1 Samuel 8:11 Meaning and Explanation
“And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Samuel begins his warning: the king will take their sons to serve his military and run before his chariots.
What Does 1 Samuel 8:11 Mean?
Samuel now spells out what the king will do, and a single word echoes through his warning: he will 'take.' First their sons, conscripted for the king's chariots, cavalry, and royal escort. The freedom of family life would give way to the demands of a standing army and a king's display of power.
The God who reigned over Israel had asked for offerings of love and obedience; a human king would take by command. The contrast is the heart of the warning. What looks like strength, horses and chariots and a royal court, comes at the price of the very lives and liberties the people hold dear. We are wise to ask of any earthly power not only what it promises, but what it will require, and to remember that God's yoke alone is gentle.
1 Samuel 8:11 in the Original Language
laqach (לָקַח), 'take' -- to seize or appropriate; the recurring verb of the king's demands.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 8:11
What does 1 Samuel 8:11 mean?
Samuel begins his warning: the king will take their sons to serve his military and run before his chariots.