1 Samuel 12:14 If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well.

Bible > 1 Samuel > Chapter 12 > Verse 14

◄ 1 Samuel 12:14 ►

New International Version
If you fear the LORD and serve and obey him and do not rebel against his commands, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God—good!

New Living Translation
“Now if you fear and worship the LORD and listen to his voice, and if you do not rebel against the LORD’s commands, then both you and your king will show that you recognize the LORD as your God.

English Standard Version
If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well.

Berean Standard Bible
If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well.

King James Bible
If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God:

New King James Version
If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and do not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will continue following the LORD your God.

New American Standard Bible
If you will fear the LORD and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the LORD, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.

NASB 1995
“If you will fear the LORD and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the LORD, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.

NASB 1977
“If you will fear the LORD and serve Him, and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of the LORD, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.

Legacy Standard Bible
If you will fear Yahweh and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against the command of Yahweh, then both you and also the king who reigns over you will follow Yahweh your God.

Amplified Bible
If you will fear the LORD [with awe and profound reverence] and serve Him and listen to His voice and not rebel against His commandment, then both you and your king will follow the LORD your God [and it will be well].

Christian Standard Bible
If you fear the LORD, worship and obey him, and if you don’t rebel against the LORD’s command, then both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If you fear the LORD, worship and obey Him, and if you don’t rebel against the LORD’s command, then both you and the king who rules over you will follow the LORD your God.

American Standard Version
If ye will fear Jehovah, and serve him, and hearken unto his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, and both ye and also the king that reigneth over you be followers of Jehovah your God, well:

Contemporary English Version
If you and your king want to be followers of the LORD, you must worship him and do what he says. Don't be stubborn!

English Revised Version
If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and hearken unto his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and both ye and also the king that reigneth over you be followers of the LORD your God, well:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If you fear the LORD, serve him, obey him, and don't rebel against what he says, then you and your king will follow the LORD your God.

Good News Translation
All will go well with you if you honor the LORD your God, serve him, listen to him, and obey his commands, and if you and your king follow him.

International Standard Version
If you fear the LORD, serve him, obey him, and don't rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then both you and the king who rules over you will truly follow the LORD your God.

Majority Standard Bible
If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well.

NET Bible
If you fear the LORD, serving him and obeying him and not rebelling against what he says, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, all will be well.

New Heart English Bible
If you will fear the LORD, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of the LORD your God, then he will rescue you.

Webster's Bible Translation
If ye will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both ye, and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the LORD your God.

World English Bible
If you will fear Yahweh, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Yahweh, then both you and also the king who reigns over you are followers of Yahweh your God.

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
If you fear YHWH, and have served Him, and listened to His voice, then you do not provoke the mouth of YHWH, and you have been—both you and the king who has reigned over you—after your God YHWH.

Young's Literal Translation
'If ye fear Jehovah, and have served Him, and hearkened to His voice, then ye do not provoke the mouth of Jehovah, and ye have been -- both ye and the king who hath reigned over you -- after Jehovah your God.

Smith's Literal Translation
If ye will fear Jehovah and serve him, and hear to his voice, and ye shall not rebel against the mouth of Jehovah, and ye shall be, also ye, and the king which reigned over you, after Jehovah your God.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
If you will fear the Lord, and serve him, and hearken to his voice, and not provoke the mouth of the Lord: then shall both you, and the king who reigneth over you, be followers of the Lord your God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
If you will fear the Lord, and serve him, and listen to his voice, and not provoke the mouth of the Lord, then both you, and the king who rules over you, will be following the Lord your God.

New American Bible
If you fear and serve the LORD, if you listen to the voice of the LORD and do not rebel against the LORD’s command, if both you and the king, who rules over you, follow the LORD your God—well and good.

