1 Samuel 8:18 kjv
And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.
1 Samuel 8:18 nkjv
And you will cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen for yourselves, and the LORD will not hear you in that day."
1 Samuel 8:18 niv
When that day comes, you will cry out for relief from the king you have chosen, but the LORD will not answer you in that day."
1 Samuel 8:18 esv
And in that day you will cry out because of your king, whom you have chosen for yourselves, but the LORD will not answer you in that day."
1 Samuel 8:18 nlt
When that day comes, you will beg for relief from this king you are demanding, but then the LORD will not help you."
1 Samuel 8 18 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 8:7 | And the LORD said to Samuel, “Obey the voice of the people… for they have rejected Me, that I should not be king over them.” | Israel's rejection of God's direct rule. |
| 1 Sam 8:11-17 | He said, "These will be the ways of the king who will reign over you: He will take your sons and appoint them for himself... and you will be his servants." | The detailed prophecy of king's oppressive rule. |
| 1 Sam 10:19 | But today you have rejected your God... and you said, “No, but set a king over us.” | Repetition of Israel's rejection of God. |
| Hos 13:10-11 | Where now is your king, that he may save you... I gave you a king in My anger, and took him away in My wrath. | God's anger at their desire for a king. |
| Deut 17:14-17 | When you come to the land... and say, 'I will set a king over me, like all the nations around me'... | The initial prophecy and conditions for a king. |
| Prov 1:28-31 | Then they will call on me, but I will not answer... they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the LORD. | God's refusal to answer those who reject wisdom. |
| Isa 1:15 | When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not listen... | God's refusal to listen to hypocritical prayers. |
| Jer 11:11 | Therefore thus says the LORD: "Behold, I will bring disaster upon them which they will not be able to escape; though they cry to Me, I will not listen to them." | Prophecy of Judah's inescapable disaster. |
| Zech 7:13 | "Just as He called and they would not listen, so when they called, I would not listen," says the LORD of hosts. | Consequences of ignoring God's voice. |
| Psa 18:41 | They cried for help, but there was none to save them; they cried to the LORD, but He did not answer them. | Description of those forsaken in distress. |
| Judges 2:18-19 | Whenever the LORD raised up judges... then the LORD would be with the judge and deliver them... But whenever the judge died, they would act more corruptly than their fathers. | Cycle of sin, oppression, deliverance, and relapse under judges. |
| Judges 8:22-23 | The men of Israel said to Gideon, “Rule over us, you and your son and your grandson…” But Gideon said to them, "I will not rule over you, nor will my son rule over you; the LORD shall rule over you." | Gideon's refusal of kingship, affirming God's rule. |
| 1 Sam 12:12-19 | And when you saw that Nahash the king of the Ammonites came against you, you said to me, “No, but a king shall reign over us”—when the LORD your God was your king. | Samuel's rebuke for their request, identifying God as king. |
| Matt 23:37 | "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem... How often I wanted to gather your children together... but you were not willing!" | Jesus lamenting Jerusalem's rejection, a choice with consequences. |
| Luke 19:27 | "But bring these enemies of Mine, who did not want Me to reign over them, and slay them before Me." | Parable reflecting consequence of rejecting kingly rule. |
| John 19:15 | But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!” | Rejection of Christ's true kingship for human authority. |
| Rom 1:28 | And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what should not be done. | God giving people over to the consequences of their choices. |
| Psa 81:11-12 | "But My people did not listen to My voice... So I gave them over to their stubborn heart, to walk in their own counsels." | God allowing people to walk in their own ways. |
| Psa 106:13-15 | They soon forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel... So He gave them their request, but sent leanness into their soul. | God granting desires but with negative consequences. |
| Prov 14:12 | There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death. | The deception of seemingly right but ultimately destructive paths. |
1 Samuel 8 verses
1 Samuel 8 18 Meaning
First Samuel 8:18 prophesies the future lament of the Israelite people, a distressful outcry stemming from the oppressive rule of the human king they actively desired and chose for themselves. Crucially, the verse warns that in their future time of trouble, the LORD will not intervene or respond to their cries because their suffering is a direct consequence of their rejection of His perfect leadership in favor of their own way. This highlights the principle of reaping the consequences of disobedient choices and God's stern warning against abandoning divine wisdom.
1 Samuel 8 18 Context
First Samuel chapter 8 marks a pivotal transition in Israelite history from a divinely led confederacy of tribes under judges to a monarchy. The chapter opens with Samuel, now old, having appointed his sons as judges. However, his sons, Joel and Abijah, perverted justice, took bribes, and turned aside after dishonest gain, mirroring the corruption of Eli's sons in earlier chapters.Faced with this internal corruption and external threats from surrounding nations, the elders of Israel approached Samuel in Ramah, demanding a king "like all the nations." They rationalized their demand by citing Samuel's old age and his sons' misbehavior. Samuel was deeply displeased by this request because it implicitly rejected God's direct rule over Israel, which had been the unique hallmark of their covenant relationship.Samuel prayed to the LORD, who instructed him to listen to the people's voice but to warn them sternly of the "customs of the king" that would rule over them. Verses 11-17 detail these oppressive practices: forced conscription, seizure of property, and tithes for the king's lavish lifestyle, effectively turning the free people into servants. Verse 18 is the culminating point of this detailed warning, predicting the eventual cry of distress that will result from the very kingship they so ardently desired. This prophetic warning set the stage for the tumultuous history of Israelite monarchy.
