1 Samuel 12:24
New International Version
But be sure to fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things he has done for you.

New Living Translation
But be sure to fear the LORD and faithfully serve him. Think of all the wonderful things he has done for you.

English Standard Version
Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. For consider what great things he has done for you.

Berean Standard Bible
Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

King James Bible
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

New King James Version
Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

New American Standard Bible
Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

NASB 1995
“Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

NASB 1977
“Only fear the LORD and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

Legacy Standard Bible
Only fear Yahweh and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for see what great things He has done for you.

Amplified Bible
Only fear the LORD [with awe and profound reverence] and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.

Christian Standard Bible
Above all, fear the LORD and worship him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things he has done for you.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Above all, fear the LORD and worship Him faithfully with all your heart; consider the great things He has done for you.

American Standard Version
Only fear Jehovah, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.

Contemporary English Version
You also must obey the LORD--you must worship him with all your heart and remember the great things he has done for you.

English Revised Version
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Fear the LORD, and serve him sincerely. Consider the great things he did for you.

Good News Translation
Obey the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Remember the great things he has done for you.

International Standard Version
Only, fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Indeed, consider what great things he has done for you.

Majority Standard Bible
Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you.

NET Bible
However, fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Just look at the great things he has done for you!

New Heart English Bible
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.

Webster's Bible Translation
Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he hath done for you.

World English Bible
Only fear Yahweh, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
only, fear YHWH, and you have served Him in truth with all your heart, for see that which He has made great with you;

Young's Literal Translation
only, fear ye Jehovah, and ye have served Him in truth with all your heart, for see that which He hath made great with you;

Smith's Literal Translation
But fear ye Jehovah, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for see what he magnified with you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Therefore fear the Lord, and serve him in truth and with your whole heart, for you have seen the great works which he hath done among you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Therefore, fear the Lord, and serve him in truth and from your whole heart. For you have seen the great works that he has done among you.

New American Bible
But you must fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart, for you have seen the great things the LORD has done among you.

New Revised Standard Version
Only fear the LORD, and serve him faithfully with all your heart; for consider what great things he has done for you.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Only revere the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart and with all your soul; for consider what great things he has done for you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
But stand in awe of LORD JEHOVAH and work for him in the truth with all your heart and with all your soul, and see that he has been great with you
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Only fear the LORD, and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things He hath done for you.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth and with all your heart, for ye see what great things he has wrought with you.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samuel's Farewell Address
23As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by ceasing to pray for you. And I will continue to teach you the good and right way. 24Above all, fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you. 25But if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.”…

Cross References
Deuteronomy 10:12
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,

Joshua 24:14
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.

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts gain rich understanding. His praise endures forever!

Ecclesiastes 12:13
When all has been heard, the conclusion of the matter is this: Fear God and keep His commandments, because this is the whole duty of man.

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.

Matthew 22:37
Jesus declared, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

Luke 1:74-75
deliverance from hostile hands, that we may serve Him without fear, / in holiness and righteousness before Him all the days of our lives.

Romans 12:1
Therefore I urge you, brothers, on account of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.

2 Corinthians 5:14-15
For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that One died for all, therefore all died. / And He died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and was raised again.

Ephesians 6:6
And do this not only to please them while they are watching, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart.

Colossians 3:23-24
Whatever you do, work at it with your whole being, as for the Lord and not for men, / because you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as your reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.

Hebrews 12:28
Therefore, since we are receiving an unshakable kingdom, let us be filled with gratitude, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.

1 Peter 1:17
Since you call on a Father who judges each one’s work impartially, conduct yourselves in reverent fear during your stay as foreigners.

Revelation 14:7
And he said in a loud voice, “Fear God and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come. Worship the One who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and the springs of waters.”

Deuteronomy 6:5
And you shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.


Treasury of Scripture

Only fear the LORD, and serve him in truth with all your heart: for consider how great things he has done for you.

fear the Lord

Job 28:28
And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Exodus 12:13
And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.

in truth

Psalm 119:80
Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed.

John 1:47
Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!

consider

Ezra 9:13,14
And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this; …

Isaiah 5:12
And the harp, and the viol, the tabret, and pipe, and wine, are in their feasts: but they regard not the work of the LORD, neither consider the operation of his hands.

