1 Samuel 8:15 — Word Study
WLCוְזַרְעֵיכֶ֥ם וְכַרְמֵיכֶ֖ם יַעְשֹׂ֑ר וְנָתַ֥ן לְסָרִיסָ֖יו וְלַעֲבָדָֽיו׃
BSAHe will take a tenthʻâsar▸ [to tithe] of your grainzeraʻ [seed, crops] and grape harvestkerem [vineyards, produce] and give itnâthan [allocate, distribute] to his officialsçârîyç [high-ranking, officers, eunuchs] and servantsʻebed [slaves, attendants]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| וְזַרְעֵיכֶ֥ם | and seed your | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְכַרְמֵיכֶ֖ם | and vineyards your | Conjunction, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| יַעְשֹׂ֑ר | he will take a tenth | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְנָתַ֥ן | and he will give [them] | Verb, Qal, sequential perfect third person masculine singular |
| לְסָרִיסָ֖יו | to officials his | Preposition, noun common masculine plural construct, suffix |
| וְלַעֲבָדָֽיו׃ | and to servants his | Conjunction, preposition, noun common masculine plural construct |
Every word in the verse. Click a row to open it in the panel on the left.
| BSB | He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants. |
| KJV | And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. |
| ASV | And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. |
| YLT | And your seed and your vineyards he doth tithe, and hath given to his eunuchs, and to his servants. |
| WEB | He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants. |
| BBE | He will take a tenth of your seed and of the fruit of your vines and give it to his servants. |
Where they part company is in the specific rendering of יַעְשֹׂ֑ר — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause followed by two subordinate phrases that detail the specifics of what the king will take and what he will do with it.
4 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
verbעָשַׂר
The sentence as the grammar sees it Open the tree ›
Every word here is used elsewhere in the Old Testament.
Bars are logarithmic — אֵת, the commonest word in the Hebrew Bible, stands about 11,000 times, so a linear scale would leave everything else invisible. Click a row to open that word.
Deep Study — 1 Samuel 8:15
Sections marked generated are written from the data on this page rather than by a named author. Everything else — the lexicon entries, the cross references, the manuscript readings, the counts — is quoted from its source unchanged.
Context — The Warning About a Kinggenerated
1 Samuel 8:15 is part of a larger discourse where Samuel warns the Israelites about the implications of appointing a king. He describes how the king will demand a share of their agricultural produce, illustrating the burdens that monarchy can impose on the people. This warning serves as a pivotal moment in Israel's history, transitioning from a theocracy to a monarchy.
Cross References
| Reference | Text (BSB) | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Genesis 37:36 | Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh and captain of the guard. |
| 2 | Isaiah 39:7 | And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood, will be taken away to be eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.” |
| 3 | Daniel 1:3–7 | Then the king ordered Ashpenaz, the chief of his court officials, to bring in some Israelites from the royal family and the nobility— |
The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge — 3 references, hung on the phrase they belong to
The Key Word — יַעְשֹׂ֑ר, ya'.Sorgenerated
The Hebrew word עָשַׂר (asar) means to tithe or take a tenth. It is a verb in the Qal form, indicating a straightforward action of taking a portion, specifically in the context of giving a tithe, which is a common practice in ancient Israel as a form of worship and support for the religious system.
The use of this word here emphasizes the king's authority to claim a portion of the people's yield, highlighting the economic impact of his rule. It is not merely a tax; it is a systematic taking of resources that would have significant implications for the people's livelihoods.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
The translations agree on the meaning of יַעְשֹׂ֑ר, using terms like take a tenth (BSB, KJV) and tithe (ASV, YLT).
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verbs יַעְשֹׂ֑ר and נָתַ֥ן govern the main actions in the verse. The structure presents the actions of taking and giving in a straightforward manner, with the objects of these actions clearly defined.
The sentence follows a clear order: it begins with the action of taking a tenth, followed by the specification of what is taken, and concludes with the distribution of that portion to the officials and servants.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יַעְשֹׂ֑ר as ἀποδεκατώσει (apodekatōsei), which means to tithe or take a tenth. This choice reinforces the concept of a systematic collection of resources.
This translation aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning, emphasizing the act of taking a portion for the king's use, which is a significant aspect of the king's authority.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Samuel 8:15 warns the Israelites that their future king will take a tenth of their grain and grape harvest to give to his officials and servants. This reflects the burdens that come with having a king, as he will demand a portion of their produce.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It signifies that the king will impose a tax on the people's agricultural produce, which is a common practice in monarchies.
Samuel wants the Israelites to understand the potential burdens and loss of freedom that come with choosing a king over God as their ruler.