New Revised Standard Version
If you will fear the LORD and serve him and heed his voice and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you will follow the LORD your God, it will be well;

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
If you will fear the LORD and serve him and obey his voice and not provoke him, then shall both you and also the king who reigns over you continue following the LORD your God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And if you will stand in awe of LORD JEHOVAH and you will work for him, and you will listen to his voice, and you will not anger him, you and the King who reigns over you will also be following LORD JEHOVAH your God

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
If ye will fear the LORD, and serve Him, and hearken unto His voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, and both ye and also the king that reigneth over you be followers of the LORD your God--;

Brenton Septuagint Translation
If ye should fear the Lord, and serve him, and hearken to his voice, and not resist the mouth of the Lord, and ye and your king that reigns over you should follow the Lord, well.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Samuel's Farewell Address
…13Now here is the king you have chosen, the one you requested. Behold, the LORD has placed a king over you. 14If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who reigns over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well. 15But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

Deuteronomy 28:1-2
“Now if you faithfully obey the voice of the LORD your God and are careful to follow all His commandments I am giving you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. / And all these blessings will come upon you and overtake you, if you will obey the voice of the LORD your God:

Joshua 24:14-15
Now, therefore, fear the LORD and serve Him in sincerity and truth; cast aside the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. / But if it is unpleasing in your sight to serve the LORD, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living. As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD!”

2 Chronicles 7:14
and if My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.

Deuteronomy 10:12-13
And now, O Israel, what does the LORD your God ask of you but to fear the LORD your God by walking in all His ways, to love Him, to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, / and to keep the commandments and statutes of the LORD that I am giving you this day for your own good?

Jeremiah 7:23
but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you.

Isaiah 1:19-20
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. / But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Leviticus 26:3-4
If you follow My statutes and carefully keep My commandments, / I will give you rains in their season, and the land will yield its produce, and the trees of the field will bear their fruit.

Psalm 81:13-14
If only My people would listen to Me, if Israel would follow My ways, / how soon I would subdue their enemies and turn My hand against their foes!

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; / in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

Exodus 19:5-6
Now if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, you will be My treasured possession out of all the nations—for the whole earth is Mine. / And unto Me you shall be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’ These are the words that you are to speak to the Israelites.”

Matthew 22:37-40
Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ / This is the first and greatest commandment. / And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ...

John 14:15
If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.

Romans 8:28
And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose.

James 1:22-25
Be doers of the word, and not hearers only. Otherwise, you are deceiving yourselves. / For anyone who hears the word but does not carry it out is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror, / and after observing himself goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. ...

Hebrews 11:6
And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.

Treasury of Scripture

If you will fear the LORD, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the LORD, then shall both you and also the king that reigns over you continue following the LORD your God:

If ye will

Leviticus 20:1-13
And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, …

Deuteronomy 28:1-14
And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: …

Joshua 24:14,20
Now therefore fear the LORD, and serve him in sincerity and in truth: and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the flood, and in Egypt; and serve ye the LORD…

commandment [heb] mouth

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1 Samuel 12

1. Samuel testifies his integrity
6. He reproves the people of ingratitude
16. He terrifies them with thunder in harvest time
20. he comforts them in God's mercy

Berean Study Bible

If you fear the LORD
The phrase "fear the LORD" is rooted in the Hebrew word "yare," which encompasses a profound reverence and awe for God. This fear is not about terror but about recognizing God's majesty and holiness. Historically, the Israelites were called to fear the LORD as a foundational aspect of their covenant relationship with Him. This reverence is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10) and is essential for a life that honors God. In a conservative Christian perspective, fearing the LORD is about acknowledging His sovereignty and aligning one's life with His will.

and serve Him
The Hebrew word for "serve" is "abad," which implies worship, labor, and devotion. Serving God is an act of worship that goes beyond mere ritual; it is a lifestyle of dedication and submission to His authority. In the historical context of Israel, serving God meant adhering to His commandments and statutes. For Christians today, it involves living out one's faith through actions that reflect God's love and righteousness.

and obey His voice
To "obey His voice" is to heed God's commands and instructions. The Hebrew word "shama" means to listen with the intent to act. Throughout Scripture, obedience is a key theme, as it demonstrates trust in God's wisdom and goodness. In the context of 1 Samuel, Samuel is reminding the Israelites that their prosperity and peace depend on their obedience to God. For believers, obedience is a response to God's grace and a demonstration of faith.

and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD
Rebellion against God's command is a recurring issue in Israel's history, often leading to dire consequences. The Hebrew word "marah" means to be contentious or disobedient. Samuel warns the people that rebellion leads to separation from God and His blessings. In a conservative Christian view, rebellion is seen as sin, which disrupts fellowship with God. The call is to remain faithful and submissive to God's will.

