1 Samuel 12 11

1 Samuel 12:11 kjv

And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, and Bedan, and Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and ye dwelled safe.

1 Samuel 12:11 nkjv

And the LORD sent Jerubbaal, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel, and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side; and you dwelt in safety.

1 Samuel 12:11 niv

Then the LORD sent Jerub-Baal, Barak, Jephthah and Samuel, and he delivered you from the hands of your enemies all around you, so that you lived in safety.

1 Samuel 12:11 esv

And the LORD sent Jerubbaal and Barak and Jephthah and Samuel and delivered you out of the hand of your enemies on every side, and you lived in safety.

1 Samuel 12:11 nlt

Then the LORD sent Gideon, Bedan, Jephthah, and Samuel to save you, and you lived in safety.

1 Samuel 12 verses

1 Samuel 12 11 Meaning

Samuel reminds the Israelites of the enduring pattern of God's faithfulness to His covenant people. Despite their recurring apostasy and oppression, the Lord consistently raised up deliverers (judges) from among them. This verse specifically lists four figures—Jerubbaal (Gideon), Bedan (likely Barak or Samson), Jephthah, and Samuel himself—to exemplify how God's active intervention brought salvation "out of the hand of your enemies on every side," demonstrating His power and unfailing commitment to rescue them from every threat.

1 Samuel 12 11 Context

1 Samuel 12:11 is part of Samuel's poignant farewell speech to the nation of Israel as they inaugurate their first king, Saul, at Gilgal. The preceding verses (12:6-10) recount the Lord's mighty acts of salvation, beginning with the Exodus and continuing through the Judges period. Samuel contrasts God's consistent deliverance with Israel's equally consistent cycle of forgetting God, serving idols, and then crying out to Him for help when oppressed by enemies. The immediate context of 1 Samuel 12:11-12 highlights Israel's ultimate transgression: having witnessed generations of divine rescue, they now reject God's direct rule by demanding a human king, essentially claiming that God alone was insufficient to save them from the Ammonites. This verse specifically serves as Samuel's historical summary of God's unfailing care, aiming to convict Israel of their ingratitude and lack of faith. Historically, the period of Judges was characterized by cyclical apostasy, oppression by foreign powers (Philistines, Midianites, Ammonites, etc.), and subsequent divine deliverance through charismatic leaders raised by God. Samuel brings this long history of God's patient rescue right up to his own time and leadership.

1 Samuel 12 11 Word analysis

• And the Lord (וַיִּשְׁלַח יְהוָה - vayishlaḥ YHWH):

  • And the Lord: Emphasis on YHWH, God's covenant name, signifying His personal involvement and covenant faithfulness. This highlights divine initiative and authority, not human striving.
  • sent (וַיִּשְׁלַח - vayishlaḥ): "He sent," active verb, indicating a deliberate, sovereign act of dispatching. God chooses and empowers these individuals. This verb is foundational to prophetic commissioning throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Exod 3:10, Isa 6:8).

• Jerubbaal (גְּרוּבַּעַל - Gerubbaʿal):

  • Known primarily as Gideon (Jud 6-8). His name "Jerubbaal" means "let Baal contend against him" (Jud 6:32), indicating his defiance of Baal worship and the defeat of idolatry under his leadership. He was God's chosen instrument to deliver Israel from the Midianites with a miraculously small army (Jud 7:7), showcasing God's power through human weakness.

• and Bedan (וּבְדָן - ūVəḏān):

  • This is the most ambiguous name in the list. Many ancient versions (like the Septuagint) read "Barak" (Βαρακ), which aligns better chronologically and thematically with a prominent deliverer from the Judges period (Jud 4-5). Others suggest Samson or Jair. The precise identity is less important than the role: another figure divinely chosen to bring deliverance. If Barak, it includes the theme of female empowerment through Deborah alongside him. If Samson, it points to God using imperfect men to achieve His purposes (Jud 13-16).

• and Jephthah (וְיִפְתָּח - vəYiphtaḥ):

  • A judge from Transjordan (Jud 10-12), known for delivering Israel from the Ammonites despite his challenging background. His inclusion underscores God's ability to use unconventional individuals from humble or difficult circumstances to achieve His redemptive plans (cf. Jud 11:1).

