1 Samuel 8:15 Meaning and Explanation
“And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The king will claim a tenth of their grain and grape harvest to support his officials and servants.
What Does 1 Samuel 8:15 Mean?
Samuel warns that the king will levy a tithe, a tenth of the people's grain and wine, to fund his officers and staff. The same tenth that Israel was taught to offer to the Lord would now be claimed by the crown to sustain its growing administration.
There is a pointed echo here: the tithe belonged to God and supported His worship and His servants the Levites. A king would redirect that portion to himself. The warning reveals the true price of the security the people sought; it would be funded by their own labor, year after year. Earthly kingdoms are upheld by what they take; the kingdom of God is upheld by what its King gives in grace.
1 Samuel 8:15 in the Original Language
maaser (מַעֲשֵׂר), 'tenth' -- a tithe; the tenth portion, elsewhere given to the LORD.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 8:15
What does 1 Samuel 8:15 mean?
The king will claim a tenth of their grain and grape harvest to support his officials and servants.