then both you and the king who reigns over you
This phrase highlights the communal aspect of Israel's covenant with God. The king and the people are bound together in their responsibility to follow God. Historically, the king was to lead by example, guiding the nation in righteousness. In a Christian context, this underscores the importance of godly leadership and the collective responsibility of the community to uphold God's standards.

will follow the LORD your God
To "follow the LORD" is to walk in His ways and live according to His principles. The Hebrew word "halak" means to walk or go, indicating a continuous journey of faith. This phrase encapsulates the promise of blessing and guidance for those who remain faithful. For Christians, following the LORD involves discipleship, growing in Christlikeness, and living out the Gospel in everyday life. It is a call to steadfastness and commitment to God's path.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(14) If ye will fear the Lord . . .--The English Version has missed the point of the original Hebrew of this passage. It should run, "If ye will fear the Lord, &c., . . . and if both ye and the king that reigneth over you will follow the Lord your God, it shall be well with you." Dean Payne Smith has well caught the spirit of the passage in his note: "Samuel piled up one upon another the conditions of their happiness, and then from the depth of his emotion breaks off, leaving the blessed consequences of their obedience unsaid." The intense wish, "O that you would only fear the Lord! O that you and your king would only continue following!" is contained in the Hebrew particle which introduces these ejaculatory sentences. A similar unfinished sentence will be found in St. Luke 19:42, where the apodosis is left to be supplied.

Samuel, with mournful earnestness, would drive home to the hearts of the people and their new king the great truth that the past, full of sin and sorrow, was forgiven--that even their present act, which seemed to border on ingratitude to that Mighty One who deigned to concern Himself with the interests of this fickle people, would bring no evil consequences in its track, if only the people and their king would in the future obey the glorious voice of the Eternal.

Pulpit Commentary

Verse 14. - If ye will fear, etc. This verse, like Luke 19:42, is left unfinished, and we must supply well, as in Exodus 32:32. For the verse cannot be translated as in the A.V., but is as follows: "If ye will fear Jehovah, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment (Hebrew, the mouth) of Jehovah, and if both ye and the king that reigneth over you will follow Jehovah your God, it shall be well." Samuel piles up one upon another the conditions of their happiness, and then from the depth of his emotion breaks off, leaving the blessed consequences of their obedience unsaid. "To follow Jehovah" implies willing and active service as his attendants, going with him where he will, and being ever ready to obey his voice.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

If
אִם־ (’im-)
Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

you fear
תִּֽירְא֣וּ (tî·rə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 3372: To fear, to revere, caus, to frighten

the LORD
יְהוָ֗ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and serve
וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֤ם (wa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

Him
אֹתוֹ֙ (’ō·ṯōw)
Direct object marker | third person masculine singular
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

and obey
וּשְׁמַעְתֶּ֣ם (ū·šə·ma‘·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

His voice,
בְּקֹל֔וֹ (bə·qō·lōw)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct | third person masculine singular
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

and if you do not
וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

rebel
תַמְר֖וּ (ṯam·rū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 4784: To be contentious or rebellious

against
אֶת־ (’eṯ-)
Preposition
Strong's 854: Nearness, near, with, by, at, among

the command
פִּ֣י (pî)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6310: The mouth, edge, portion, side, according to

of the LORD,
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

and if both
גַּם־ (gam-)
Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

you
אַתֶּ֗ם (’at·tem)
Pronoun - second person masculine plural
Strong's 859: Thou and thee, ye and you

and
וְגַם־ (wə·ḡam-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 1571: Assemblage, also, even, yea, though, both, and

the king
הַמֶּ֙לֶךְ֙ (ham·me·leḵ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4428: A king

who
אֲשֶׁ֣ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

rules
מָלַ֣ךְ (mā·laḵ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

over you
עֲלֵיכֶ֔ם (‘ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against

follow
וִהְיִתֶ֣ם (wih·yi·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 1961: To fall out, come to pass, become, be

the LORD
יְהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God, [then all will be well].
אֱלֹהֵיכֶֽם׃ (’ĕ·lō·hê·ḵem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

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OT History: 1 Samuel 12:14 If you will fear Yahweh and serve (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)