  • 2 Samuel 13:19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
  • Isaiah 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.