King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 8:15 Mean?

1 Samuel 8:15 in the King James Version says “And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. officers:...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. officers: Heb. eunuchs”

1 Samuel 8:15 · KJV

Context

13

And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14

And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15

And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. officers: Heb. eunuchs

16

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

17

He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

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Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

The royal tithe directly parallels—and competes with—the sacred tithe owed to God. Under the Mosaic covenant, Israelites gave a tenth of their produce to support the Levites (Numbers 18:21-24) and the sanctuary system. Now the king will impose his own tenth, effectively doubling the tax burden while diverting resources from sacred to secular purposes. The term "sarisim" (officers, or eunuchs) appears here, possibly anticipating the foreign court practices Israel would eventually adopt. These officials and "avadim" (servants) form the bureaucratic class every monarchy requires. The agricultural tithe ("zera'," seed, and vineyard produce) represents ongoing taxation rather than one-time confiscation—the king's take will continue year after year. This perpetual extraction contrasts with God's abundant provision. Where the divine tithe supported worship and care for the poor, the royal tithe enriches the political elite.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Royal taxation in ancient Near Eastern kingdoms typically ranged from 10-20% of agricultural produce. Egyptian records document detailed tax collection systems. The mention of "sarisim" (possibly eunuchs) reflects Mesopotamian court practices where castrated officials served in positions of trust near royal households.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the concept of competing tithes challenge you to evaluate where your primary loyalties and resources flow?
  2. What does it mean practically to give God the "first" of your resources rather than what remains after other obligations?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 6 words
וְזַרְעֵיכֶ֥ם1 of 6

“of your seed”

H2233

seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity

וְכַרְמֵיכֶ֖ם2 of 6

“and of your vineyards”

H3754

a garden or vineyard

יַעְשֹׂ֑ר3 of 6

“And he will take the tenth”

H6237

to tithe, i.e., to take or give a tenth

וְנָתַ֥ן4 of 6

“and give”

H5414

to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)

לְסָֽרִיסָ֖יו5 of 6

“to his officers”

H5631

a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the female apartments), and thus, a minister of state

וְלַֽעֲבָדָֽיו׃6 of 6

“and to his servants”

H5650

a servant

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 8:15 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 8:15 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Daniel 1:18Isaiah 39:7Genesis 37:36Daniel 1:7-10Daniel 1:3

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