1 Samuel 12:4
New International Version
“You have not cheated or oppressed us,” they replied. “You have not taken anything from anyone’s hand.”

New Living Translation
“No,” they replied, “you have never cheated or oppressed us, and you have never taken even a single bribe.”

English Standard Version
They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.”

Berean Standard Bible
“You have not cheated us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.”

King James Bible
And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand.

New King James Version
And they said, “You have not cheated us or oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from any man’s hand.”

New American Standard Bible
And they said, “You have not exploited us or oppressed us, or taken anything from anyone’s hand.”

NASB 1995
They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.”

NASB 1977
And they said, “You have not defrauded us, or oppressed us, or taken anything from any man’s hand.”

Legacy Standard Bible
And they said, “You have not extorted us or oppressed us or taken anything from any man’s hand.”

Amplified Bible
They said, “You have not exploited us or oppressed us or taken anything at all from a man’s hand.”

Christian Standard Bible
“You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone,” they responded.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“You haven’t wronged us, you haven’t mistreated us, and you haven’t taken anything from anyone’s hand,” they responded.

American Standard Version
And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand.

Contemporary English Version
"No," the Israelites answered. "You've never cheated us in any way!"

English Revised Version
And they said, Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They answered, "You didn't cheat us, oppress us, or take anything from anyone."

Good News Translation
The people answered, "No, you have not cheated us or oppressed us; you have not taken anything from anyone."

International Standard Version
They said, "You haven't cheated us or oppressed us, and you haven't taken anything from anyone's hand."

Majority Standard Bible
?You have not cheated us or oppressed us,? they replied, ?nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.?

NET Bible
They replied, "You have not wronged us or oppressed us. You have not taken anything from the hand of anyone."

New Heart English Bible
They said, "You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything of any man's hand."

Webster's Bible Translation
And they said thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught from any man's hand.

World English Bible
They said, “You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from anyone’s hand.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they say, “You have not oppressed us, nor have you crushed us, nor have you taken anything from the hand of anyone.”

Young's Literal Translation
And they say, 'Thou hast not oppressed us, nor hast thou crushed us, nor hast thou taken from the hand of any one anything.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will say, Thou didst not oppress us, and thou didst not vex us, and thou didst not take any thing from man's hand.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they said: Thou hast not wronged us, nor oppressed us, nor taken ought at any man's hand.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they said, “You have not falsely accused us, nor oppressed us, nor have you taken anything from the hand of anyone.”

New American Bible
They replied, “You have neither cheated us, nor oppressed us, nor accepted anything from anyone.”

New Revised Standard Version
They said, “You have not defrauded us or oppressed us or taken anything from the hand of anyone.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they said to him, You have not defrauded us nor oppressed us, neither have you taken anything from any one of us.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
They were saying to him: “You have not defrauded us, neither have you oppressed us, and you have not taken a thing from any man of us!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they said: 'Thou hast not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither hast thou taken aught of any man's hand.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they said to Samuel, Thou hast not injured us, and thou hast not oppressed us; and thou hast not afflicted us, and thou hast not taken anything from any one's hand.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samuel's Farewell Address
3Here I am. Bear witness against me before the LORD and before His anointed: Whose ox or donkey have I taken? Whom have I cheated or oppressed? From whose hand have I accepted a bribe and closed my eyes? Tell me, and I will restore it to you.” 4“You have not wronged us or oppressed us,” they replied, “nor have you taken anything from the hand of man.” 5Samuel said to them, “The LORD is a witness against you, and His anointed is a witness today, that you have not found anything in my hand.” “He is a witness,” they replied.…

Cross References
Acts 24:16
In this hope, I strive always to maintain a clear conscience before God and man.

2 Corinthians 1:12
For this is our boast: Our conscience testifies that we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially in relation to you, in the holiness and sincerity that are from God—not in worldly wisdom, but in the grace of God.

1 Thessalonians 2:10
You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous, and blameless our conduct was among you who believed.

