1 Samuel 8:1

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel.

Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֕י כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר זָקֵ֖ן שְׁמוּאֵ֑ל וַיָּ֧שֶׂם אֶת־בָּנָ֛יו שֹׁפְטִ֖ים לְיִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

Transliteration

And wayəhî when zāqēn šəmûʾēl, and wayyāśem ʾet-bānāyw šōp̄əṭîm for-yiśrāʾēl.

Grammar Details

*wayəhî*: waw-consecutive + verb, qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and it came to pass/happened
*zāqēn*: verb, qal perfect, 3rd masculine singular - became old/aged
*šəmûʾēl*: noun, proper name, masculine singular - Samuel
*wayyāśem*: waw-consecutive + verb, qal imperfect, 3rd masculine singular - and he set/appointed
*ʾet*: direct object marker
*bānāyw*: noun, masculine plural construct with 3rd masculine singular suffix - his sons
*šōp̄əṭîm*: noun, masculine plural - judges
*yiśrāʾēl*: noun, proper name - Israel

Word Meanings

*wayəhî*: and it came to pass/became/happened
*zāqēn*: grew old/aged/became elderly
*wayyāśem*: appointed/established/placed/made
*šōp̄əṭîm*: judges/those who judge

ℹ️

About this Translation

American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

Formal EquivalenceSource: American Standard VersionBest for: Word studies and original-language research

🎯 Translation Approach

A highly literal, word-for-word translation (ASV, 1901) augmented with Strong's numbering to connect English words to underlying Hebrew and Greek terms for study.

Word-for-word

5/5

Readability

2/5

💎 Distinctive Features

Integrated Strong's numbering: Links English terms to underlying Hebrew and Greek words for deeper lexical study.
Formal equivalence: Prioritizes close alignment with source-language forms and structures.
Divine name rendering: Frequently renders the Tetragrammaton as Jehovah in the Old Testament, following ASV tradition.
Study-focused formatting: Optimized for reference and research rather than casual reading.

✅ Strengths

High fidelity to original languages
Includes Strong's numbers for precise word study
Consistent lexical choices aid exegesis
Stable, longstanding scholarly text

⚠️ Considerations

Archaic language reduces readability
Older textual basis compared to some modern translations
Strong's numbers are a concordance index, not full lexical definitions

👥 Who is this for?

Ideal for

Pastors and teachers
Seminary students
Serious Bible students
Readers conducting word studies
Those referencing Hebrew/Greek tools

Consider alternatives for

Casual readers
Children and early teens
ESL learners seeking simple English
Readers preferring contemporary language

🔄 Compare with

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Additional Resources

Referenced Verses

Deut 16:18-19 : 18 Judges and officers shalt thou make thee in all thy gates, which Jehovah thy God giveth thee, according to thy tribes; and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. 19 Thou shalt not wrest justice: thou shalt not respect persons; neither shalt thou take a bribe; for a bribe doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.
1 Tim 5:21 : 21 I charge [thee] in the sight of God, and {G2962} Christ Jesus, and the elect angels, that thou observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing by partiality.
Judg 5:10 : 10 Tell [of it], ye that ride on white asses, Ye that sit on rich carpets, And ye that walk by the way.
Judg 8:22-23 : 22 Then the men of Israel said unto Gideon, Rule thou over us, both thou, and thy son, and thy son's son also; for thou hast saved us out of the hand of Midian. 23 And Gideon said unto them, I will not rule over you, neither shall my son rule over you: Jehovah shall rule over you.
Judg 10:4 : 4 And he had thirty sons that rode on thirty ass colts, and they had thirty cities, which are called Havvoth-jair unto this day, which are in the land of Gilead.
Judg 12:14 : 14 And he had forty sons and thirty sons' sons, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
2 Chr 19:5-6 : 5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fortified cities of Judah, city by city, 6 and said to the judges, Consider what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for Jehovah; and [he is] with you in the judgment.
Neh 7:2 : 2 that I gave my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the governor of the castle, charge over Jerusalem; for he was a faithful man, and feared God above many.

Similar Verses (AI)

These verses are found using AI-powered semantic similarity based on meaning and context. Results may occasionally include unexpected connections.

