1 Samuel 15 13

1 Samuel 15:13 kjv

And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.

1 Samuel 15:13 nkjv

Then Samuel went to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed are you of the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD."

1 Samuel 15:13 niv

When Samuel reached him, Saul said, "The LORD bless you! I have carried out the LORD's instructions."

1 Samuel 15:13 esv

And Samuel came to Saul, and Saul said to him, "Blessed be you to the LORD. I have performed the commandment of the LORD."

1 Samuel 15:13 nlt

When Samuel finally found him, Saul greeted him cheerfully. "May the LORD bless you," he said. "I have carried out the LORD's command!"

1 Samuel 15 verses

1 Samuel 15 13 Meaning

This verse opens the crucial confrontation between the prophet Samuel and King Saul following Saul's military campaign against the Amalekites. Saul's declaration, "Blessed be you to the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD," is a pre-emptive assertion of complete obedience and piety. He presents himself as one who has successfully executed God's explicit instruction. However, this statement immediately clashes with the divine reality known to Samuel, setting the stage for the dramatic revelation of Saul's partial, and thus disobedient, actions concerning the Amalekite spoil and King Agag.

1 Samuel 15 13 Context

Chapter 15 of 1 Samuel marks a pivotal moment in the narrative of King Saul's reign, leading directly to God's rejection of him as king. Prior to this verse, the LORD commanded Saul through Samuel to utterly destroy the Amalekites (1 Sam 15:2-3), a directive known as cherem or "devotion to destruction." This was not merely a military campaign but a divine judgment on a nation that had persistently opposed Israel and attacked them without provocation in the wilderness (Ex 17:8-16, Deut 25:17-19). The command was absolute: no person or animal was to be spared.

Historically and culturally, cherem was an extreme measure reflecting God's holy wrath against unrepentant evil, also serving to prevent pagan corruption among the Israelites. Saul, however, disobeys this direct command, sparing Agag, the Amalekite king, and the best of the livestock (1 Sam 15:9). Saul's motivation seems to have been a combination of pride (taking Agag as a war trophy), desire for spoil, and a misplaced religious sentiment to sacrifice the best of the animals to the LORD, thus justifying his partial obedience. This verse, 1 Samuel 15:13, occurs at the very beginning of Samuel's arrival, where Saul greets Samuel with a false claim of perfect obedience, unaware or perhaps denying that his actions have already been revealed to God and, consequently, to Samuel. This sets up the stark contrast between Saul's deceptive words and the reality of his profound failure to obey.

1 Samuel 15 13 Word analysis

• And Samuel came to Saul: This highlights Samuel's divine commission. His arrival signifies a moment of accountability for Saul, as Samuel is God's representative.
• and Saul said to him: Saul initiates the conversation, preemptively asserting his obedience. This shows his immediate intent to control the narrative or justify himself.
• Blessed be you to the LORD! (Hebrew: Baruch atta la-YHWH):
  • Baruch (בָּרוּךְ): "Blessed," "praised." It is a common greeting or declaration of divine favor.
  • Atta (אַתָּה): "You."
  • La-YHWH (לַיהוָה): "To the LORD."
  • Saul's use of this phrase, though appearing pious, is potentially a calculated move. It could be an attempt to ingratiate himself with Samuel, acknowledge Samuel's holy office, or perhaps imply that his (Saul's) successful mission merits a blessing, thereby drawing divine favor and agreement to his claimed obedience. It creates a religious façade.
• I have performed (Hebrew: 'asithi עָשִׂיתִי):
  • Asah (עָשָׂה): The root verb means "to do," "to make," "to perform," "to carry out."
  • Saul uses the perfect tense, indicating a completed action. He is asserting that the task is fully accomplished, leaving no room for question. This is a direct claim of complete and thorough execution.
• the commandment (Hebrew: mitzvat מִצְוַת):
  • Mitzvah (מִצְוָה): Refers to a specific, binding divine command or instruction.
  • Saul clearly acknowledges that his actions were supposed to be in response to a direct mandate from God. This recognition makes his partial obedience all the more grievous, as he was fully aware of the divine nature of the order.
• of the LORD (Hebrew: YHWH יְהוָה):
  • Emphasizes the ultimate source of the command. Saul recognizes it as God's, the sovereign ruler of Israel. His statement attempts to portray loyalty and fidelity to God himself.
• Phrase analysis:
  • "Blessed be you to the LORD! I have performed the commandment of the LORD": This is a stark example of superficial religiosity covering up profound disobedience. Saul frames his self-righteous claim with pious language, likely believing it would absolve him or convince Samuel. It demonstrates a desire to appear righteous rather than be righteous, and a clear disconnect between his words and actions.

1 Samuel 15 13 Bonus section

• Saul's response here echoes his earlier disobedience and self-justification when he offered the burnt offering without waiting for Samuel (1 Sam 13:10-14), indicating a pattern of spiritual presumption and a consistent failure to truly trust and obey God's appointed authority and commands.
• This exchange lays the foundation for Samuel's timeless pronouncement in 1 Samuel 15:22-23, that "to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams." This principle underlines that genuine devotion to God is demonstrated not through ritual acts that compensate for disobedience, but through sincere adherence to His word from a heart that trusts and fears Him.
• Saul's actions here also demonstrate a deeper flaw: a greater fear of people (what they might think or demand) than fear of the LORD. His later excuse (1 Sam 15:24) about fearing the people's demands to spare the spoil exposes this underlying motive, which drives his "partial" obedience. True obedience stems from reverent fear of God alone.

1 Samuel 15 13 Commentary

Saul's declaration in 1 Samuel 15:13 stands as a poignant testament to the deceptive nature of the human heart and the danger of outward performance without genuine, internal obedience. He greets Samuel with a blessing and an immediate, unequivocal assertion of his completion of God's commandment. This is a classic example of self-deception and partial obedience parading as full compliance. Saul likely believed, or at least desperately wanted Samuel to believe, that his actions were commendable. Yet, he conveniently omitted his selective obedience, specifically his failure to destroy King Agag and the finest of the livestock as strictly commanded. This incident highlights a recurring theme: God values true submission and adherence to His word more than external religious acts or impressive accomplishments. Saul's words reveal a deep misunderstanding of the cherem command's spiritual intent, mistaking its complete destruction for an opportunity to glorify himself or extract personal gain. His attempt to manipulate Samuel's perception with religious language only underscores his failure to humble himself before God. The truth, already known to Samuel by divine revelation, would swiftly expose Saul's deceit, leading to dire consequences for his kingship.