It illustrates how a king's demands can directly affect the livelihoods of the people, as they must give a portion of their harvest.
Tithing represents a religious and economic obligation, showing how the king's authority extends into the people's personal resources.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- In what ways do I see authority figures in my life taking from others, and how does that affect those around them?
- How can I balance my responsibilities to support leaders while also safeguarding my own resources?
- What lessons can I learn from Israel's desire for a king that apply to my own life?
- How does understanding the concept of tithing shape my view of giving and sharing resources?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators like Gregory the Dialogist and Bede reflect on the implications of the king's demands, using this verse to discuss the burdens placed on the people by their rulers.
There follows: "But he will also tithe your crops and the revenues of your vineyards, to give to his eunuchs and his servants." When the wicked are in charge,Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 8 →
But what does it mean that the crops and the returns of the vineyards are said to be tithed and given to the eunuchs and servants of the king? The crops of the elect are tithed when we gather their most excellent works so that we may bring…Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 8 →
But he will also tithe your fields and the incomes of your vineyards, etc. But the ancient corrupter will wholly deprive you of your works, almost brought to the perfection of nature, and the hope of all your life with heavenly reward,Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 8 →
Commentators on this verse — 4 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Samuel 8:15 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleAnd he will take the tenth of your seed,.... When grown up and ripe, as their wheat and barley: and of your vineyards; the tenth of the grapes they should produce: and give to his officers, and to
Read John Gill on 1 Samuel 8 →Robert Jamieson1802–1880Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown's CommentaryAnd he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. No JFB commentary on these verses.
Read Robert Jamieson on 1 Samuel 8 →Matthew Poole1624–1679Matthew Poole's Commentary on the Holy BibleHe will take the tenth: besides the several tenths which God hath reserved for his service and servants, he will, when he pleaseth, impose another tenth upon you. To his officers, Heb. to his eunuchs; which may be properly understood, and may imply a further injury, that he should, against the command of God, make some of his people eunuchs, and take those into his court and favour which God would have cast out of the congregation.
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Samuel 8 →John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Samuel 8:15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.Ver. 15. And he will take the tenth of your seed.] Violently, and not by order of law; pilling and polling you unreasonably, though he receive of his subjects no less sums of curses than of coin, as our King John did, gathering money, the sinews of war, but losing love, the cement of peace. Speed.
Read John Trapp on 1 Samuel 8 →The verse in English, compared — 17 translations, and where they part company
Every translation on this page is a decision someone had to make and commit to. Read down a column and you see one translator's judgement; read across a row and you see the range the Greek actually allows. The BSB is the wording the rest of this page is measured against, so it is listed first.
Modern formal
He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.
He will take one tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give it to his officers and to his servants.
He will take a tenth of your grain and grape harvest and give it to his officials and servants.
He will demand a tenth of your seed and of the produce of your vineyards and give it to his administrators and his servants.
Tyndale line
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.
And he will take the tenth of your seede, and of your vineyards, and giue it to his Eunuches, and to his seruants.
Strictly literal
And he will take the tenth of your seed and of your vineyards, and give to his chamberlains and to his servants.
And your seed and your vineyards he doth tithe, and hath given to his eunuchs, and to his servants.
And he tithes your seed and your vineyards, and has given to his eunuchs, and to his servants.
And of your seeds, and of your vineyards will he take the tenth, and give [the same] to his officers, and to his servants.
He will take a tenth of your grain and of your vineyards and give to his officers and his servants.
From the Latin
Moreover he will take the tenth of your corn, and of the revenues of your vineyards, to give his eunuchs and servants.
Simplified
He will take a tenth of your grain harvest and the produce of your vineyards and allocate it to his chief officers and officials.
He will take a tenth of your seed and of the fruit of your vines and give it to his servants.
Counted from the translations carried on this site, not from a survey of every English Bible. A rendering shared by many versions is usually inherited rather than independently arrived at — the Tyndale line in particular runs through most of them.
The sentence as the grammar sees it — from the MACULA Hebrew treebank
This is not our own analysis: it is the scholarly syntax tree for the verse, showing how the clause actually holds together.
Boxes are the grammarian's groupings — clause, noun phrase, prepositional phrase.
The four witnesses to this verse — Masoretic, Septuagint, Samaritan, Qumran
The Masoretic Text and the Septuagint agree on the wording of this verse, with all six words matched. The Dead Sea Scrolls also reflect the same content, but with editorial restorations noted, confirming the consistency of this passage across different manuscripts.