• and Samuel (וּשְׁמוּאֵל - ūShəmu'el):

  • Samuel is the speaker, deliberately including himself in this historical lineage of deliverers. This confirms his own divinely appointed role as the last judge before the monarchy and highlights God's continuing faithfulness into their present day. His victory over the Philistines at Ebenezer (1 Sam 7:13-14) is a testament to God's continued saving work through him.

• and delivered (וַיַּצֵּל - wayaṣṣel):

  • "And he rescued" or "he delivered." This verb is crucial, emphasizing God's action as the ultimate rescuer. It implies bringing out of danger, making safe. The same root is used frequently for the Exodus (e.g., Exod 3:8). It highlights the divine source of salvation.

• you (אֶתְכֶם - 'etḵem):

  • Direct address, personalizing God's past actions specifically to the generation standing before Samuel. It's an appeal to their shared history and memory.

• out of the hand of your enemies (מִיַּד אֹיְבֵיכֶם - mīyyad 'ōyəvēḵem):

  • "Out of the hand" is an idiom for being rescued from the power or control of an oppressor. "Your enemies" includes various groups who threatened Israel throughout the Judges period (Midianites, Philistines, Ammonites, etc.).

• on every side (מִסָּבִיב - missāḥîb):

  • Signifies a complete, pervasive deliverance. No matter where the threat came from, God delivered them thoroughly. This emphasizes the comprehensiveness of God's salvation.

• "And the Lord sent... and delivered you": This phrase highlights God's consistent divine initiative and sovereign action in history. He actively chooses and dispatches His agents to rescue His people, demonstrating His power and unwavering commitment to them. It underscores that deliverance originates from God, not from human strength or cleverness. This phrase forms a parallel to the recurring statement in Judges, "The LORD raised up judges" (Jud 2:16, 2:18).

1 Samuel 12 11 Bonus section

The ambiguous reference to "Bedan" in the Masoretic Text (the standard Hebrew text) has been a source of scholarly discussion. The Septuagint's (LXX) reading of "Barak" is highly persuasive due to its fitting chronological placement among the other judges (Gideon before, Jephthah after), and Barak's significant role in delivering Israel from Sisera and the Canaanites (Jud 4-5). This minor textual variation, however, does not alter the verse's fundamental message: God consistently provided someone to deliver His people. Samuel's inclusion of himself in this list (even as he relinquishes judicial authority) serves as a potent affirmation of his own legitimacy as God's chosen agent and underscores that divine deliverance is an ongoing reality right up to their present transition to monarchy. This speech as a whole functions as a strong polemic against the "nations'" idea of kingship (1 Sam 8:5, 8:20), reminding Israel that their unique relationship with God through covenant, not a human ruler, was and always would be their true security. The mention of "on every side" illustrates the complete scope of God's redemptive activity, not limited to one enemy or one geographical threat, emphasizing His total and all-encompassing deliverance.

1 Samuel 12 11 Commentary

1 Samuel 12:11 is a key part of Samuel's summation of Israel's history with God, underscoring His consistent faithfulness amidst their recurring failures. It highlights the pattern of divine deliverance established throughout the period of the Judges. By listing prominent deliverers—Jerubbaal (Gideon), Bedan (likely Barak), Jephthah, and Samuel himself—Samuel vividly illustrates that Israel's protection never stemmed from their own might or the strength of a human king, but from the Lord who sovereignly raised up leaders and rescued them from their "enemies on every side." The verse's core message is a direct challenge to Israel's new king-centric focus: if God consistently delivered them without a human king, what does their demand for one say about their faith in Him? It reinforces the theological truth that God remains faithful even when His people are not, perpetually demonstrating His saving power. This serves as a warning, emphasizing that their future security would likewise depend on their continued obedience to the Lord, not on the mere existence of a human monarch.For example, this pattern is mirrored throughout scripture, where God provides a deliverer in desperate times, whether through Moses at the Red Sea (Exod 14:13), King David against Goliath (1 Sam 17:47), or ultimately through Christ saving humanity from sin and death (Rom 5:8).