1 Samuel 12:21

1 Samuel 12:21

And turn ye not aside: for then should ye go after vain things, which cannot profit nor deliver; for they are vain.

a. NLT: Don’t go back to worshiping worthless idols that cannot help or rescue you—they are totally useless!

b. NIV: Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless.

c. YLT: and ye do not turn aside after the vain things which do not profit nor deliver, for they are vain,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And turn not aside after vain and worthless things which cannot profit or deliver you, for they are empty and futile.

e. Septuagint: And turn not aside after the [gods] that are nothing, who will do nothing, and will not deliver [you], because they are nothing.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Do not turn away for [that would be to] pursue futilities that cannot avail and cannot rescue, for they are futile.

1. “And turn ye not aside…”

a. And turn ye not aside [5493 * cuwr] [Strong: to turn off (literal or figurative):--be(-head), bring, call back, decline, depart, eschew, get (you), go (aside), X grievous, lay away (by), leave undone, be past, pluck away, put (away, down), rebel, remove (to and fro), revolt, X be sour, take (away, off), turn (aside, away, in), withdraw, be without.]

1). The Hebrew definitions are clearly seen in the use of the word in many verses.

a). Deuteronomy 11:16, 17 Take heed to yourselves, that your heart be not deceived, and ye turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them;

 11:17 And then the LORD'S wrath be kindled against you, and he shut up the heaven, that there be no rain, and that the land yield not her fruit; and lest ye perish quickly from off the good land which the LORD giveth you.

b). Psalm 40:4 Blessed is that man that maketh the LORD his trust, and respecteth not the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies.

c). Psalm 101:3   I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me.  

2. “…for then should ye go after vain things…”

a. for then should ye go after [310 * 'achar] [Strong: from 309; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses):--after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, + out (over) live, + persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with.]

b. vain things [8414 * tohuw][Strong: to lie waste; a desolation (of surface), i.e. desert; figuratively, a worthless thing; adverbially, in vain:--confusion, empty place, without form, nothing, (thing of) nought, vain, vanity, waste, wilderness.

1). 2 Kings 17:15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.

2). Jeremiah 4:14 O Jerusalem, wash thine heart from wickedness, that thou mayest be saved. How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?

3. “…which cannot profit nor deliver…”

a. which cannot profit [3276 * ya’al] [Strong: to ascend; figuratively, to be valuable (objectively: useful, subjectively: benefited):--X at all, set forward, can do good, (be, have) profit, (able).]

1). Old Covenant uses of the word reflect not only material but spiritual things.

a). Jeremiah 2:8 The priests said not, Where is the LORD? and they that handle the law knew me not: the pastors also transgressed against me, and the prophets prophesied by Baal, and walked after things that do not profit.

b). Isaiah 44:9 They that make a graven image are all of them vanity; and their delectable things shall not profit; and they are their own witnesses; they see not, nor know; that they may be ashamed.

c). Proverbs 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

2). In the New Testament the word is of course a variety of Greek words, but its use also reflects the material and spiritual, depending on the context.

a).  Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?

b). 1 Corinthians 10:33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

c). Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.

b. nor deliver [5337 * natsal] [Strong: to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense:- X at all, defend, deliver (self), escape, X without fail, part, pluck, preserve, recover, rescue, rid, save, spoil, strip, X surely, take (out).]

1). The Scriptural definition of what “vain” means is something that does not lift me, does me no good, is not valuable or will not deliver, preserve, or defend me.

2). The terms for “profit” and “deliver” seem to be interchanged in a few verses.

a). Proverbs 10:2 Treasures of wickedness profit nothing: but righteousness delivereth from death.

3). In the end, vain things will only lead us away from God and we should not be distracted in that way.

1 Samuel 3:19

1 Samuel 3:19

And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.

a. NLT: As Samuel grew up, the LORD was with him, and everything Samuel said proved to be reliable.

b. NIV: The LORD was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.

c. YLT: And Samuel groweth up, and Jehovah hath been with him, and hath not let fall any of his words to the earth;

d. Amplified Bible Classic: Samuel grew; the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.

e. Septuagint: And Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him, and there did not fall one of his words to the ground.

f. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: Samuel grew up, and HASHEM was with him; He did not cast any of his words to the ground.

1. “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him…”

a. Samuel [Strong: 8050 * Shmuw'el sehm-oo-ale' from the passive participle of 8085 and 410; heard of God; Shemuel, the name of three Israelites:--Samuel, Shemuel.]

b. grew [1431 * gadal][Strong: to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor, also in pride):--advance, boast, bring up, exceed, excellent, be(-come, do, give, make, wax), great(-er, come to…estate, + things), grow(up),increase, lift up, magnify(-ifical), be much set by, nourish (up), pass, promote, proudly (spoken), tower.][BLB: to grow, become great or important, promote, make powerful, praise, magnify, do great things.]

