1 Samuel 12:3

Authorized King James Version

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Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

Original Language Analysis

הִנְנִ֣י H2005
הִנְנִ֣י
Strong's: H2005
Word #: 1 of 29
lo!; also (as expressing surprise) if
עֲנ֣וּ Behold here I am witness H6030
עֲנ֣וּ Behold here I am witness
Strong's: H6030
Word #: 2 of 29
properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,
בִי֩ H0
בִי֩
Strong's: H0
Word #: 3 of 29
נֶ֨גֶד H5048
נֶ֨גֶד
Strong's: H5048
Word #: 4 of 29
a front, i.e., part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before
יְהוָ֜ה against me before the LORD H3068
יְהוָ֜ה against me before the LORD
Strong's: H3068
Word #: 5 of 29
(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god
וְנֶ֣גֶד H5048
וְנֶ֣גֶד
Strong's: H5048
Word #: 6 of 29
a front, i.e., part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate; usually (adverbial, especially with preposition) over against or before
מְשִׁיח֗וֹ and before his anointed H4899
מְשִׁיח֗וֹ and before his anointed
Strong's: H4899
Word #: 7 of 29
anointed; usually a consecrated person (as a king, priest, or saint); specifically, the messiah
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 8 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
שׁוֹר֩׀ whose ox H7794
שׁוֹר֩׀ whose ox
Strong's: H7794
Word #: 9 of 29
a bullock (as a traveller)
מִ֨י H4310
מִ֨י
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 10 of 29
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
לָקַ֣חְתִּי have I taken H3947
לָקַ֣חְתִּי have I taken
Strong's: H3947
Word #: 11 of 29
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
וַֽחֲמ֧וֹר or whose ass H2543
וַֽחֲמ֧וֹר or whose ass
Strong's: H2543
Word #: 12 of 29
a male ass (from its dun red)
מִ֣י H4310
מִ֣י
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 13 of 29
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
לָקַ֣חְתִּי have I taken H3947
לָקַ֣חְתִּי have I taken
Strong's: H3947
Word #: 14 of 29
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
וְאֶת H853
וְאֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 15 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִ֤י H4310
מִ֤י
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 16 of 29
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
עָשַׁ֙קְתִּי֙ or whom have I defrauded H6231
עָשַׁ֙קְתִּי֙ or whom have I defrauded
Strong's: H6231
Word #: 17 of 29
to press upon, i.e., oppress, defraud, violate, overflow
אֶת H853
אֶת
Strong's: H853
Word #: 18 of 29
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
מִ֣י H4310
מִ֣י
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 19 of 29
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
רַצּ֔וֹתִי whom have I oppressed H7533
רַצּ֔וֹתִי whom have I oppressed
Strong's: H7533
Word #: 20 of 29
to crack in pieces, literally or figuratively
וּמִיַּד or of whose hand H3027
וּמִיַּד or of whose hand
Strong's: H3027
Word #: 21 of 29
a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v
מִי֙ H4310
מִי֙
Strong's: H4310
Word #: 22 of 29
who? (occasionally, by a peculiar idiom, of things); also (indefinitely) whoever; often used in oblique construction with prefix or suffix
לָקַ֣חְתִּי have I taken H3947
לָקַ֣חְתִּי have I taken
Strong's: H3947
Word #: 23 of 29
to take (in the widest variety of applications)
כֹ֔פֶר have I received any bribe H3724
כֹ֔פֶר have I received any bribe
Strong's: H3724
Word #: 24 of 29
properly, a cover, i.e., (literally) a village (as covered in)
וְאַעְלִ֥ים to blind H5956
וְאַעְלִ֥ים to blind
Strong's: H5956
Word #: 25 of 29
to veil from sight, i.e., conceal (literally or figuratively)
עֵינַ֖י mine eyes H5869
עֵינַ֖י mine eyes
Strong's: H5869
Word #: 26 of 29
an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape)
בּ֑וֹ H0
בּ֑וֹ
Strong's: H0
Word #: 27 of 29
וְאָשִׁ֖יב therewith and I will restore H7725
וְאָשִׁ֖יב therewith and I will restore
Strong's: H7725
Word #: 28 of 29
to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);
לָכֶֽם׃ H0
לָכֶֽם׃
Strong's: H0
Word #: 29 of 29

Cross References

Acts 20:33I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel.Numbers 16:15And Moses was very wroth, and said unto the LORD, Respect not thou their offering: I have not taken one ass from them, neither have I hurt one of them.Deuteronomy 16:19Thou shalt not wrest judgment; thou shalt not respect persons, neither take a gift: for a gift doth blind the eyes of the wise, and pervert the words of the righteous.1 Samuel 24:6And he said unto his men, The LORD forbid that I should do this thing unto my master, the LORD'S anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of the LORD.1 Peter 5:2Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;Exodus 23:8And thou shalt take no gift: for the gift blindeth the wise, and perverteth the words of the righteous.1 Thessalonians 2:10Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:1 Samuel 12:5And he said unto them, The LORD is witness against you, and his anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they answered, He is witness.1 Samuel 10:1Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the LORD hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?Exodus 20:17Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's.

Analysis & Commentary

Behold, here I am: witness against me before the LORD, and before his anointed: whose ox have I taken? or whose ass have I taken? or whom have I defrauded? whom have I oppressed? or of whose hand have I received any bribe to blind mine eyes therewith? and I will restore it you.

Samuel's invitation to testify against him 'before the LORD and before his anointed' establishes unprecedented accountability. He invites scrutiny regarding fraud (ashaq), oppression (ratsats), and bribery. The phrase 'whose ox have I taken?' echoes Moses' similar self-defense (Numbers 16:15). By calling both Yahweh and the new king as witnesses, Samuel models the principle that leaders must answer both to God and to legitimate human authority.

Historical Context

The specific accusations Samuel invites - taking oxen or donkeys, defrauding, oppressing, accepting bribes - were common forms of judicial corruption in the ancient Near East. Samuel's challenge directly contrasts with his sons' documented offenses and establishes the standard to which Saul should aspire.

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