1 Samuel 12 5

1 Samuel 12:5 kjv

And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.

1 Samuel 12:5 nkjv

Then he said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and His anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they answered, "He is witness."

1 Samuel 12:5 niv

Samuel said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and also his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." "He is witness," they said.

1 Samuel 12:5 esv

And he said to them, "The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that you have not found anything in my hand." And they said, "He is witness."

1 Samuel 12:5 nlt

"The LORD and his anointed one are my witnesses today," Samuel declared, "that my hands are clean." "Yes, he is a witness," they replied.

1 Samuel 12 verses

1 Samuel 12 5 Meaning

1 Samuel 12:5 captures a pivotal moment where Samuel, the retiring judge and prophet, solemnly calls upon God and the newly appointed King Saul as witnesses to his blameless service to Israel. He challenges the people to acknowledge that he has taken nothing improperly, exploited no one, and committed no wrongdoing during his tenure, thereby validating his integrity before the entire nation.

1 Samuel 12 5 Context

1 Samuel 12:5 is part of Samuel's solemn farewell speech to Israel, delivered at Gilgal during a significant moment of transition from the era of judges to that of monarchy. Having gathered all Israel, Samuel publicly recounts God's faithfulness throughout their history and then confronts the people for their demand of a human king, thereby rejecting God's direct rule. Before pronouncing a warning about their sin, Samuel vindicates his own conduct as their leader and judge. He sets forth his record of service before the ultimate witness, the LORD, and the newly established human authority, King Saul. This public self-vindication was customary in ancient Near Eastern farewell addresses by leaders and served to legitimize the transition and set a moral benchmark for the new era, contrasting his blameless service with any past or potential future corruption. It also functioned as an implicit warning to Saul and future kings about the standard of integrity God expected from His chosen leaders.

1 Samuel 12 5 Word analysis

• And he said: Refers to Samuel. This introduction marks a direct address, emphasizing the prophet's authority and the weight of his words. It is part of his valedictory speech, signaling a critical transition point for the nation.
• to them: Refers to "all Israel" (1 Sam 12:1), representing the entire assembled nation. This public address underscores the collective nature of the declaration and accountability.
• The LORD (Hebrew: YHWH, Yahweh): The personal, covenantal name of God. By invoking Yahweh, Samuel places his vindication under the highest possible authority. Yahweh is the ultimate judge, ever-present, omniscient, and righteous, ensuring His testimony is unimpeachable. This elevates the declaration beyond human judgment alone.
• is witness (Hebrew: `ēd): This term denotes a legal witness or a testimony. In ancient Israelite society, a witness was crucial for validating truth and confirming covenants or legal claims. By invoking the LORD as `‘ēd`, Samuel transforms the public assembly into a solemn courtroom, where God Himself attests to Samuel's purity of service. It implies a divine endorsement of Samuel's actions and character.
• against you: This phrase indicates that the witness (the LORD and His anointed) is presented for their consideration and confirmation. It's not accusatory of them regarding Samuel's integrity, but rather for them to confirm, acknowledge, and thus accept Samuel's blamelessness. Their agreement to this was part of the covenant renewal ceremony.
• and his anointed (Hebrew: mashiachow): Refers specifically to King Saul. Saul had been publicly anointed by Samuel, signifying his divine appointment and spiritual consecration as king. By including Saul, Samuel links divine witness with human, divinely-sanctioned authority. This emphasizes unity in witness: God and His divinely appointed human representative both testify. The term `mashiach` (anointed one) carries deep theological weight, pointing to one set apart by God for a special purpose, laying groundwork for the ultimate "Messiah."
• is witness: The verb "is witness" is repeated to emphasize the dual testimony—divine and human (though the human witness is divinely chosen). Both the ultimate authority and the present temporal authority corroborate Samuel's statement.
• this day: Denotes the immediate present moment. This adds solemnity, formality, and finality to the declaration. It is a public, open, and unambiguous assertion made now, allowing for no future denial or dispute. It seals the matter at a critical juncture in Israel's history.
• that you have not found anything in my hand: This is an idiomatic expression in Hebrew, signifying absolute integrity, freedom from corruption, bribery, or personal gain during public service. "In my hand" refers to the actions and conduct of one's public office, specifically concerning material possessions, gifts, or authority used for personal enrichment. Samuel is challenging them to recall any instance where he took anything unjustly, exploited their resources, or was bribed to pervert justice. It asserts his financial purity and lack of oppressive leadership.

• "The LORD is witness... and his anointed is witness": This phrase highlights the divine and human attestation to Samuel's character. It's a powerful combination of ultimate heavenly judgment and earthly authority (derived from God) confirming Samuel's blamelessness. This dual witness creates an undeniable statement for the assembly.
• "not found anything in my hand": This statement, reinforced by the solemn witnesses, serves as Samuel's personal testimony to a life lived free from financial corruption or abuse of power. It represents the pinnacle of faithful, selfless service demanded by God of His leaders and stands as a moral example for all succeeding leadership, especially the new kings.

1 Samuel 12 5 Bonus section

In ancient Near Eastern societies, it was crucial for leaders transitioning power to undergo a public vindication or farewell address to assert their integrity, legitimize their tenure, and set the stage for new leadership. Samuel's action in this verse perfectly aligns with this cultural practice but imbues it with profound theological depth by appealing directly to the LORD as the ultimate witness. The polemic against "found anything in my hand" subtly refers to the prevalent practice of bribery, exploitation, and injustice that often characterized human rulers in surrounding nations, and unfortunately, had at times appeared even among Israel's own leaders (e.g., Samuel's sons). Samuel's public challenge served as a prophetic reminder that Israel’s leaders, unlike those of other nations, were under the scrutiny of a righteous God. This public act of integrity from a prophet and judge anticipates similar declarations of blamelessness found in the New Testament from apostles like Paul, highlighting a consistent biblical theme of transparency and purity in God's chosen servants.

1 Samuel 12 5 Commentary

1 Samuel 12:5 captures Samuel's profound commitment to blameless leadership, setting a standard of integrity against which both his own generation and subsequent leaders, especially the newly instituted monarchy, could be measured. His solemn declaration, affirmed by Yahweh and King Saul, demonstrates a level of accountability rarely seen, even in biblical accounts of leaders. It underscores the high ethical demands God places on those He calls to authority. Samuel was not merely retiring but providing a moral anchor during a momentous political transition, ensuring his personal character was unquestionable before transferring power. This verse reveals Samuel's profound walk with God, mirroring the qualities of a true servant leader who seeks no personal gain but acts always for God's glory and the people's welfare. This moment served to vindicate God's choice of Samuel and to set a benchmark for righteous governance, subtly critiquing the corrupt practices of leadership seen elsewhere and implicitly warning against the perils of unrighteous rule for future kings.