1 Samuel 12:18 kjv
So Samuel called unto the LORD; and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day: and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
1 Samuel 12:18 nkjv
So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
1 Samuel 12:18 niv
Then Samuel called on the LORD, and that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the LORD and of Samuel.
1 Samuel 12:18 esv
So Samuel called upon the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day, and all the people greatly feared the LORD and Samuel.
1 Samuel 12:18 nlt
So Samuel called to the LORD, and the LORD sent thunder and rain that day. And all the people were terrified of the LORD and of Samuel.
1 Samuel 12 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Gen 7:4 | For in seven days I will send rain on the earth forty days... | God controls the rain and floods. |
| Exod 9:23-29 | The Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire ran down... Moses pleaded... | God uses thunder/hail to demonstrate power. |
| Lev 26:4 | I will give you your rains in their season... | Blessing of rain in season as covenant fulfillment. |
| Deut 10:12-13 | ...to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways... | Exhortation to fear God and walk in His ways. |
| Deut 11:13-14 | ...if you listen to my commandments... I will give the rain... | Rain as a sign of obedience/disobedience. |
| Judg 6:17-21 | Gideon's fleece - wet ground, dry fleece; then dry ground, wet fleece... | God uses nature as a sign for confirmation. |
| 1 Sam 3:19-20 | And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall... | Samuel established as a true prophet of the Lord. |
| 1 Sam 8:7-8 | ...they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them. | Israel's sin in rejecting God as their King. |
| 1 Kgs 18:41 | Elijah said to Ahab, “Go up, eat and drink, for there is a sound of the rush of rain.” | God sends rain to demonstrate His sovereignty over Baal. |
| 2 Chron 7:13 | When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain... | God's control over rain as a consequence of sin. |
| Ps 29:3 | The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders... | The Lord's voice identified with thunder. |
| Ps 77:18 | The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind... | God's power manifest through thunder. |
| Ps 104:13 | From your lofty dwelling you water the mountains... | God provides rain from the heavens. |
| Ps 111:10 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom... | Fearing God as the foundation of wisdom. |
| Prov 1:7 | The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge... | Understanding comes from reverence for God. |
| Isa 1:2-4 | Listen, O heavens... For the Lord has spoken... a people laden with iniquity... | Israel's rebellion against God. |
| Jer 14:22 | Are there any among the idols of the nations that can bring rain?... Are you not he, O Lord our God? | YHWH alone brings rain, contrasting idols. |
| Hos 13:11 | I gave you a king in my anger, and I took him away in my wrath. | God's displeasure with their demand for a king. |
| Amos 4:7-8 | I withheld the rain from you... yet you did not return to me... | God's use of drought as a call to repentance. |
| Joel 2:23 | Be glad, O children of Zion... for he has given the early rain for your vindication. | God sends rain as a sign of restoration and blessing. |
| Mal 3:10 | Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse... I will pour down a blessing so great... | God sends blessings when His people are faithful. |
| Mt 8:26-27 | He commanded the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm... | Jesus's power over creation echoes God's sovereignty. |
| Mark 4:39 | He woke up and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” | Jesus demonstrates divine authority over weather. |
| Acts 3:22-23 | Moses said, 'The Lord God will raise up for you a prophet like me...' | Samuel, like Moses, was a true prophet. |
| Rom 1:18-20 | For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities... are clearly seen... | God's power evident in creation leaves humanity without excuse. |
1 Samuel 12 verses
1 Samuel 12 18 Meaning
1 Samuel 12:18 describes a pivotal moment during Samuel's farewell address to Israel. In response to Samuel's call, the Lord demonstrated His sovereign power by sending thunder and rain during the dry wheat harvest season. This unexpected meteorological event confirmed God's covenant with Israel and underscored the gravity of their sin in demanding a human king over the Lord, deeply impressing upon the people the power of the Lord and the authority of Samuel as His prophet.