1). The Hebrew meaning of the word I believe means more than just physical growing up. It carries with it the idea that Samuel prospered in every way, similar to Jesus or anyone diligently obeying the Scriptures. Note the similarities of the following verses

a). 1 Samuel 2:26 And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the LORD, and also with man.

b). Luke 1:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

c. the LORD [Strong: 3068 * Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw' from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

d. was [Strong: 1961 * hayah haw-yaw a primitive root (Compare 1933); to exist, i.e. be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary):--beacon, X altogether, be(-come), accomplished, committed, like), break, cause, come (to pass), do, faint, fall, + follow, happen, X have, last, pertain, quit (one-)self, require, X use.]

e. with him [Strong: 5973 * `im eem from 6004; adverb or preposition, with (i.e. in conjunction with), in varied applications; specifically, equally with; often with prepositional prefix (and then usually unrepresented in English):--accompanying, against, and, as (X long as), before, beside, by (reason of), for all, from (among, between), in, like, more than, of, (un-)to, with(-al).]

1). If we are faithful in this it becomes obvious to those around us that God is with us.

a). Genesis 21:22  And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:

2). Twice during Samuel’s very early years it was written of him how Samuel ministered before the LORD and unto the LORD.

a). 1 Samuel 2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

b). 1 Samuel 3:1 And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.

3). We must remember that Samuel was growing up in an atmosphere of complete apostasy on the part of the priest Eli for not punishing his sons for their gross immorality. He did nothing to stop them but simply continued to tolerate their behavior even though God had warned him previously, when Samuel was still a child God spoke to him concerning Eli.

a). 1 Samuel 3:11-14 And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.

3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering forever.

4). The first warning that the LORD was referring to came a few years earlier from an unnamed prophet in 1 Samuel 2:27-36.

2. “…and did let none of his words fall to the ground.”

a. did let none [Strong: 3808 * lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

1). Strong: 3505 * kol kole or (Jer. 33:8) kowl {kole}; from 3634; properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense):--(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-)thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).]

b. of his words [Strong: 1697 * dabar daw-baw' from 1696; a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a cause:--act, advice, affair, answer, X any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, + chronicles, commandment, X commune(-ication), + concern(-ing), + confer, counsel, + dearth, decree, deed, X disease, due, duty, effect, + eloquent, errand, (evil favoured-)ness, + glory, + harm, hurt, + iniquity, + judgment, language, + lying, manner, matter, message, (no) thing, oracle, X ought, X parts, + pertaining, + please, portion, + power, promise, provision, purpose, question, rate, reason, report, request, X (as hast) said, sake, saying, sentence, + sign, + so, some (uncleanness), somewhat to say, + song, speech, X spoken, talk, task, + that, X there done, thing (concerning), thought, + thus, tidings, what(-soever), + wherewith, which, word, work.]

c. fall [5307 * naphal][Strong: to fall, in a great variety of applications (intransitive or causative, literal or figurative):--be accepted, cast (down, self, (lots), out), cease, die, divide (by lot), (let) fail, (cause to, let, make, ready to) fall (away, down, -en, -ing), fell(-ing), fugitive, have (inheritance), inferior, be judged (by mistake for 6419), lay (along), (cause to) lie down, light (down), be (X hast) lost, lying, overthrow, overwhelm, perish, present(-ed, -ing), (make to) rot, slay, smite out, X surely, throw down.

d. to the ground [Strong: 776 *  'erets eh'-rets from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

1). All of the sources I checked say the same thing, that this phrase “let none of his words fall to the ground”, mean everything came to pass. They all could be summed up with Matthew Henry.

2). Dake: Spoke only as God inspired him so that every prediction would come true.

3). Matthew Henry: Whatever Samuel said, as a prophet, it proved true, and was accomplished in its season. Probably there were some remarkable instances of the truth of Samuel's predictions that happened soon after, which confirmed those that were afterwards to be fulfilled, and gave general satisfaction as to his mission. God will confirm the word of his servants, and perform the counsel of his messengers.

a). Isaiah 44:24-26 Thus saith the LORD, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb, I am the LORD that maketh all things; that stretcheth forth the heavens alone; that spreadeth abroad the earth by myself;

44:25 That frustrateth the tokens of the liars, and maketh diviners mad; that turneth wise men backward, and maketh their knowledge foolish;

44:26 That confirmeth the word of his servant, and performeth the counsel of his messengers; that saith to Jerusalem, Thou shalt be inhabited; and to the cities of Judah, Ye shall be built, and I will raise up the decayed places thereof:

b). Numbers 23:19 God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?

4). The very first time God spoke to Samuel was about the judgment upon the house of Eli, above, 1 Samuel 3:11-14 and it came to pass.