And Samuel said unto the people, It is the LORD that advanced Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.

1 SAMUEL 12:6KJV
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1 Samuel 12:6 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 12:6 mean?

1 Samuel 12:6 means that Samuel is reminding the people of Israel that it was the LORD who raised up Moses and Aaron and brought their ancestors out of Egypt. Samuel is giving credit to God for Israel’s deliverance and leadership in the past, not to human leaders alone.

Samuel is speaking to the gathered Israelites during his farewell speech, after they have asked for a king. He points them back to their history, emphasizing that God (the LORD) was the true source of their nation’s rescue and guidance, using Moses and Aaron as His chosen instruments. This sets the stage for Samuel’s later warnings about trusting in human kings over God.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 12:6

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of Israel’s God, highlighting that it was their covenant God who acted in their history, not a generic deity.
  • advanced (עָשָׂה, asah): This word often means “to make” or “to do,” but here it carries the sense of “appointing” or “raising up” Moses and Aaron for a special purpose.
  • brought up (הֶעֱלָה, he‘elah): This verb means “to bring up” or “to lead up,” emphasizing God’s active role in leading the ancestors out of Egypt, not just a passive release.

Why 1 Samuel 12:6 matters

  • This verse clarifies that Israel’s history and successes are rooted in God’s actions, not just in the abilities of human leaders like Moses and Aaron.
  • It sets a tone of accountability, reminding the people that God’s involvement has always been central, which is important as they transition to having a human king.
  • The verse connects the people’s present situation to their foundational story of deliverance, urging them to remember God’s faithfulness as they face new leadership.

Where else these words appear

“Samuel” Hebrew H8050 · used in 120 verses

  • Numbers 34:20 And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.
  • 1 Samuel 9:15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
  • 1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.