1 Samuel 10:19 Meaning and Explanation
“And ye have this day rejected your God, who himself saved you out of all your adversities and your tribulations; and ye have said unto him, Nay, but set a king over us. Now therefore present yourselves before the LORD by your tribes, and by your thousands.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Samuel charges that in demanding a king, Israel has rejected the God who saved them, then calls the tribes to present themselves before the LORD.
What Does 1 Samuel 10:19 Mean?
Now comes the hard word. In asking for a king like the nations, Israel has, in effect, rejected the very God who saved them from all their troubles. Samuel names the demand for what it is, yet God still grants it, telling the people to present themselves by tribes and clans so their king can be chosen.
The moment is sobering: God gives the people what they ask even as He exposes the heart behind the asking. He had been their true King, and they preferred a man. Yet even here His mercy works through their choice rather than against them. The story warns us how easily trust in God slips into trust in lesser things, and how patiently He continues to lead a wandering people.
1 Samuel 10:19 in the Original Language
maas (מָאַס), 'reject' -- to refuse or cast away, here the grave act of setting aside God Himself.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 10:19
What does 1 Samuel 10:19 mean?
Samuel charges that in demanding a king, Israel has rejected the God who saved them, then calls the tribes to present themselves before the LORD.