1 Samuel 12:17
1 Samuel 12:17 in Multiple Translations
Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.”
Is it not wheat harvest to day? I will call unto the LORD, and he shall send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
Is it not wheat harvest to-day? I will call unto Jehovah, that he may send thunder and rain; and ye shall know and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of Jehovah, in asking you a king.
Is it not now the time of the grain cutting? My cry will go up to the Lord and he will send thunder and rain: so that you may see and be conscious of your great sin which you have done in the eyes of the Lord in desiring a king for yourselves.
Isn't it the time of wheat harvest? Well, I will ask the Lord to send thunder and rain. Then you will realize how very evil you were in the Lord's sight when you demanded your own king.”
Is it not nowe wheat haruest? I wil call vnto the Lord, and he shall send thunder and raine, that yee may perceiue and see, howe that your wickednesse is great, which ye haue done in the sight of the Lord in asking you a King.
is it not wheat-harvest to-day? I call unto Jehovah, and He doth give voices and rain; and know ye and see that your evil is great which ye have done in the eyes of Jehovah, to ask for you a king.'
Isn’t it wheat harvest today? I will call to the LORD, that he may send thunder and rain; and you will know and see that your wickedness is great, which you have done in the LORD’s sight, in asking for a king.”
Is it not wheat-harvest to-day? I will call to the LORD, and he will send thunder and rain; that ye may perceive and see that your wickedness is great, which ye have done in the sight of the LORD, in asking you a king.
Is it not wheat harvest today? I will call upon the Lord, and he shall send thunder and rain: and you shall know and see that you yourselves have done a great evil in the sight of the Lord, in desiring a king over you.
You know that [RHQ] it does not rain at this time of the year, during the time when you harvest wheat. But I will ask Yahweh to send thunder and lightning and rain today. When he does that, you will realize that Yahweh considers that you have done a very wicked thing by requesting a king.”
Berean Amplified Bible — 1 Samuel 12:17
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1 Samuel 12:17 Interlinear (Deep Study)
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Hebrew Word Reference — 1 Samuel 12:17
Study Notes — 1 Samuel 12:17
- Context
- Cross References
- 1 Samuel 12:17 Summary
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Reflection Questions
- Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 12:17
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 12:17
- Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:17
- Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:17
- Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:17
- Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:17
- Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 12:17
- Barnes' Notes on 1 Samuel 12:17
- Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:17
- Sermons on 1 Samuel 12:17
Context — Samuel’s Farewell Address
17Is it not the wheat harvest today? I will call on the LORD to send thunder and rain, so that you will know and see what a great evil you have committed in the sight of the LORD by asking for a king.”
18So Samuel called to the LORD, and on that day the LORD sent thunder and rain. As a result, all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel. 19They pleaded with Samuel, “Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die! For we have added to all our sins the evil of asking for a king.”Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 Samuel 8:7 | And the LORD said to Samuel, “Listen to the voice of the people in all that they say to you. For it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as their king. |
| 2 | Proverbs 26:1 | Like snow in summer and rain at harvest, honor does not befit a fool. |
| 3 | 1 Samuel 7:9–10 | Then Samuel took a suckling lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the LORD. He cried out to the LORD on behalf of Israel, and the LORD answered him. As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel. |
| 4 | James 5:16–18 | Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail. Elijah was a man just like us. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth yielded its crops. |
| 5 | Psalms 99:6 | Moses and Aaron were among His priests; Samuel was among those who called on His name. They called to the LORD and He answered. |
| 6 | Joshua 10:12 | On the day that the LORD gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the LORD in the presence of Israel: “O sun, stand still over Gibeon, O moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” |
| 7 | Jeremiah 15:1 | Then the LORD said to me: “Even if Moses and Samuel should stand before Me, My heart would not go out to this people. Send them from My presence, and let them go. |
1 Samuel 12:17 Summary
In this verse, Samuel is telling the Israelites that asking for a king was a bad thing because they were rejecting God as their leader. He wants them to see that this was a mistake, so he prays for a big storm to come, which would be a sign from God. This reminds us that God is in control and we should trust Him, just like it says in Psalm 37:3-4, where we are told to trust in the Lord and do good, and He will give us the desires of our heart. By looking at this verse, we can see the importance of trusting and obeying God, and seeking His will for our lives, as seen in Proverbs 3:5-6.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Samuel say it was a great evil to ask for a king?
Samuel considered it a great evil because the Israelites were rejecting God as their King, as seen in 1 Samuel 8:7, where God says they have rejected Him from being King over them.
What is the significance of the wheat harvest in this verse?
The wheat harvest was a time of dry weather, so the rain and thunder that Samuel called for would be a remarkable sign from God, much like the miracle of Exodus 9:23, where God sent hail and fire.
How did the Israelites respond to Samuel's warning?
The Israelites were afraid and pleaded with Samuel to pray for them, as seen in 1 Samuel 12:19, showing that they recognized their sin and were seeking forgiveness and mercy from God.
What can we learn from Samuel's example in this verse?
We can learn the importance of seeking God's will and being obedient to His commands, as seen in Deuteronomy 13:4, where God commands the Israelites to follow Him and hold fast to Him.
Reflection Questions
- What are some ways I may be rejecting God's rule in my life, and how can I surrender to Him?
- How can I, like Samuel, trust God to work in the lives of those around me and to bring about His will?
- What are some 'great evils' in my life that I need to confess and turn away from, and how can I seek God's forgiveness and restoration?
- In what ways can I, like the Israelites, plead with God for mercy and forgiveness, and how can I seek His guidance and wisdom?
Gill's Exposition on 1 Samuel 12:17
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 12:17
Matthew Poole's Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:17
Trapp's Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:17
Ellicott's Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:17
Adam Clarke's Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:17
Cambridge Bible on 1 Samuel 12:17
Barnes' Notes on 1 Samuel 12:17
Whedon's Commentary on 1 Samuel 12:17
Sermons on 1 Samuel 12:17
| Sermon | Description | |
|---|---|---|
|
The Heavenly Calling - Part 6 by T. Austin-Sparks | In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the true purpose of God's Church through Christ Jesus. He highlights that in this dispensation, believers hav |
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Power With God Exemplified in Samuel by T. Austin-Sparks | T. Austin-Sparks emphasizes the significance of Samuel's ministry as a representation of power with God, particularly in a time when the people of Israel were not aligned with God' |
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The Message of 1 Samuel by G. Campbell Morgan | G. Campbell Morgan explores the profound themes in 1 Samuel, emphasizing God's sovereignty and the human response to His reign. He illustrates how God adapts His methods through th |
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Thoughts on 1 Samuel by John Nelson Darby | John Nelson Darby reflects on the Book of 1 Samuel, emphasizing God's sovereignty and grace in the face of Israel's failures. He discusses how God provided Samuel as a prophet when |
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Zechariah 9:9 by Chuck Smith | Chuck Smith discusses the significance of Zechariah 9:9, emphasizing the inefficiencies of human governments and the longing for a just king. He reflects on Israel's history, notin |
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(I) the Gospel of God's Great Love - Part 9 (This Is Eternal Life) by Robert Wurtz II | Robert Wurtz II delves into the biblical perspective of becoming a Christian, emphasizing the true essence of the question as becoming a place of God's rest, a concept often missed |
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Relationships With Fools Part 1 by Chuck Smith | In this sermon, Pastor Chuck Smith discusses the importance of not binding the stone in a sling, as it will prevent it from reaching its target. He compares this foolish act to giv |