1 Sam 8:2-11
10 verses
81%
2Now the name of his first-born was Joel; and the name of his second, Abijah: they were judges in Beer-sheba.
3And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.
4Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah;
5and they said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations.
6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto Jehovah.
7And Jehovah said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.
8According to all the works which they have done since the day that I brought them up out of Egypt even unto this day, in that they have forsaken me, and served other gods, so do they also unto thee.
9Now therefore hearken unto their voice: howbeit thou shalt protest solemnly unto them, and shalt show them the manner of the king that shall reign over them.
10And Samuel told all the words of Jehovah unto the people that asked of him a king.
11And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: he will take your sons, and appoint them unto him, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and they shall run before his chariots;
1 Sam 7:15-16
2 verses
75%
15And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.
16And he went from year to year in circuit to Beth-el and Gilgal, and Mizpah; and he judged Israel in all those places.
1 Sam 12:1-2
2 verses
73%
1And Samuel said unto all Israel, Behold, I have hearkened unto your voice in all that ye said unto me, and have made a king over you.
2And now, behold, the king walketh before you; and I am old and grayheaded; and, behold, my sons are with you: and I have walked before you from my youth unto this day.
1 Sam 8:21-22
2 verses
72%
21And Samuel heard all the words of the people, and he rehearsed them in the ears of Jehovah.
22And Jehovah said to Samuel, Hearken unto their voice, and make them a king. And Samuel said unto the men of Israel, Go ye every man unto his city.
1 Chr 23:1
71%
1Now David was old and full of days; and he made Solomon his son king over Israel.
1 Sam 1:20
71%
20And it came to pass, when the time was come about, that Hannah conceived, and bare a son; and she called his name Samuel, [saying], Because I have asked him of Jehovah.
1 Chr 6:27-28
2 verses
71%
27Eliab his son, Jeroham his son, Elkanah his son.
28And the sons of Samuel: the first-born, [Joel], and the second Abijah.
Acts 13:20-21
2 verses
71%
20and after these things he gave [them] judges until Samuel the prophet.
21And afterward they asked for a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for the space of forty years.
1 Sam 2:21-22
2 verses
70%
21And Jehovah visited Hannah, and she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before Jehovah.
22Now Eli was very old; and he heard all that his sons did unto all Israel, and how that they lay with the women that did service at the door of the tent of meeting.
1 Sam 3:1-3
3 verses
70%
1And the child Samuel ministered unto Jehovah before Eli. And the word of Jehovah was precious in those days; there was no frequent vision.
2And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to wax dim, so that he could not see),
3and the lamp of God was not yet gone out, and Samuel was laid down [to] [sleep], in the temple of Jehovah, where the ark of God was;
1 Sam 17:12
69%
12Now David was the son of that Ephrathite of Beth-lehem-judah, whose name was Jesse; and he had eight sons: and the man was an old man in the days of Saul, stricken [in years] among men.
1 Sam 15:10
69%
10Then came the word of Jehovah unto Samuel, saying,
1 Sam 16:10
69%
10And Jesse made seven of his sons to pass before Samuel. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Jehovah hath not chosen these.
1 Chr 11:3
68%
3So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and David made a covenant with them in Hebron before Jehovah; and they anointed David king over Israel, according to the word of Jehovah by Samuel.
1 Sam 3:20
68%
20And all Israel from Dan even to Beer-sheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of Jehovah.
Judg 2:19
68%
19But it came to pass, when the judge was dead, that they turned back, and dealt more corruptly than their fathers, in following other gods to serve them, and to bow down unto them; they ceased not from their doings, nor from their stubborn way.
1 Sam 15:1
68%
1And Samuel said unto Saul, Jehovah sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of Jehovah.
Judg 12:14
68%
14And he had forty sons and thirty sons' sons, that rode on threescore and ten ass colts: and he judged Israel eight years.
Judg 12:8-9
2 verses
68%
8And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel.
9And he had thirty sons; and thirty daughters he sent abroad, and thirty daughters he brought in from abroad for his sons. And he judged Israel seven years.
1 Sam 15:17
68%
17And Samuel said, Though thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Jehovah anointed thee king over Israel;
1 Sam 12:6
67%
6And Samuel said unto the people, It is Jehovah that appointed Moses and Aaron, and that brought your fathers up out of the land of Egypt.
1 Sam 16:4
67%
4And Samuel did that which Jehovah spake, and came to Beth-lehem. And the elders of the city came to meet him trembling, and said, Comest thou peaceably?
1 Sam 2:25-26
2 verses
67%
25If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because Jehovah was minded to slay them.
26And the child Samuel grew on, and increased in favor both with Jehovah, and also with men.
1 Sam 9:14-15
2 verses
67%
14And they went up to the city; [and] as they came within the city, behold, Samuel came out toward them, to go up to the high place.
15Now Jehovah had revealed unto Samuel a day before Saul came, saying,
1 Sam 16:6
67%
6And it came to pass, when they were come, that he looked on Eliab, and said, Surely Jehovah's anointed is before him.
1 Sam 10:1
67%
1Then Samuel took the vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not that Jehovah hath anointed thee to be prince over his inheritance?
1 Sam 8:19
67%
19But the people refused to hearken unto the voice of Samuel; and they said, Nay: but we will have a king over us,
1 Sam 3:16
67%
16Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he said, Here am I.
1 Chr 10:8
67%
8And it came to pass on the morrow, when the Philistines came to strip the slain, that they found Saul and his sons fallen in mount Gilboa.
1 Sam 7:5
67%
5And Samuel said, Gather all Israel to Mizpah, and I will pray for you unto Jehovah.