1 Samuel 8:17 — Word Study
WLCצֹאנְכֶ֖ם יַעְשֹׂ֑ר וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּֽהְיוּ־ ל֥וֹ לַעֲבָדִֽים׃
BSAHe will take a tenthʻâsar▸ [one tenth, to tithe] of your flockstsôʼn [sheep, or goats] ◂and you yourselvesʼattâh [as servants] will becomehâyâh▸ slavesʻebed [servants, bondmen, in a state of bondage]
| Greek | English | Parsing |
|---|---|---|
| צֹאנְכֶ֖ם | flock[s] your | Noun common both singular construct, suffix |
| יַעְשֹׂ֑ר | he will take a tenth | Verb, Qal, imperfect third person masculine singular |
| וְאַתֶּ֖ם | and you | Conjunction, pronoun |
| תִּֽהְיוּ־ | you will become | Verb, Qal, imperfect second person masculine plural |
| ל֥וֹ | of him | Preposition, suffix |
| לַעֲבָדִֽים׃ | servants | Preposition, noun common masculine plural absolute |
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 flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves. |
| KJV | He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants. |
| ASV | He will take the tenth of your flocks: and ye shall be his servants. |
| YLT | your flock he doth tithe, and ye are to him for servants. |
| WEB | He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants. |
| BBE | He will take a tenth of your sheep: and you will be his servants. |
Where they part company is in the interpretation of לַעֲבָדִֽים — see How Translations Differ.
The sentence has a main clause and two phrases that elaborate on the consequences of the king's actions.





6 commentators on this verse
Gill, Jamieson, Poole, Trapp & more — read them ›
clause
subjectאַתֶּם
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 8:17
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 8:17 presents God's warning through Samuel regarding the implications of appointing a king. The Israelites desire a king to lead them like other nations, but God cautions them about the burdens that will come with such a decision, including loss of their resources and autonomy. This section highlights the tension between the people's desires and God's intended governance.
Cross References
The Key Word — יַעְשֹׂ֑ר, ya'.Sorgenerated
The verb עָשַׂר (asar) means to tithe or take a tenth. It is a Qal imperfect form, indicating a future action — in this case, the king will take a portion of the people's flocks. The word emphasizes the act of giving a portion, often in a religious or financial context.
This verb is used in relation to tithing, which was a common practice in ancient Israel. The implication here is that the king will impose a tax on the people's livestock, which may lead to economic strain and loss of personal freedom.
How Translations Differ — measured against the Berean Standard Biblegenerated
This study reads the verse in the Berean Standard Bible, which uses he will take a tenth for the Hebrew phrase יַעְשֹׂ֑ר.
Sentence Structuregenerated
The finite verb יַעְשֹׂ֑ר, he will take a tenth, governs the main clause, with two phrases hanging off it: a noun phrase indicating the object of the verb and a prepositional phrase that describes the resulting state of the subjects. The structure shows a clear cause-and-effect relationship between the king's actions and the people's status.
The word order in Hebrew places the verb first, emphasizing the action of taking, which is central to the warning being conveyed.
Septuagint Backgroundgenerated
The Septuagint translates יַעְשֹׂ֑ר as ἀποδεκατώσει (apodekatōsei), which means 'he will tithe'. This choice aligns closely with the Hebrew meaning but emphasizes the taxation aspect, indicating a formal collection rather than a voluntary offering.
The use of δοῦλοι (doulous) for לַעֲבָדִֽים suggests a strong interpretation of servitude, reinforcing the idea of the people becoming bonded to the king.
In plain words — the whole versegenerated
1 Samuel 8:17 warns that if the Israelites choose a king, he will take a tenth of their flocks and they will become his servants. This highlights the potential loss of freedom and resources that comes with human leadership.
Frequently Asked Questionsgenerated
It means that the king will impose a tax on the people's livestock, which they must give up as a portion of their resources.
God warns them that choosing a king will lead to loss of autonomy and personal freedom, as they will be required to serve the king and give up their possessions.
The word יַעְשֹׂ֑ר indicates a formal taking of a tenth, similar to the biblical practice of tithing, which was meant for religious purposes but here signifies taxation.
Being a servant or slave implies a loss of independence, where the people will be bound to serve the king and fulfill his demands.
Reflection Questionsgenerated
- What are the implications of choosing human leadership over divine guidance in my own life?
- How can I recognize when I am becoming too dependent on others for my needs instead of relying on God?
- In what ways can I serve others without losing my sense of freedom and identity?
- How can I ensure that my contributions to my community do not lead to an imbalance of power or servitude?
The early church on this verse — how the Fathers read it
Early commentators, like Gregory the Dialogist and Bede, reflect on the implications of this verse, discussing the burdens of choosing a king and the spiritual consequences of servitude.