Philippians 2:15
so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world

1 Peter 3:16
keeping a clear conscience, so that those who slander you may be put to shame by your good behavior in Christ.

2 Corinthians 4:2
Instead, we have renounced secret and shameful ways. We do not practice deceit, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by open proclamation of the truth, we commend ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.

1 Timothy 3:7
Furthermore, he must have a good reputation with outsiders, so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the snare of the devil.

Romans 12:17
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Carefully consider what is right in the eyes of everybody.

1 Peter 2:12
Conduct yourselves with such honor among the Gentiles that, though they slander you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits us.

1 Corinthians 4:4
My conscience is clear, but that does not vindicate me. It is the Lord who judges me.

2 Corinthians 8:21
For we are taking great care to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord, but also in the eyes of men.

1 Thessalonians 5:22
Abstain from every form of evil.

Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

Luke 3:14
Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.”

Hebrews 13:18
Pray for us; we are convinced that we have a clear conscience and desire to live honorably in every way.


Treasury of Scripture

And they said, You have not defrauded us, nor oppressed us, neither have you taken ought of any man's hand.

Psalm 37:5,6
Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass…

Daniel 6:4
Then the presidents and princes sought to find occasion against Daniel concerning the kingdom; but they could find none occasion nor fault; forasmuch as he was faithful, neither was there any error or fault found in him.

3 John 1:12
Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

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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














You have not wronged us
This phrase is a testament to Samuel's integrity and leadership. The Hebrew word for "wronged" is "עשק" (ashaq), which implies oppression or defrauding. In the context of ancient Israel, leaders were often accused of exploiting their power for personal gain. Samuel's life, however, was marked by justice and righteousness, reflecting God's own character. His leadership was a foreshadowing of Christ, who would also lead without sin or deceit.

or oppressed us
The Hebrew word for "oppressed" is "לחץ" (lachats), meaning to press or squeeze. This term often describes the experience of the Israelites under foreign rule or corrupt leadership. Samuel's absence of oppression highlights the peace and fairness that characterized his judgeship. It serves as a reminder of the freedom found in God's righteous rule, contrasting with the burdens of sin and worldly governance.

they replied
The response of the people is significant. It shows a collective acknowledgment and respect for Samuel's leadership. In the Hebrew context, communal affirmation was crucial for establishing truth and justice. This public declaration underscores the importance of accountability and transparency in leadership, principles that are deeply rooted in biblical teachings.

nor have you taken anything
The phrase "taken anything" translates from the Hebrew "לקח" (laqach), which means to take or seize. This is a direct reference to the common practice of leaders enriching themselves at the expense of their people. Samuel's refusal to take anything unjustly is a powerful example of stewardship and selflessness, virtues that are central to Christian ethics.

from the hand of man
The "hand of man" symbolizes human effort and possession. In ancient cultures, the hand was often seen as a symbol of power and control. By not taking from the hand of man, Samuel demonstrated reliance on God's provision rather than human resources. This reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty and a commitment to serve rather than be served, echoing the teachings of Jesus in the New Testament.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“You have not
לֹ֥א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

wronged us
עֲשַׁקְתָּ֖נוּ (‘ă·šaq·tā·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 6231: To press upon, oppress, defraud, violate, overflow

or
וְלֹ֣א (wə·lō)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

oppressed us,”
רַצּוֹתָ֑נוּ (raṣ·ṣō·w·ṯā·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 7533: To crack in pieces

they replied,
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“nor
וְלֹֽא־ (wə·lō-)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

have you taken
לָקַ֥חְתָּ (lā·qaḥ·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

anything
מְאֽוּמָה׃ (mə·’ū·māh)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3972: A speck, point, nothing

from the hand
מִיַּד־ (mî·yaḏ-)
Preposition-m | Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 3027: A hand

of man.”
אִ֖ישׁ (’îš)
Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person


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OT History: 1 Samuel 12:4 They said You have not defrauded us (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 12:3
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