1 Samuel 12:5

12:4 And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

KJV

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He said to them, “Yahweh is witness against you, and his anointed is witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” They said, “He is witness.”

And he said unto them, The Lord is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

And he said to them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand. And they answered, He is witness. ¶

12:6 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

What does 1 Samuel 12:5 mean?

1 Samuel 12:5 is a verse in the book of 1 Samuel, in the Old Testament. In the original Hebrew, key words include אָמַר (ʼâmar), יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh), עֵד (ʻêd). It connects to 7 cross-referenced passages elsewhere in Scripture.

Hebrew interlinear

And

saidאָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

unto

them,

The

LORDיְהֹוָהYᵉhôvâh/yeh-ho-vaw'/H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of God

witnessעֵדʻêd/ayd/H5707concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince

against

you,

and

his

anointedמָשִׁיחַmâshîyach/maw-shee'-akh/H4899anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the Messiah

witnessעֵדʻêd/ayd/H5707concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince

this

day,יוֹםyôwm/yome/H3117a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb)

that

have

not

foundמָצָאmâtsâʼ/maw-tsaw'/H4672properly, to come forth to, i.e. appear or exist; transitively, to attain, i.e. find or acquire; figuratively, to occur, meet or be present

oughtמְאוּמָהmᵉʼûwmâh/meh-oo'-maw/H3972properly, a speck or point, i.e. (by implication) something; with negative, nothing

hand.יָדyâd/yawd/H3027a hand (the open one (indicating power, means, direction, etc.),

And

they

answered,אָמַרʼâmar/aw-mar'/H559to say (used with great latitude)

witness.עֵדʻêd/ayd/H5707concretely, a witness; abstractly, testimony; specifically, a recorder, i.e. prince

Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:5

HENRY_FULL · 1 Samuel 12:5–7

> Samuel Honoured as a Prophet. ( b. c. 1128.) 19 And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. 20 And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the Lord . 21 And the Lord appeared again in Shiloh: for the Lord revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the Lord . Samuel being thus brought acquainted with the visions of God, we have here an account of the further honour done him as a prophet. I. God did him honour. Having begun to favour him, he carried on and crowned his own work in him: Samuel grew, for the Lord was with him, v. 19 . All our increase in wisdom and grace is owing to the presence of God with us; this is all in all to our growth. God honoured Samuel, 1. By further manifestations of himself to him. Samuel had faithfully delivered the message he was entrusted with, and therefore God employed him again in his service: The Lord revealed himself again to Samuel in Shiloh, v. 21 . Note, God will graciously repeat his visits to those that receive them aright. 2. By fulfilling what he spoke by him: God did let none of his words fall to the ground, v. 19 . Whatever Samuel said, as a prophet, it proved true, and was accomplished in its season. Probably there were some remarkable instances of the truth of Samuel's predictions that happened soon after, which confirmed those that were afterwards to be fulfilled, and gave general satisfaction as to his mission. God will confirm the word of his servants, and perform the counsel of his messengers ( Isa. xliv. 26 ), and will do what he hath said. II. Israel did him honour. They all knew and owned that Samuel was established to be a prophet, v. 20 . 1. He grew famous; all that came up to Shiloh to worship took notice of him, and admired him, and talked of him when they returned home. Early piety will be the greatest honour of young people, and bring them, as much as any thing, and as soon, into reputation. Those that honour God he will honour. 2. He grew useful and very serviceable to his generation. He that began betimes to be good soon came to do good. His established commission from God, and established reputation with the people, gave him a great opportunity of shining as a light in Israel. When old Eli was rejected, young Samuel was established; for God will never leave himself without a witness nor his church without a guide.

Cross-references

Related passages from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

Genesis 12:7

And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Genesis 15:1

After these things the word of the LORD came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Numbers 12:6

And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.

1 Samuel 12:1

And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.

1 Samuel 12:4

And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

Amos 3:7

Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.

Hebrews 1:1

God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets,

Topics

Samuel

Verses like this

Other verses that share key original-language words with 1 Samuel 12:5.

Genesis 3:14

And the LORD God said unto the serpent, Because thou hast done this, thou art cursed above all cattle, and above every beast of the field; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life:

Genesis 3:22

And the LORD God said, Behold, the man is become as one of us, to know good and evil: and now, lest he put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat, and live for ever:

Genesis 4:15

And the LORD said unto him, Therefore whosoever slayeth Cain, vengeance shall be taken on him sevenfold. And the LORD set a mark upon Cain, lest any finding him should kill him.

Genesis 5:29

And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed. Noah: Gr. Noe: that is Rest, or, Comfort

Genesis 6:3

And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also is flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.

Genesis 1:14

And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: the day: Heb. between the day and between the night

Genesis 2:16

And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: thou: Heb. eating thou shalt eat

Genesis 2:18

And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. meet: Heb. as before him

Frequently asked questions

What does 1 Samuel 12:5 say?

1 Samuel 12:5 (King James Version) reads: "And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness."

Is 1 Samuel 12:5 in the Old or New Testament?

1 Samuel 12:5 is in the Old Testament of the Bible, in the book of 1 Samuel.

Reflect

As you read 1 Samuel 12:5, what is one truth here you can carry into today?

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