9. There follows: "He will also tithe your flocks, and you shall be his servants." As if to say: When a carnal pastor is placed over you, plunder of virtues is inflicted not only upon your possessions, but also upon yourselves.Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 8 →
So that, namely, they may know themselves to be subject to his authority in such a way that they dare not transgress his commands.Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 8 →
Your male and female servants also, etc. Even the improper motions of mind or flesh, for example, anger, jealousy, gluttony, lust, and other such things, which must be restrained and curbed by the discipline of wise men;Early Church Fathers on 1 Samuel 8 →
Commentators on this verse — 6 expositors, verse by verse
Each of these wrote on 1 Samuel 8:17 itself, not merely on the chapter around it.
John Gill1697–1771Gill's Exposition of the Entire BibleHe will take the tenth of your sheep,.... As well as of their seed and vineyards; and not the tithe of their flocks only, but of their herds also, which are here included, as Kimchi observes: and ye
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 Biblei.e. He shall use you like slaves, and deprive you of that liberty which you now enjoy.
Read Matthew Poole on 1 Samuel 8 →
John Trapp1601–1669Trapp's Complete Commentary on the Old and New Testaments1 Samuel 8:17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.Ver. 17. And ye shall be his servants.] His slaves to do his drudgery, more like peasants of France than yeomen of Kent, as he said.
Read John Trapp on 1 Samuel 8 →
Charles John Ellicott1819–1905Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(17) And ye shall be his servants.—This statement generally includes all that has gone before. In other words, “Ye elders and chiefs of the people must make up your minds, in the event of electing a king, to the loss of all political and social freedom.” How bitterly the nation, even in the successful and glorious reign of King Solomon, felt the pressure of the royal yoke, so truly foretold by their last judge, is shown in the history of the times which followed the death of Solomon, when the public discontent at the brilliant but despotic rule of the great king led to the revolution which split up the people into two nations. (See 1 Kings 12:4.) “This whole passage bears internal evidence…
Read Charles John Ellicott on 1 Samuel 8 →
CambridgeThe Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges17. and ye shall be his servants] To sum up all briefly, ye will be slaves to the king ye have chosen.
Read Cambridge 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 flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
He will take one tenth of your flocks; and you will be his servants.
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will become his slaves.
He will demand a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his servants.
Tyndale line
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.
He will take the tenth of your flocks: and ye shall be his servants.
He will take the tenth of your flocks: and ye shall be his servants.
He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye will be his servants.
He will take the tenth of your sheepe, and ye shall be his seruants.
Strictly literal
He will take the tenth of your sheep. And ye shall be his servants.
your flock he doth tithe, and ye are to him for servants.
he tithes your flock, and you are for servants to him.
Of your flocks will he take the tenth: and ye yourselves will become his servants.
He will take the tenth of your flocks, and you will be his slaves.
From the Latin
Your flocks also he will tithe, and you shall be his servants.
Simplified
He will take a tenth of your flocks, and you yourselves will be his slaves.
He will take a tenth of your sheep: and you will be 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 closely in wording, with all six Hebrew words matched in the Greek translation. The Dead Sea Scrolls show some restoration, but the core message remains consistent with the Masoretic Text.
צֹאנְכֶ֖ם יַעְשֹׂ֑ר וְאַתֶּ֖ם תִּֽהְיוּ־ ל֥וֹ לַעֲבָדִֽים׃
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.
וצאנ׳כם יעשר [ואתם] [תהיו] [ל׳ו] [לעבדים]
1 word on the leather — 1 partly restored, 4 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 8:17
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.
צֹאן (tso'n) refers to small cattle, specifically sheep and goats, and is used to denote a flock or flocks. It can also be used metaphorically to describe a multitude. The term appears in contexts such as Psalm 144:13, where it emphasizes the collective nature of these animals.
צֹאן 273 n.coll.f. small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
base
H6629 צֹאן small cattle, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
6629 tso'n tsone
or tsaown (Psalm 144:13) {tseh-one'}; from an unused root
meaning to migrate; a collective name for a flock (of sheep or
goats); also figuratively (of men):--(small) cattle, flock
(+ -s), lamb (+ -s), sheep((-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds)).
צֹאן (tson) — flock.
1) small cattle, sheep, sheep and goats, flock, flocks
1a) small cattle (usually of sheep and goats)
1b) of multitude (simile)
1c) of multitude (metaphor)
צֹאן (tson) — Sheep (Gate).
This name means sheep and goats
Also named: probatikos (προβατικός "Sheep Gate" G4262)
N-cs | Suff — Noun common both singular construct · suffixHNcbsc/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.
אַתָּ֫ה (attah) is a second-person pronoun in Hebrew, used to address someone directly. It has masculine and feminine forms: אַתָּה for singular masculine, אַתְּ for singular feminine, אַתֶּם for plural masculine, and אַתֵּן for plural feminine. The entries indicate variations in form and usage, reflecting the pronoun's grammatical complexity.
אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou
base
אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.)
base
אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.)
base
אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.)
base
אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)
base
H859a אַתָּ֫ה, אָ֑תָּה pron. 2 s. m. thou H859b אתי, i.e. אתִּי, the older & more original form of אַתְּ thou (fem.) H859c אַתְּ, אָ֑תְּ pron. 2 s. f. thou (fem.) H859d אַתֶּם pron. 2 m. pl. you (masc.) H859e אַתֵּן pron. 2 f. pl. you (fem.)
859 'attah at-taw'
or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine
(irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem
{at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah
{at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun
of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and
you:--thee, thou, ye, you.
אַתָּ֫ה (at.tah) — you(m.s.).
you (second pers. sing. masc.)
אתִּי (ti) — you(f.s.).
you (second pers. sing. fem.)
A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)
אַתְּ (at.te) — you(f.s.).
you (second pers. sing. fem.)
A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)
אַתֶּם (at.tem) — you(m.p.).
you (second pers. pl. masc.)
Aramaic equivalent: an.tun (אַנְתּוּן "you" H0608)
אַתֵּן (at.ten) — you(f.p.).
you (second pers. pl. fem.)
A grammatical form of at.tah (אַתָּ֫ה "you(m.s.)" H0859A)
Conj | Pron — Conjunction · pronounHC/Pp2mp
The Hebrew word הָיָה (hayah) is a primitive root meaning to exist or become, and it encompasses a range of meanings including to happen, occur, and come to pass. It is often used in narrative contexts, particularly in phrases like "and it came to pass." The word can also denote a state of being or existence, and it appears frequently in various forms throughout the Old Testament.
הָיָה 3570 vb. fall out, come to pass, become, be
Qal
Fall out, happen
occur, take place, come about, come to pass
esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass
וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
Come into being, become
abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
sq. prep.
become
sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
sq. pred. adj.
become like
sq. pred. לְ pers.
sq. לְ pred.
oft. c. לְ pred. לְ pers.
with עַל and לְ
sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming)
exist, be in existence
abide, remain, continue
with word of locality, be in or at a place, be situated, stand, lie
as copula, joining subj. & pred.
H1961 הָיָה fall out, come to pass, become, be .. . . Fall out, happen
. occur, take place, come about, come to pass
. esp. & very oft., come about, come to pass . . וַיְהִי and it came to pass that, most often (c. 292 t.)
. rarely also Pf. c. וְ conj. וְהָיָה
. less oft. וְהָיָה Pf. consec. and it shall come to pass, or frequentat. came to pass (repeatedly, etc.)
. Come into being, become . . abs., in lively narrative, arise, appear, come
. sq. prep.
. become . sq. pred. noun (to be viewed as implicit accus.)
. sq. pred. adj.
. become like
. sq. pred. + לְ pers.
. sq. לְ pred.
. oft. c. לְ pred. + לְ pers.
. with עַל and לְ
. sts. c. לְ pers. only = became the property of, come into the possession of
. Be (often with subbordinate idea of becoming) . exist, be in existence
. abide, remain, continue
1961 hayah haw-yaw
a primitive root (compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become,
come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or
auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished,
committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint,
fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit
(one-)self, require, X use.
see HEBREW for 01933
הָיָה (ha.yah) — to be.
1) to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out
1a) (Qal)
1a1) ---
1a1a) to happen, fall out, occur, take place, come about, come to pass
1a1b) to come about, come to pass
1a2) to come into being, become
1a2a) to arise, appear, come
1a2b) to become
1a2b1) to become
1a2b2) to become like
1a2b3) to be instituted, be established
1a3) to be
1a3a) to exist, be in existence
1a3b) to abide, remain, continue (with word of place or time)
1a3c) to stand, lie, be in, be at, be situated (with word of locality)
1a3d) to accompany, be with
1b) (Niphal)
1b1) to occur, come to pass, be done, be brought about
1b2) to be done, be finished, be gone
V-Qal-Imperf-2mp — Verb · Qal · imperfect second person masculine pluralHVqi2mp
be-kum':
(1) Greek ginomai, used in New Testament for a change of state, corresponding to Hebrew hayah of Old Testament. Compare Mt 18:3 with De 27:9.
(2) For what is fitting, suitable, proper, in New Testament: "prepei" (Mt 3:15; Eph 5:3; 1Ti 2:10); in Old Testament, na'awah, na'ah, Ps 93:5: "Holiness becometh thy house." in this sense, the adverb "becomingly" must be interpreted: "Walk becomingly toward them that are without" (1Th 4:12), i.e. in a way that is consistent with your profession.
וֹ (o) — him.
Personal object pronoun - suffix for propositions and verbs without an object: 3rd person masculine singular
HRd/Sp3ms — Preposition · suffixHRd/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)
Prep | N-mp — Preposition · noun common masculine plural absoluteHR/Ncmpa
