And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

1 SAMUEL 8:16KJV
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1 Samuel 8:16 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 8:16 mean?

1 Samuel 8:16 warns that a king will take the people's male and female servants, their best young men, and their donkeys, and use them for his own work. This verse describes the personal and economic costs the Israelites will face if they choose to have a human king rule over them.

In this scene, the prophet Samuel is speaking to the Israelites, who have asked for a king to rule them like other nations. Samuel is explaining what having a king will really mean: the king will claim not just land and crops, but also people and animals for his own purposes. This is part of Samuel’s larger warning that a king will demand much from the people, changing their daily lives and freedoms.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 8:16

  • "Menservants" (עֶבֶד, ʿeved) and "maidservants" (שִׁפְחָה, shifchah) both refer to household servants or slaves. The use of both terms shows that the king’s demands will reach into every household, affecting both men and women who serve.
  • "Goodliest" (טוֹב, tov) "young men" (בָּחוּר, bachur) points to the very best or most desirable young people. The king will not just take anyone, but will select the strongest or most capable for his own work.
  • "Asses" (חֲמוֹר, chamor) were valuable work animals. Taking them means the king will disrupt families’ ability to farm and transport goods, not just their labor force.
  • "Put them to his work" (עָשָׂה, asah; מְלָאכָה, melakhah) means the king will assign these people and animals to serve his interests, not their own households.

Why 1 Samuel 8:16 matters

  • This verse clears up the idea that having a king would only bring benefits; it emphasizes that there will be real costs and losses for ordinary people.
  • The warning connects to the wider passage, where Samuel lists the ways a king will take from the people, showing that the desire to be like other nations comes with significant trade-offs.
  • It highlights the shift from self-governance under God’s direct rule to a system where human authority can demand personal and economic sacrifices.

Where else these words appear

“men” Hebrew H970 · used in 44 verses

  • Deuteronomy 32:25 The sword without, and terror within, shall destroy both the young man and the virgin, the suckling also with the man of gray hairs.
  • Isaiah 40:30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:
  • Lamentations 1:15 The Lord hath trodden under foot all my mighty men in the midst of me: he hath called an assembly against me to crush my young men: the Lord hath trodden the virgin, the daughter of Judah, as in a winepress.

“maidservants” Hebrew H8198 · used in 58 verses

  • Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
  • Genesis 32:5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
  • 2 Samuel 14:15 Now therefore that I am come to speak of this thing unto my lord the king, it is because the people have made me afraid: and thy handmaid said, I will now speak unto the king; it may be that the king will perform the request of his handmaid.

“asses” Hebrew H2543 · used in 93 verses

  • Genesis 12:16 And he entreated Abram well for her sake: and he had sheep, and oxen, and he asses, and menservants, and maidservants, and she asses, and camels.
  • Numbers 31:28 And levy a tribute unto the LORD of the men of war which went out to battle: one soul of five hundred, both of the persons, and of the beeves, and of the asses, and of the sheep:
  • 1 Samuel 25:42 And Abigail hasted, and arose, and rode upon an ass, with five damsels of hers that went after her; and she went after the messengers of David, and became his wife.

“work” Hebrew H4399 · used in 149 verses

  • Genesis 2:2 And on the seventh day God ended his work which he had made; and he rested on the seventh day from all his work which he had made.
  • Numbers 28:26 Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the LORD, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work:
  • 2 Chronicles 24:13 So the workmen wrought, and the work was perfected by them, and they set the house of God in his state, and strengthened it.