1 Samuel 12:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Samuel publicly invites anyone to accuse him of theft, fraud, oppression, or bribery, promising full restitution.
What Does 1 Samuel 12:3 Mean?
Standing before the Lord and His anointed king, Samuel submits himself to an open trial. He asks whether he ever seized an animal, cheated, crushed the weak, or took a bribe to look the other way.
Integrity does not fear examination; it invites it. Samuel's clean hands rebuke the very corruption Israel feared in their judges. His example points ahead to the perfectly righteous Servant who could likewise stand before His accusers and ask which of them could convict Him of sin.
1 Samuel 12:3 in the Original Language
mashiach (מָשִׁיחַ), 'anointed' -- one set apart by anointing oil, the root of the title Messiah.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 12:3
What does 1 Samuel 12:3 mean?
Samuel publicly invites anyone to accuse him of theft, fraud, oppression, or bribery, promising full restitution.