1 Samuel 12 20

1 Samuel 12:20 kjv

And Samuel said unto the people, Fear not: ye have done all this wickedness: yet turn not aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart;

1 Samuel 12:20 nkjv

Then Samuel said to the people, "Do not fear. You have done all this wickedness; yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.

1 Samuel 12:20 niv

"Do not be afraid," Samuel replied. "You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.

1 Samuel 12:20 esv

And Samuel said to the people, "Do not be afraid; you have done all this evil. Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.

1 Samuel 12:20 nlt

"Don't be afraid," Samuel reassured them. "You have certainly done wrong, but make sure now that you worship the LORD with all your heart, and don't turn your back on him.

1 Samuel 12 verses

1 Samuel 12 20 Meaning

Samuel addresses the people, who are in great fear due to the manifest sign of God's displeasure (the thunder and rain) confirming their sin in demanding a king. He reassures them by telling them not to fear unto despair or abandon God, despite their grave transgression. While acknowledging their clear sin, he immediately calls them back to a path of unwavering devotion, urging them to serve the LORD sincerely and completely with all their inner being. The verse encapsulates divine grace amidst human failure and a call to genuine repentance and continued faithfulness.

1 Samuel 12 20 Context

Chapter 12 of 1 Samuel features Samuel's farewell address to the people of Israel after they have received their first king, Saul. Samuel vindicates his own integrity as judge and prophet, recounts God's historical faithfulness in delivering Israel from oppressors, and confronts the people with the gravity of their sin: rejecting the LORD as their King by demanding a human king like the nations around them (1 Sam 8:7; 12:12). Immediately preceding this verse (1 Sam 12:16-19), Samuel calls upon God to send thunder and rain, a powerful and unseasonal sign during the wheat harvest, which deeply impresses the people and causes them great fear, leading them to confess their sin. Amidst their fear and confession, Samuel delivers this critical reassurance and renewed call to covenant faithfulness. This period represents a significant transition from the theocracy of the judges to a human monarchy, and Samuel is emphasizing that even under a human king, Israel's true stability and blessing depend solely on their relationship with and obedience to the LORD.

1 Samuel 12 20 Word analysis

• And Samuel said to the people: Samuel, as God's prophet and the last judge, serves as the intermediary, speaking God's word directly to the fearful Israelites. His authority undergirds the divine instruction and reassurance.
• “Do not fear": (Heb. yare - יָרֵא). This imperative acknowledges their legitimate terror (as demonstrated by their confession and plea in 1 Sam 12:19), stemming from their awareness of sin and God's powerful manifestation. However, Samuel immediately redirects this panic-fear away from despair and toward a proper, reverential fear of the LORD that motivates obedience. It is a reassurance of God's willingness to still work with them despite their transgression.
• "you have indeed done all this evil": (Heb. ra'ah - רָעָה). Samuel is unsparing in his confirmation of their guilt. "Indeed done" (lit. "truly done" or "yes, you have done") emphasizes the undeniable reality and magnitude of their sin—rejecting God's direct rule, desiring to be like the nations, and thereby betraying their covenant. "All this evil" encompasses not just their recent request for a king, but their past patterns of disobedience recounted in 1 Sam 12:9-11.
• "Yet do not turn aside": (Heb. sur - סוּר). This phrase represents a pivot point. Despite their great sin, God, through Samuel, offers grace and hope. To "turn aside" means to deviate, to stray from the path of righteousness or the commands of God, often leading to idolatry or apostasy. The warning emphasizes a danger that still looms if they despair or abandon their allegiance.
• "from following the LORD": (Heb. 'acharey Yahweh - אַחֲרֵי יְהוָה). Literally, "after Yahweh." This refers to their loyalty, obedience, and active adherence to God's ways and commands. It speaks of a covenant relationship where they walk closely with Him.
• "but serve the LORD": (Heb. 'avad - עָבַד). This signifies active, dedicated obedience, worship, and humble service. It implies working for God, akin to being His servant or even slave, carrying out His will rather than one's own desires.
• "with all your heart": (Heb. b'khol l'vavkhem - בְּכָל לְבַבְכֶם). "Heart" (Heb. levav) refers to the seat of intellect, will, emotion, and moral character—the entire inner being. This phrase emphasizes complete sincerity, undivided devotion, and a total commitment to God, not just external ritual or partial obedience. It directly echoes foundational commandments in Deuteronomy (Deut 6:5; 10:12).

• "Do not fear; you have indeed done all this evil.": This initial part presents a crucial paradox: profound reassurance ("Do not fear") immediately followed by an unsparing confirmation of guilt ("you have indeed done all this evil"). It’s a message that combines God's justice in recognizing sin with His compassion in offering a way forward, preventing them from falling into despair and total abandonment of Him. It establishes that their hope is not in minimizing their sin but in God's mercy despite it.
• "Yet do not turn aside from following the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart.": This segment provides the conditions for mitigating the consequences of their sin and securing future blessings. It’s a twin command: a negative prohibition against deviating from God's path, and a positive imperative to wholeheartedly serve Him. The "yet" implies that despite the severity of their error, the door to true fidelity and sincere worship is still open, contingent on their total devotion and obedience. This highlights that repentance means not just acknowledging sin but actively turning towards God with genuine commitment.

1 Samuel 12 20 Bonus section

The immediate juxtaposition of "Do not fear" and "you have indeed done all this evil" creates a powerful rhetorical effect. It's a statement of profound theological truth: while human sin is real and brings consequences, God's mercy and willingness to extend a path of repentance and faithfulness are greater. This mirrors the perpetual call throughout the Scriptures for Israel, and later for the Church, to return to the LORD after falling away. The concept of serving God "with all your heart" emphasizes interior disposition over outward performance, a theme that gains fuller expression in the New Covenant through the indwelling Holy Spirit. This verse reminds believers that despite acknowledging their brokenness and failings, the response to conviction should be a turning back to God in devoted service, rather than despair or a complete abandonment of faith. It sets a foundational principle for repentance: clear acknowledgement of wrong combined with sincere, active commitment to obedience.

1 Samuel 12 20 Commentary

Samuel's message in 1 Samuel 12:20 offers a powerful summary of the gospel principle within an Old Testament context. The Israelites, gripped by the fear of divine judgment for their clear act of rebellion in demanding a king, are first met with comforting assurance ("Do not fear"). This comfort, however, is not based on excusing their sin; rather, it's explicitly prefaced by a stark acknowledgment: "you have indeed done all this evil." This divine stance demonstrates God's character: He is both righteous in condemning sin and merciful in extending grace. The verse then moves to a dual call to action, outlining the true nature of repentance: it is not passive regret but active commitment. First, a negative command, "do not turn aside from following the LORD," urging perseverance in their covenant relationship and avoidance of any further deviation from His path. Second, a positive imperative, "but serve the LORD with all your heart," demanding sincere, total devotion of their entire being. This teaches that even great communal or personal sin does not necessarily lead to irreversible condemnation, provided there is genuine turning back to God with undivided loyalty and heartfelt obedience. It underscores that God's desire is for a living, intimate relationship expressed through complete dedication, irrespective of past failings.