וְזַרְעֵיכֶ֥ם וְכַרְמֵיכֶ֖ם יַעְשֹׂ֑ר וְנָתַ֥ן לְסָרִיסָ֖יו וְלַעֲבָדָֽיו׃
6 of the 6 words are matched. This is the word-by-word correspondence, not the Septuagint's own sentence — its word order and its articles are its own.
[וזרעי׳כם] [וכרמי׳כם] [יעשר] [ונתן] [לסריסי׳ו] [ולעבדי׳ו]
nothing on the leather here — 6 supplied entire by an editor.
Four traditions, not one. “On the leather” means the letters physically survive on the scroll, as against letters an editor has supplied to fill a hole in it — a restoration is a scholar’s reading, not a reading of the manuscript. Words in [square brackets] are supplied; the notes count them apart from what survives.
The map of this verse — what each word keeps company with
This is a map of two things, both counted rather than judged. Company kept: which words stand within three words of each of these, anywhere in the Hebrew Bible — the thicker the line, the more often the pair meet compared with chance. Built from: the words a word is made out of, taken from its own Strong’s entry. It is not a map of meaning: nothing here claims two words mean the same thing. Click any circle to see the numbers behind it.
Lexicons — every word in 1 Samuel 8:15
One dossier per word, with every reference work grouped by kind — Hebrew lexicons, morphology, Bible dictionaries, topical chains and the English of the translators themselves. The verse sits at the head of each block with the word under study lit, so you never lose your place. The panel above gives the short answer; this is the long one, and it is the part of the page worth indexing.
Every entry below is the lexicographer's own text. On the Hebrew: Brown-Driver-Briggs entire and its gloss set, Strong's Hebrew Dictionary, and Tyndale House's Translators Brief lexicon. Where a cell says a work has no entry, that work genuinely has none for this word.
זֶ֫רַע (zera`) means seed, sowing, or offspring. It can refer to literal seed, such as in agriculture, or figuratively to descendants and moral qualities of individuals or communities. The term encompasses concepts like sowing time and can denote a practitioner of righteousness. There is a consistent emphasis on both physical and moral implications of the word.
זֶ֫רַע n.m. sowing, seed, offspring
lit.:
a sowing
sowing as regularly recurring at its season
seed
seed = semen virile
seed = offspring
seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality
base
H2233 זֶ֫רַע sowing, seed, offspring . lit.: . a sowing
. sowing as regularly recurring at its season
. seed
. seed = semen virile
. seed = offspring
. seed as marked by moral quality = persons (or community) of such a quality
2233 zera` zeh'-rah
from 2232; seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time,
posterity:--X carnally, child, fruitful, seed(-time), sowing-
time.
see HEBREW for 02232
זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed.
: seed/sowing
1) seed, sowing, offspring
1a) a sowing
1b) seed
1c) semen virile
1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children
1e) of moral quality
1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
1f) sowing time (by meton)
זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed: children.
: children/descendants
1) seed, sowing, offspring
1a) a sowing
1b) seed
1c) semen virile
1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children
1e) of moral quality
1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
1f) sowing time (by meton)
זֶ֫רַע (ze.ra) — seed: semen.
: semen
1) seed, sowing, offspring
1a) a sowing
1b) seed
1c) semen virile
1d) offspring, descendants, posterity, children
1e) of moral quality
1e1) a practitioner of righteousness (fig.)
1f) sowing time (by meton)
Conj | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncmpc/Sp2mp
כֶּרֶם (kerem) means 'vineyard' and is derived from an unused root of uncertain meaning. It covers the concept of a garden or vineyard, including terms like 'vines' and 'vintage.' The word appears in contexts related to agriculture, specifically in the Old Testament.
כֶּרֶם 92 n.m. (f.) vineyard
base
H3754 כֶּרֶם vineyard
3754 kerem keh'-rem
from an unused root of uncertain meaning; a garden or
vineyard:--vines, (increase of the) vineyard(-s), vintage. See
also 1021.
see HEBREW for 01021
כֶּרֶם (ke.rem) — vineyard.
vineyard
Conj | N-cp | Suff — Conjunction · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/Ncmpc/Sp2mp
עָשַׂר (asar) is a verb meaning to tithe or take a tenth part. It is derived as a denominative from another root, indicating its specific use in the context of giving or taking a tithe. The entries consistently emphasize its application in financial or religious contexts, particularly in relation to offerings.
עָשַׂר vb. denom. tale the tenth of, tithe
base
H6237 עָשַׂר vb. denom. tale the tenth of, tithe
6237 `asar aw-sar'
a primitive root (ident. with 6238); to accumulate; but used
only as denominative from 6235; to tithe, i.e. to take or give
a tenth:--X surely, give (take) the tenth, (have, take)
tithe(-ing, -s), X truly.
see HEBREW for 06238
see HEBREW for 06235
עָשַׂר (a.sar) — to tithe.
