King James Version
1 Samuel 8:20 in the King James Version says “That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 8 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.”
1 Samuel 8:20 · KJV
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay; but we will have a king over us;
That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.
And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of the LORD.
And the LORD said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
KJV Study — Public Domain
to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)
properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
“That we also may be like all the nations”
H1471a foreign nation; hence, a gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts
“may judge”
H8199to judge, i.e., pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literal
“us and go out”
H3318to go (causatively, bring) out, in a great variety of applications, literally and figuratively, direct and proxim
“before”
H6440the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
“our battles”
H4421a battle (i.e., the engagement); generally, war (i.e., war-fare)
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.
1 Samuel 8:20 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Verses related to 1 Samuel 8:20 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge