1 Samuel 8:17 Meaning and Explanation
“He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The king will take a tenth of their flocks, and the people themselves will become his servants.
What Does 1 Samuel 8:17 Mean?
Samuel reaches the climax of his warning. The king will tithe even their flocks, and then comes the sharpest word of all: 'ye shall be his servants.' The people who asked for a king to make them like the nations would find themselves in bondage to the very ruler they desired.
There is a bitter irony here. Israel had been redeemed from slavery in Egypt to be the Lord's free people; now they ask for a king who will make them servants again. Sin's promises so often run this way, offering freedom and delivering chains. True freedom is never found in serving lesser masters, but in belonging to the Lord, whose service is the only servitude that sets the heart free.
1 Samuel 8:17 in the Original Language
ebed (עֶבֶד), 'servants' -- bondservants or slaves; the same word for Israel's bondage in Egypt.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 8:17
What does 1 Samuel 8:17 mean?
The king will take a tenth of their flocks, and the people themselves will become his servants.