1 Samuel 12:21 kjv
And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.
1 Samuel 12:21 nkjv
And do not turn aside; for then you would go after empty things which cannot profit or deliver, for they are nothing.
1 Samuel 12:21 niv
Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.
1 Samuel 12:21 esv
And do not turn aside after empty things that cannot profit or deliver, for they are empty.
1 Samuel 12:21 nlt
Don't go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you ? they are totally useless!
1 Samuel 12 21 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Dt 6:14 | You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples... | Warning against turning to other gods. |
| Dt 7:16 | ...and you shall not serve their gods, for that would be a snare to you. | Idolatry as a trap/snare. |
| Ps 115:4-8 | Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands... | Description of lifeless, powerless idols. |
| Ps 135:15-18 | The idols of the nations are silver and gold, the work of human hands... | Further emphasis on idol futility. |
| Isa 44:9-10 | All who fashion idols are nothing... No god was formed before me... | Futility of idol making and worship. |
| Isa 45:20 | They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols and keep praying to a god that cannot save. | Ignorance of those who worship powerless idols. |
| Jer 2:5 | What fault did your fathers find in me that they went far from me and went after worthlessness, and became worthless? | Israel's sin of pursuing worthlessness. |
| Jer 10:3 | For the customs of the peoples are vanity. | Customs/idols of nations are empty. |
| Hab 2:18 | What profit an idol when its maker has carved it? | Idols are unprofitable to their creators. |
| Zeph 1:5 | Those who bow down on the roofs to the host of heaven, and those who bow down and swear to the Lord and yet swear by Milcom... | Worshipping God and idols concurrently. |
| Acts 14:15 | ...turn from these vain things to a living God... | Call to abandon vain things for God. |
| Acts 17:29 | ...we ought not to think that the divine nature is like gold or silver or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of man. | God's nature unlike created idols. |
| 1 Cor 8:4 | ...an idol has no real existence, and that there is no God but one. | Idols are nothing in reality. |
| Gal 4:8 | Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods. | Being enslaved to non-existent gods. |
| 1 Jn 5:21 | Little children, keep yourselves from idols. | Direct warning against idolatry. |
| Matt 6:24 | No one can serve two masters... | Serving God exclusively, not others. |
| Lk 16:13 | No servant can serve two masters... | Same principle of exclusive service. |
| Phil 3:7-8 | But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ... trash, in order that I may gain Christ. | earthly gains are counted as rubbish for Christ. |
| Col 2:8 | See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit... | Warning against empty human teachings. |
| Heb 12:1-2 | ...lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely... looking to Jesus... | Laying aside anything that hinders spiritual race. |
| Job 27:8 | For what is the hope of the godless when God cuts him off... | Vain hope outside God. |
| Isa 40:19-20 | An idol! A craftsman casts it... The skilled artisan selects a wood... | The work of human hands, not divine power. |
| Ps 78:41 | They tested God again and again and provoked the Holy One of Israel. | Israel's repeated turning away. |
1 Samuel 12 verses
1 Samuel 12 21 Meaning
1 Samuel 12:21 serves as a solemn warning from Samuel to the Israelites. It implores them not to deviate from their allegiance to the one true God and pursue "vain things," referring primarily to idols or false gods, as well as any other form of worship or trust that does not originate from the Lord. These "vain things" are explicitly stated as powerless to provide any real benefit, assistance, or rescue because they are inherently empty and without substance. This highlights the futility and danger of idolatry and turning away from divine guidance.
1 Samuel 12 21 Context
This verse is part of Samuel's farewell address to the people of Israel after they had insisted on having a king, a request Samuel and the Lord viewed as a rejection of God's direct rule over them. Chapter 12 records Samuel recounting God's faithful deliverance of Israel throughout their history, emphasizing His mighty acts from Egypt through the time of the Judges. He points out their past and current sin of unfaithfulness and underscores the profound significance of remaining loyal to the Lord, even as they now had a human king. Historically, Israel was at a pivotal point, transitioning from a tribal confederacy under charismatic judges to a monarchy, surrounded by nations deeply steeped in polytheistic practices and idolatry, which were often tied to fertility cults and military success. Samuel's warning serves as a direct polemic against these contemporary beliefs, asserting that the gods of the surrounding nations, revered for their supposed power to bring prosperity or victory, are in fact "vain things" utterly devoid of any real capacity to profit or deliver.
