1 Samuel 8:18 Meaning and Explanation
“And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Samuel warns that the people will one day cry out under the king they chose, but God will not answer them then.
What Does 1 Samuel 8:18 Mean?
Samuel ends his warning with its most sobering note. A day will come when the people groan under the burden of the king they themselves chose, and they will cry out, but in that day the Lord will not answer. Having insisted on their own way against His counsel, they will reap its consequences.
This is not cruelty but the hard fruit of a choice made in defiance of God's warning. When the Lord 'will not hear,' it marks the sorrow of a people who would not listen first. Yet even this severity is meant to teach. God's silence in judgment is itself a call to return. How much better to heed His voice now than to cry out too late, and how gracious that His mercy still stands open to all who turn back.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 8:18
What does 1 Samuel 8:18 mean?
Samuel warns that the people will one day cry out under the king they chose, but God will not answer them then.