King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 12:10 Mean?

1 Samuel 12:10 in the King James Version says “And they cried unto the LORD, and said, We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and As...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 12 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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 12:10 · KJV

Context

8

When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought forth your fathers out of Egypt, and made them dwell in this place.

9

And when they forgat the LORD their God, he sold them into the hand of Sisera, captain of the host of Hazor, and into the hand of the Philistines, and into the hand of the king of Moab, and they fought against them.

10

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.

11

And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

12

And when ye saw that Nahash the king of the children of Ammon came against you, ye said unto me, Nay; but a king shall reign over us: when the LORD your God was your king.

Read 1 Samuel 12 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

The confession Samuel recalls - 'We have sinned, because we have forsaken the LORD, and have served Baalim and Ashtaroth' - represents the proper response to divine discipline. The acknowledgment of specific sins (forsaking Yahweh, serving Canaanite fertility deities) demonstrated genuine repentance. Their plea 'deliver us out of the hand of our enemies, and we will serve thee' shows understanding that deliverance obligates covenant loyalty. This pattern of confession and deliverance should have guided Israel's current crisis.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Baalim (plural of Baal) and Ashtaroth (plural of Ashtoreth/Astarte) were Canaanite fertility deities. Worship of these gods involved sacred prostitution and sometimes child sacrifice. Israel's repeated syncretism reflected agricultural anxieties and desire to ensure crop fertility through pagan rituals.

Reflection Questions

  1. Does your repentance include specific confession and commitment to changed behavior?
  2. How does genuine repentance differ from simply wanting relief from consequences?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 19 words
וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ1 of 19

“And they cried”

H2199

to shriek (from anguish or danger); by analogy, (as a herald) to announce or convene publicly

אֶל2 of 19
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָ֔ה3 of 19

“the LORD”

H3068

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

וַיֹּֽאמְר֣4 of 19

“and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

חָטָ֔אנוּ5 of 19

“We have sinned”

H2398

properly, to miss; hence (figuratively and generally) to sin; by inference, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, (causatively) lead astray, condemn

כִּ֤י6 of 19
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

עָזַ֙בְנוּ֙7 of 19

“because we have forsaken”

H5800

to loosen, i.e., relinquish, permit, etc

אֶת8 of 19
H853

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

יְהוָ֔ה9 of 19

“the LORD”

H3068

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

וְנַֽעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃10 of 19

“and have served”

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

אֶת11 of 19
H853

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

הַבְּעָלִ֖ים12 of 19

“Baalim”

H1168

baal, a phoenician deity

וְאֶת13 of 19
H853

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

הָֽעַשְׁתָּר֑וֹת14 of 19

“and Ashtaroth”

H6252

ashtaroth, the name of a sidonian deity, and of a place east of the jordan

וְעַתָּ֗ה15 of 19
H6258

at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive

הַצִּילֵ֛נוּ16 of 19

“but now deliver”

H5337

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

מִיַּ֥ד17 of 19

“us 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

אֹֽיְבֵ֖ינוּ18 of 19

“of our enemies”

H341

hating; an adversary

וְנַֽעַבְדֶֽךָּ׃19 of 19

“and have served”

H5647

to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc

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 12:10 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 12:10 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Judges 10:10Judges 2:13Judges 3:7Judges 3:9Judges 10:15-16Judges 3:15

Test Your Knowledge

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