King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 12:8 Mean?

1 Samuel 12:8 in the King James Version says “When Jacob was come into Egypt, and your fathers cried unto the LORD, then the LORD sent Moses and Aaron, which brought ...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 12 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

1 Samuel 12:8 · KJV

Context

6

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. advanced: or, made

7

Now therefore stand still, that I may reason with you before the LORD of all the righteous acts of the LORD, which he did to you and to your fathers. righteous: Heb. righteousnesses, or, benefits to: Heb. with

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.

Read 1 Samuel 12 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
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.

Samuel begins Israel's history with Jacob's descent into Egypt and the exodus deliverance. The pattern of crisis ('your fathers cried unto the LORD'), divine response (God 'sent Moses and Aaron'), and deliverance ('brought forth your fathers out of Egypt') establishes the paradigm that will repeat throughout his review. This pattern demonstrates that God has always provided leadership in response to genuine need - making Israel's current demand for a king appear as failure to follow established means of seeking divine help.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The exodus was Israel's foundational salvation event, commemorated annually at Passover. Samuel's appeal to this history reminded his audience that their national existence depended entirely on divine intervention, not human military power or political organization.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the exodus pattern of crying out to God apply to current crises?
  2. Why do we sometimes seek human solutions before genuinely crying out to the LORD?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
כַּֽאֲשֶׁר1 of 21
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

בָּ֥א2 of 21

“was come”

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

יַֽעֲקֹ֖ב3 of 21

“When Jacob”

H3290

jaakob, the israelitish patriarch

מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם4 of 21

“into Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וַיִּזְעֲק֤וּ5 of 21

“cried”

H2199

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

אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶם֙6 of 21

“and your fathers”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

אֶל7 of 21
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

יְהוָ֜ה8 of 21

“then the LORD”

H3068

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

וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח9 of 21

“sent”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

יְהוָ֜ה10 of 21

“then the LORD”

H3068

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

אֶת11 of 21
H853

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

מֹשֶׁ֣ה12 of 21

“Moses”

H4872

mosheh, the israelite lawgiver

וְאֶֽת13 of 21
H853

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

אַהֲרֹ֗ן14 of 21

“and Aaron”

H175

aharon, the brother of moses

וַיּוֹצִ֤יאוּ15 of 21

“which brought forth”

H3318

to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim

אֶת16 of 21
H853

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

אֲבֹֽתֵיכֶם֙17 of 21

“and your fathers”

H1

father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application

מִמִּצְרַ֔יִם18 of 21

“into Egypt”

H4714

mitsrajim, i.e., upper and lower egypt

וַיֹּֽשִׁב֖וּם19 of 21

“and made them dwell”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

בַּמָּק֥וֹם20 of 21

“in this place”

H4725

properly, a standing, i.e., a spot; but used widely of a locality (general or specific); also (figuratively) of a condition (of body or mind)

הַזֶּֽה׃21 of 21
H2088

the masculine demonstrative pronoun, this or that

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 12:8 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 12:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Exodus 4:14-16Exodus 2:23-24Joshua 1:6Exodus 4:27-31Psalms 105:44Exodus 12:51

Places in This Verse

EgyptRegion · Modern: Ain Shams · 30.13°N, 31.31°E658 verses across 33 books
View all places in 1 Samuel 12 →

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