1) to tithe, take the tenth part of, give a tithe, take a tithe
1a) (Qal) to tithe
1b) (Piel) to give a tithe
1c) (Hiphil) to take a tithe
V-Qal-Imperf-3ms — Verb · Qal · imperfect third person masculine singularHVqi3ms
See TITHE.
The Hebrew word נָתַן (natan) means 'to give' and encompasses a wide range of applications such as putting, setting, and making. It can also indicate actions like bestowing, delivering, and assigning. The entries describe its use in various forms, including Qal, Niphal, and Hophal, but do not present any significant disagreements among lexicons.
נָתַן 2007 vb. give, put, set
Qal 1917
give
Put, set
Make, constitute
Niph.
82be given
Be put, set
Hoph.
be given, bestowed
= be given to one for wife
be put upon
base
H5414 נָתַן give, put, set .. give
. Put, set
. Make, constitute
. . be given
. Be put, set
. . . be given, bestowed
. = be given to one for wife
. be put upon
5414 nathan naw-than'
a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of
application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe,
assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth,
hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, +
cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X
without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up),
grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up),
(give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that,
occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X
pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send
(out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander,
strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade,
turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to)
God, yield.
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: give.
: give/deliver/send/produce
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
1a1) to give, bestow, grant, permit, ascribe, employ, devote, consecrate, dedicate, pay wages, sell, exchange, lend, commit, entrust, give over, deliver up, yield produce, occasion, produce, requite to, report, mention, utter, stretch out, extend
1a2) to put, set, put on, put upon, set, appoint, assign, designate
1a3) to make, constitute
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to be given, be bestowed, be provided, be entrusted to, be granted to, be permitted, be issued, be published, be uttered, be assigned
1b2) to be set, be put, be made, be inflicted
1c) (Hophal)
1c1) to be given, be bestowed, be given up, be delivered up
1c2) to be put upon
נָתַן (na.tan) — to give: put.
: put/set/apppoint
1) to give, put, set
1a) (Qal)
Conj | V-Qal-3ms — Verb · Qal · sequential perfect third person masculine singularHc/Vqq3ms
סָרִיס (sārîs) means 'eunuch' and is derived from a root implying castration. It can also refer to an official or minister of state, particularly one serving in female quarters. The term appears in contexts related to royal or governmental roles.
סָרִיס 45 n.m. eunuch
base
H5631 סָרִיס eunuch
5631 cariyc saw-reece'
or caric {saw-reece'}; from an unused root meaning to
castrate; a eunuch; by implication, valet (especially of the
female apartments), and thus, a minister of
state:--chamberlain, eunuch, officer. Compare 7249.
see HEBREW for 07249
סָרִיס (sa.ris) — eunuch.
official, eunuch
Prep | N-mp | Suff — Preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHR/Ncmpc/Sp3ms
The Hebrew word עֶ֫בֶד (*ebed*) means 'slave' or 'servant' and encompasses various roles, including household servants, subjects, and worshippers of God. It can also refer to Israel as a collective servant of God and is used in polite address among equals. The word is derived from a root meaning 'to work' or 'to serve'.
עֶ֫בֶד 799 n.m. slave, servant
slave, servant of household
Subjects, of chief
Servants, worshippers of God
Servant of י׳, in a special sense
Israel as a people is servant of י׳
In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
Phrases
base
H5650 עֶ֫בֶד slave, servant . slave, servant of household
. Subjects, of chief
. Servants, worshippers of God
. Servant of י׳, in a special sense
. Israel as a people is servant of י׳
. In polite address of equals or superiors the Hebrews used עַבְדְּךָ thy servant = 1 pers. sing., I
. Phrases
5650 `ebed eh'-bed
from 5647; a servant:--X bondage, bondman, (bond-)servant,
(man-)servant.
see HEBREW for 05647
עֶ֫בֶד (e.ved) — servant/slave.
1) slave, servant
1a) slave, servant, man-servant
1b) subjects
1c) servants, worshippers (of God)
1d) servant (in special sense as prophets, Levites etc)
1e) servant (of Israel)
1f) servant (as form of address between equals)
Aramaic equivalent: a.vad (עֲבַד "servant/slave" H5649)
Conj | Prep | N-mp | Suff — Conjunction · preposition · noun common masculine plural construct · suffixHC/R/Ncmpc/Sp3ms