1 Samuel 8:3

3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

1 Samuel 8:3 in Other Translations

3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment.

3 Yet his sons did not walk in his ways but turned aside after gain. They took bribes and perverted justice.

3 But they were not like their father, for they were greedy for money. They accepted bribes and perverted justice.

3 But his sons didn't take after him; they were out for what they could get for themselves, taking bribes, corrupting justice.

3 And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted justice.

3 The sons didn't follow their father's example but turned to dishonest ways of making money. They took bribes and denied people justice.

3 However, his sons did not walk in his ways-they turned toward dishonest gain, took bribes, and perverted justice.

3 But his sons didn't live as he did. They were only interested in making money. They accepted money from people who wanted special favors. They made things that were wrong appear to be right.

1 Samuel 8:3 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 8:3

And his sons walked not in his ways
The meaning of which is not that they did not go the circuit he did, which is too low a sense of the words some Jewish writers give; but they did not walk in the fear of God, in the paths of religion and righteousness, truth and holiness; they neither served God, nor did justice to men, as Samuel had done:

but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment;
indulged to covetousness, sought to get riches at any rate, took bribes, which blind the eyes of judges; and so passed wrong judgment, and gave the cause to those that gave the largest gifts, right or wrong.

1 Samuel 8:3 In-Context

1 When Samuel grew old, he appointed his sons as Israel’s leaders.

2 The name of his firstborn was Joel and the name of his second was Abijah, and they served at Beersheba.

3 But his sons did not follow his ways. They turned aside after dishonest gain and accepted bribes and perverted justice.

4 So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah.

5 They said to him, “You are old, and your sons do not follow your ways; now appoint a king to lead us, such as all the other nations have.”

Cross References

• 1. 1 Samuel 2:12
• 2. Nehemiah 9:29; Job 34:27; Psalms 14:3; Psalms 58:3; Isaiah 53:6
• 3. Exodus 23:8; Deuteronomy 16:19; 1 Samuel 12:3; Job 8:22; Proverbs 17:23; Psalms 15:5
• 4. S Exodus 23:2