The Meaning of 1 Samuel 12:24 Explained

1 Samuel 12:24

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

YLT: 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;

Darby: Only, fear Jehovah, and serve him in truth, with all your heart; for see how great things he has done for you.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does 1 Samuel 12:24 Mean?

Study Notes

fear
.
fear of the Lord
The "fear of the Lord," a phrase of the O.T. piety, meaning reverential trust, with hatred of evil.

Context Summary

1 Samuel 12:14-25 - His Warning Confirmed From Heaven
Having handed his office over to Saul, who henceforth was to shepherd and lead the Chosen People, Samuel assured them that the Lord would not forsake them, "for his great name's sake," 1 Samuel 12:22. Oh, take these words to heart, and let them linger like a strain of sweet music in your memory! You may have missed the mark, lost your way, and drifted from the ancient moorings, but the love of God has not forsaken you. Being disappointed, it lingers; being repelled, it returns; being buffeted, it entreats. God's name-that is, His honor-is at stake. See Joshua 7:9; Isaiah 48:9; Isaiah 48:11.
Terrified by the thunder-storm, which was God's endorsement of His servant's faith, the people entreated for Samuel's continued prayers; and the aged seer assured them that he would count it a great sin if he ceased to pray for them. Prayerlessness is not only an evidence of a besotted and demoralized nature, but is in itself a sin which requires confession and cleansing. When the heart is right with God, prayer arises like a fountain, from unseen depths. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 12:24 mean?

Only fear - Yahweh and serve Him in truth with all your heart for consider - what great things He has done for you
אַ֣ךְ ׀ יְר֣אוּ אֶת־ יְהוָ֗ה וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֥ם אֹת֛וֹ בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת בְּכָל־ לְבַבְכֶ֑ם כִּ֣י רְא֔וּ אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־ הִגְדִּ֖ל עִמָּכֶֽם

אַ֣ךְ ׀  Only 
Parse: Adverb
Root: אַךְ  
Sense: indeed, surely (emphatic).
יְר֣אוּ  fear 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יְהוָ֗ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַעֲבַדְתֶּ֥ם  and  serve 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
בֶּאֱמֶ֖ת  in  truth 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֱמֶת  
Sense: firmness, faithfulness, truth.
בְּכָל־  with  all 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
לְבַבְכֶ֑ם  your  heart 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, second person masculine plural
Root: לֵבָב  
Sense: inner man, mind, will, heart, soul, understanding.
רְא֔וּ  consider 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: רָאָה 
Sense: to see, look at, inspect, perceive, consider.
אֵ֥ת  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
הִגְדִּ֖ל  great  things  He  has  done 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: גָּדַל  
Sense: to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things.
עִמָּכֶֽם  for  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
Root: עִם  
Sense: with.