Romans 12:1
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

how great things.

Deuteronomy 10:21
He is thy praise, and he is thy God, that hath done for thee these great and terrible things, which thine eyes have seen.

Psalm 126:2,3
Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them…

Jump to Previous
Consider Heart Keeping Mind Servants Serve Served Sure True. Truth
Jump to Next
Consider Heart Keeping Mind Servants Serve Served Sure True. Truth
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














Above all
This phrase sets a priority, indicating that what follows is of utmost importance. In the Hebrew text, the emphasis is on the primacy of the command. The context here is Samuel's farewell address to Israel, where he underscores the necessity of placing God at the center of their lives. Historically, Israel was transitioning from a theocracy to a monarchy, and Samuel's words remind them that despite political changes, their ultimate allegiance must remain with God.

fear the LORD
The Hebrew word for "fear" is "yare," which encompasses reverence, awe, and respect. This is not a fear that paralyzes but one that acknowledges God's holiness and sovereignty. In the ancient Near Eastern context, fear of a deity was common, but for Israel, it was uniquely tied to a covenant relationship with Yahweh, who had revealed Himself as both powerful and loving.

and serve Him
The Hebrew word "abad" means to work or serve, often used in the context of worship. Serving God is an active, ongoing commitment, not merely a passive acknowledgment. In the historical context of Israel, service to God was demonstrated through obedience to His laws and participation in religious rituals, which were integral to their identity as God's chosen people.

faithfully
The term "faithfully" translates the Hebrew word "emeth," which conveys truth, reliability, and steadfastness. This implies a consistency in one's relationship with God, reflecting His own faithfulness to His people. In the biblical narrative, Israel's history is marked by cycles of faithfulness and unfaithfulness, and Samuel's exhortation is a call to break this cycle by committing to unwavering loyalty.

with all your heart
The "heart" in Hebrew thought (lev) is the center of one's being, encompassing mind, will, and emotions. Serving God with all one's heart means a total, undivided devotion. This phrase echoes the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:5), a foundational declaration of faith for Israel, emphasizing that true worship involves the whole person.

consider
The Hebrew word "ra'ah" means to see or perceive. Samuel is urging the Israelites to reflect deeply and thoughtfully on their experiences with God. This is not a casual remembrance but an intentional act of recalling God's faithfulness and mighty acts in their history.

what great things He has done for you
This phrase calls to mind the numerous acts of deliverance and provision God had performed for Israel, from the Exodus to the conquest of Canaan. The "great things" are both personal and communal, reminding the Israelites of God's power and grace. In a broader scriptural context, this serves as a template for believers to remember and recount God's blessings and interventions in their own lives.

Verse 24. - For consider, etc. Samuel concludes his address by appealing to the mighty deeds wrought in old time by Jehovah for his people; literally, it is, "For consider how grandly he hath wrought with you."



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Above all,
אַ֣ךְ ׀ (’aḵ)
Adverb
Strong's 389: A particle of affirmation, surely

fear
יְר֣אוּ (yə·r·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - 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
וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֥ם (wa·‘ă·ḇaḏ·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 5647: To work, to serve, till, enslave

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

faithfully
בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת (be·’ĕ·meṯ)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 571: Stability, certainty, truth, trustworthiness

with all
בְּכָל־ (bə·ḵāl)
Preposition-b | Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

your heart;
לְבַבְכֶ֑ם (lə·ḇaḇ·ḵem)
Noun - masculine singular construct | second person masculine plural
Strong's 3824: Inner man, mind, will, heart

consider
רְא֔וּ (rə·’ū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 7200: To see

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

great things He has done
הִגְדִּ֖ל (hiḡ·dil)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 1431: To grow up, become great

for you.
עִמָּכֶֽם׃ (‘im·mā·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 5973: With, equally with


Links
1 Samuel 12:24 NIV
1 Samuel 12:24 NLT
1 Samuel 12:24 ESV
1 Samuel 12:24 NASB
1 Samuel 12:24 KJV

1 Samuel 12:24 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 12:24 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 12:24 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 12:24 French Bible
1 Samuel 12:24 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 12:24 Only fear Yahweh and serve him (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 12:23
Top of Page
Top of Page