And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.

1 SAMUEL 8:7KJV
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1 Samuel 8:7 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 8:7 mean?

1 Samuel 8:7 means that God tells Samuel to listen to the people's request for a king, explaining that their demand is not a personal rejection of Samuel as their leader, but a rejection of God Himself as their true ruler. The verse highlights that the people's desire for a human king is, at its core, a turning away from God's direct leadership.

In this scene, the LORD (God) is speaking directly to Samuel, who is upset because the Israelites have asked for a king to rule over them like other nations. God reassures Samuel that the people’s dissatisfaction is not with Samuel’s leadership, but with God’s authority over them. This verse sets the stage for the transition from the period of judges to the era of kings in Israel’s history, showing a major shift in how the people want to be governed.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 8:7

  • LORD (יְהוָה, Yahweh): This is the personal name of God, emphasizing that it is God Himself who is speaking and being rejected, not just a generic deity or authority.
  • Hearken (שָׁמַע, shamaʿ): This word means to listen attentively or obey. God is telling Samuel to pay careful attention to the people's request, not just hear it passively.
  • Rejected (מָאַס, ma'as): This word means to despise, refuse, or cast off. The people’s desire for a king is described as an active rejection of God’s rule, not just a simple preference for a new system.
  • Reign (מָלַךְ, malakh): This verb means to rule as king. God is pointing out that the people do not want Him to be their king, which is a significant spiritual and political shift.

Why 1 Samuel 8:7 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the Israelites’ request for a king is a spiritual issue, not just a political one; they are rejecting God’s unique leadership over them.
  • It helps explain Samuel’s personal feelings—God assures him that the rejection is not about Samuel’s abilities or failures, but about the people’s relationship with God.
  • The verse marks a turning point in Israel’s history, showing the beginning of the monarchy and the consequences of choosing human authority over divine guidance.

Where else these words appear

“rejected” Hebrew H3988 · used in 69 verses

  • Leviticus 26:15 And if ye shall despise my statutes, or if your soul abhor my judgments, so that ye will not do all my commandments, but that ye break my covenant:
  • Job 31:13 If I did despise the cause of my manservant or of my maidservant, when they contended with me;
  • Isaiah 41:9 Thou whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called thee from the chief men thereof, and said unto thee, Thou art my servant; I have chosen thee, and not cast thee away.

“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 9:17 And when Samuel saw Saul, the LORD said unto him, Behold the man whom I spake to thee of! this same shall reign over my people.
  • 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.