King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 10:18 Mean?

1 Samuel 10:18 in the King James Version says “And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 10 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:

1 Samuel 10:18 · KJV


Context

16

And Saul said unto his uncle, He told us plainly that the asses were found. But of the matter of the kingdom, whereof Samuel spake, he told him not.

17

And Samuel called the people together unto the LORD to Mizpeh;

18

And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:

19

And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.

20

And when Samuel had caused all the tribes of Israel to come near, the tribe of Benjamin was taken.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And said unto the children of Israel, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, I brought up Israel out of Egypt, and delivered you out of the hand of the Egyptians, and out of the hand of all kingdoms, and of them that oppressed you:

Samuel begins with the prophetic messenger formula 'Thus saith the LORD' (koh amar YHWH), establishing divine authority for his words. He rehearses Israel's redemptive history: the Exodus ('brought up from Egypt'), ongoing deliverance ('out of the hand of the Egyptians'), and continued salvation from 'all kingdoms' and oppressors throughout the judges period. This historical recitation (historical prologue) follows ancient covenant patterns where God's saving acts established the basis for Israel's obligations. The verb 'brought up' (he'eleti) implies more than geographical movement; it speaks of elevation, rescue, and purposeful deliverance. By grounding the kingship discussion in Exodus memory, Samuel frames Israel's request against God's faithful record. The implied question hangs in the air: given all God has done, why do you want a human king?

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Historical & Cultural Context

The Exodus served as Israel's foundational saving event, constantly referenced in covenant renewals and prophetic indictments. Reciting God's saving acts before addressing current issues followed ancient Near Eastern suzerainty treaty patterns, where the great king's beneficent history established grounds for vassal obligations.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does remembering God's past faithfulness inform how we evaluate present desires?
  2. Why is it significant that Samuel grounds the kingship discussion in Exodus redemption?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
אָמַ֤ר1 of 23

And said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶל2 of 23
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

בְּנֵ֣י3 of 23

unto the children

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל4 of 23

Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

כֹּֽה5 of 23
H3541

properly, like this, i.e., by implication, (of manner) thus (or so); also (of place) here (or hither); or (of time) now

אָמַ֤ר6 of 23

And said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

יְהוָה֙7 of 23

the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

אֱלֹהֵ֣י8 of 23

God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל9 of 23

Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

אָֽנֹכִ֛י10 of 23
H595

i

הֶֽעֱלֵ֥יתִי11 of 23

I brought up

H5927

to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of senses, primary and secondary, literal and figurative

אֶת12 of 23
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל13 of 23

Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

מִצְרַ֔יִם14 of 23

of the Egyptians

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וָֽאַצִּ֤יל15 of 23

and delivered

H5337

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

אֶתְכֶם֙16 of 23
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

וּמִיַּד֙17 of 23

and out of the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

מִצְרַ֔יִם18 of 23

of the Egyptians

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וּמִיַּד֙19 of 23

and out of the hand

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

כָּל20 of 23
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

הַמַּמְלָכ֔וֹת21 of 23

of all kingdoms

H4467

dominion, i.e., (abstractly) the estate (rule) or (concretely) the country (realm)

הַלֹּֽחֲצִ֖ים22 of 23

and of them that oppressed

H3905

properly, to press, i.e., (figuratively) to distress

אֶתְכֶֽם׃23 of 23
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 10:18 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 10:18 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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