1 Samuel 12 18 Context
1 Samuel chapter 12 details Samuel's final public address to Israel after the coronation of Saul as king. Samuel recounts God's faithfulness from the Exodus to their current day, emphasizing how Israel consistently cried out to God in distress, and He faithfully delivered them through various judges and leaders. Despite this history of divine deliverance and provision, the people had recently demanded a human king "like all the nations," thereby rejecting the Lord as their true King (1 Sam 8:7-8). Samuel calls for a visible sign to demonstrate their sin and God's displeasure with their request. Verse 18 is the climactic moment where God confirms Samuel's words and Israel's sin through an unseasonal display of natural power. This event serves as a stark reminder of God's sovereignty and a validation of Samuel's prophetic office before the newly established monarchy.
1 Samuel 12 18 Word analysis
- So Samuel: Samuel, as the recognized prophet and judge, acts as God's representative. This highlights his spiritual authority.
- called to the Lord: The Hebrew word is qara' (קָרָא), meaning to cry out, invoke, or proclaim. It's not a mere verbal request but a solemn, authoritative invocation. This act demonstrates Samuel's unwavering faith and his direct access to the Almighty.
- and the Lord: Refers to YHWH (יְהוָה), the covenant God of Israel. This emphasizes that the ensuing event is not a coincidence but a direct, personal, and intentional act of the sovereign God who had covenanted with His people.
- sent: The Hebrew is shalach (שָׁלַח), indicating a deliberate action of sending forth. God is actively initiating this display.
- thunder: The Hebrew word is qolot (קֹלֹת), which literally means "voices" or "sounds." In this context, especially in combination with rain, it specifically refers to thunder, often seen as the "voice of God" (e.g., Ps 29). This aligns with ancient Near Eastern belief systems where the god of storms controlled thunder, making it a clear demonstration of YHWH's supremacy over any perceived foreign deities like Baal.
- and rain: matar (מָטָר). This is highly significant because it was "wheat harvest" (1 Sam 12:17), which typically occurs in May-June in Israel, a dry season when rain is exceedingly rare. Unseasonal rain would damage crops and disrupt harvest, representing a sign of judgment and divine displeasure (Prov 26:1).
- that day: This stresses the immediacy and specificity of God's response, leaving no room for doubt about its miraculous nature or its connection to Samuel's call. It was a singular, unmistakable event.
- so that all the people: Highlights the wide scope of the impact; it was a public, communal experience intended to instruct and impress the entire assembly of Israel.
- greatly feared: The Hebrew is yare' (יָרֵא), meaning to fear, be in awe of, or revere. This is not mere terror but a profound, reverential dread and acknowledgement of God's overwhelming power and holiness. It implies a recognition of their sin and God's authority.
- the Lord and Samuel: The fear is primarily directed at the Lord as the source of the power, but it extends to Samuel as God's faithful messenger. This solidifies Samuel's authority in the eyes of the people, validating his prophetic role despite their decision to have a king.
1 Samuel 12 18 Bonus section
The timing of this rain during the wheat harvest also serves as a polemic against the Canaanite deity Baal, who was worshipped as the god of storms and fertility. By sending rain in the dry season, a time traditionally associated with Baal's influence, the Lord unequivocally demonstrated that He alone, YHWH, is the true orchestrator of nature and the Giver of rain, not any false god. This was a clear sign to Israel not to rely on their new monarchy or adopt the practices of surrounding nations, but to remember who truly held ultimate power. It highlights the principle that obedience to God brings blessing, while rebellion, even if accompanied by what appears to be progress (a king), can bring divine judgment.
1 Samuel 12 18 Commentary
1 Samuel 12:18 serves as a profound object lesson on God's sovereignty, Israel's sin, and the validation of His prophet. By sending thunder and unseasonal rain, God unmistakably demonstrates His absolute control over creation, refuting any notion that human kingship could supersede divine authority or that Baal had any power over weather. This miracle forces Israel to confront their profound error in demanding a king, showing that their desire was a rejection of the Lord Himself, not just His established form of governance through judges. The "fear" that gripped the people was not just terror, but a realization of the holiness and might of God, coupled with the immediate consequences of their disobedience. It cemented Samuel's prophetic legitimacy and affirmed that despite their new king, God remained the ultimate sovereign over Israel. This public display was an act of both judgment and grace, aiming to turn their hearts back to humble obedience to the living God.