1 Samuel 8 18 Word analysis
- And you will cry out (wĕ-za‘aqtem (וּזְעַקְתֶּם)): Derived from the Hebrew root tsa'aq (צָעַק), meaning to cry out, to scream, often implying a desperate cry for help or a lament of deep anguish and distress. This verb is frequently used in the Bible for the people crying out to God from oppression (e.g., Exod 2:23, Deut 26:7). Here, it predicts a future condition of intense suffering, mirroring the cry for deliverance under previous oppressions, but with a critical difference as highlighted by the next phrase.
- in that day (bay-yōm ha-hū (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא)): A prophetic phrase denoting a specific future time. It signifies the period when the negative consequences Samuel warned about would inevitably materialize. It grounds the abstract warning in a concrete, painful reality for a future generation, implying an extended period of hardship.
- because of your king (mip-pĕnē mal-kěchem (מִפְּנֵי מַלְכְּכֶם)): The distress predicted is explicitly attributed to their chosen ruler. "Because of" indicates cause and effect – the king's rule will be the direct source of their future suffering, validating Samuel's earlier warnings (vv. 11-17) about the king's oppressive practices. This contrasts sharply with God as their deliverer.
- whom you have chosen for yourselves (’ăsher bĕchahartem lachem (אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתֶּם לָכֶם)): This phrase is critical. The Hebrew root bachar (בחר) means "to choose" or "to elect." The emphatic "for yourselves" underscores Israel's active, independent choice. They desired a king of their own making, driven by a desire to be "like all the nations," rather than accepting God's distinct sovereign rule. This choice reflects a rejection of God and responsibility for the ensuing negative outcomes. It's a striking contrast to God's act of "choosing" a king for them later, such as David.
- and the LORD (wê-Yahweh (וְיהוה)): Refers to the covenant God of Israel, the one true God who had historically intervened on their behalf. The use of the personal divine name (Yahweh) emphasizes His sovereignty and intimate knowledge of their choice and its repercussions.
- will not answer you (lō’ ya‘ăneh ’et-kem (לֹא יַעֲנֶה אֶתְכֶם)): This is the stark consequence. The Hebrew anah (עָנָה) means "to answer," "to respond," "to grant." Historically, God answered their cries for deliverance from oppression (e.g., during the judges). This phrase implies that divine intervention, which was Israel's customary recourse, will be withheld. It's not abandonment, but a righteous allowing of self-inflicted consequences, because they deliberately rejected His counsel and opted for human authority over His divine sovereignty.
- in that day (bay-yōm ha-hū (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא)): Repetition for emphasis, underscoring that the withholding of God's answer will occur at the precise time of their self-induced distress. It reinforces the direct link between their current choice and future consequence.
1 Samuel 8 18 Bonus section
The prophetic warning in 1 Samuel 8:18 can be seen as an immediate divine response to the people's insistence, illustrating a principle seen throughout scripture: God often allows people to pursue their desires, even misguided ones, but does not shield them from the inherent consequences. This verse acts as a literary foreshadowing, painting a picture of future suffering even before the first king (Saul) is appointed. The irony lies in the people seeking a king for security and status ("that we also may be like all the nations"), only to find that this very king would become the source of their greatest insecurity and subjugation. It highlights a tension between human free will and divine sovereignty – God gives Israel what they want (a king), but within that allowance, He also maintains His ultimate authority by declaring the outcome. The spiritual lesson resonates strongly, emphasizing the critical importance of seeking and submitting to God's will above personal or worldly preferences, even when immediate circumstances seem dire or tempting alternatives arise.
1 Samuel 8 18 Commentary
1 Samuel 8:18 stands as a somber prophetic declaration, encapsulating the tragic consequences of Israel's collective desire to trade their unique direct relationship with God for a human monarchy, mimicking surrounding nations. It's a stark reminder that human choices, particularly those made in rejection of divine guidance, carry weighty and painful repercussions. The future "cry out" signifies a state of deep anguish caused by the oppressive reign of the very king they insisted upon. God's refusal to "answer" their cry is not an arbitrary act but a demonstration of His allowing the natural outcomes of their rebellion to manifest. This verse emphasizes divine justice and accountability: when people abandon God's perfect plan, they will inevitably experience the deficiencies and sorrows of their own-devised systems. It foreshadows the cycles of monarchical oppression, idolatry, and national suffering that would plague Israel and Judah for centuries, validating the veracity of Samuel's divine warning.