1 Samuel 12 21 Word analysis
- And turn ye not aside: This uses the Hebrew word sûr (סוּר), meaning "to turn aside," "to deviate," "to depart from." It signifies a deliberate deviation from a prescribed path or standard, in this context, from walking in obedience to God and remaining faithful to Him. It's an active choice not to follow the divine way.
- for then should ye go after: This links the action of "turning aside" directly to the consequence of pursuing idolatry. It implies a direct trajectory away from God leads inevitably to something else, which is defined next as "vain things."
- vain things: This phrase incorporates two significant Hebrew terms often associated with futility and emptiness:
- Tōhū (תֹּהוּ): Commonly found in Gen 1:2 ("formless and void") describing chaos and non-existence before creation. Here, it conveys utter emptiness, meaninglessness, and lack of purpose or substance. It paints a picture of idols as completely devoid of any divine essence or power.
- Hêvel (הֶבֶל): Often translated "vanity" or "futility" in Ecclesiastes. It literally means "breath" or "vapor," emphasizing transient, insubstantial, and useless nature. Combining these two terms provides a powerful description of the absolute worthlessness of idols.
- which cannot profit: The Hebrew term for "profit" here means to "benefit" or "be useful." This phrase directly challenges the claims and perceived advantages of worshipping idols—whether for rain, crops, victory, or progeny. Samuel asserts these supposed benefits are non-existent. Idols are inherently unproductive and unable to contribute positively to life.
- nor deliver: The Hebrew word for "deliver" means to rescue, save, or snatch away from danger. This part directly refutes the common ancient belief that idols could offer protection or salvation in times of crisis, battle, or natural disaster. It underscores the critical fact that they are powerless to intervene or effect rescue.
- for they are vain: This repetition serves as an emphatic conclusion and a theological truth statement. It reinforces the earlier use of "vain things" and leaves no doubt about the absolute nothingness and unprofitability of turning away from God to anything else. The redundancy stresses the profound futility.
1 Samuel 12 21 Bonus section
The strong language "vain things" (tōhū and hêvel) creates a powerful rhetorical device. By using tōhū, a term echoing creation (Gen 1:2), Samuel implies that anything not God, and especially idols, leads back to a state of primordial chaos and meaninglessness, rather than divine order and purpose. It underscores the utter reversal of God's creative act that idolatry represents. The repetitive phrase "for they are vain" further highlights the intrinsic nature of idols as nothing more than an empty void. This divine warning delivered by Samuel echoes similar strong condemnations of idolatry found throughout the Pentateuch, especially in Deuteronomy (e.g., Dt 32:21). The prophet Samuel, standing as a spiritual successor to Moses, here champions God's exclusivity and faithfulness against the constant temptation to syncretism with surrounding pagan practices, providing guidance crucial for Israel's covenant fidelity under their newly established monarchy.
1 Samuel 12 21 Commentary
Samuel's warning in 1 Samuel 12:21 is a pivotal theological statement delivered at a crucial moment in Israel's history. It encapsulates the core monotheistic tenet of Yahwism: there is one true God, and all other purported deities or objects of worship are nothingness. By categorizing idols as "vain things," Samuel disarms their perceived power and promises, revealing them as empty illusions incapable of providing any genuine profit or deliverance. This declaration serves as a stark contrast between the living, active, delivering God of Israel and the inert, impotent creations of human hands or imaginations. The underlying message is that placing trust, hope, or service in anything other than the Lord will invariably lead to disappointment, spiritual barrenness, and ultimate destruction, because such "vain things" possess no inherent ability to sustain or save. This remains a timeless warning against any pursuit or trust that detracts from utter reliance upon God alone, be it material possessions, human wisdom, or false ideologies.