1 Samuel 15 14

1 Samuel 15:14 kjv

And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?

1 Samuel 15:14 nkjv

But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?"

1 Samuel 15:14 niv

But Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of sheep in my ears? What is this lowing of cattle that I hear?"

1 Samuel 15:14 esv

And Samuel said, "What then is this bleating of the sheep in my ears and the lowing of the oxen that I hear?"

1 Samuel 15:14 nlt

"Then what is all the bleating of sheep and goats and the lowing of cattle I hear?" Samuel demanded.

1 Samuel 15 verses

1 Samuel 15 14 Meaning

In 1 Samuel 15:14, Samuel directly confronts King Saul's claim of full obedience to God's command regarding the Amalekites. Having previously commanded Saul to utterly destroy all Amalekites and their livestock, Samuel, upon meeting Saul, asks about the sounds of bleating sheep and lowing oxen. This rhetorical question serves to expose Saul's blatant disobedience and hypocrisy, revealing that despite his verbal affirmation of fulfilling God's word, his actions—evidenced by the presence of livestock that should have been destroyed—contradicted his claims. It underscores the Lord's omnipresent knowledge and the impossibility of hiding sin from Him.

1 Samuel 15 14 Context

1 Samuel 15:14 occurs immediately after King Saul proudly declares to Samuel that he has "performed the commandment of the Lord." This claim directly contradicts God's clear instruction given through Samuel in 1 Samuel 15:3 to utterly destroy everything belonging to the Amalekites, including all their livestock, without sparing. Saul, however, in defiance of this command, spared Agag, the king of the Amalekites, and the best of the sheep and oxen, under the guise of wanting to sacrifice them to the Lord (1 Sam 15:9). Samuel's pointed question in verse 14, therefore, serves as the prophet's immediate, divinely inspired response, demonstrating that God's knowledge penetrates human deception and reveals the truth. The very sounds Saul tried to rationalize or ignore became the undeniable evidence of his rebellion and disingenuous claim of obedience.

1 Samuel 15 14 Word analysis

• And Samuel said, (וַיֹּאמֶר שְׁמוּאֵל, vayyomer sh'mu'el)
  • Samuel: (Shmu'el) "Heard by God" or "Name of God." God's appointed prophet and judge. His role is to speak God's authoritative word and confront human failure. His presence signifies divine intervention and judgment.
  • said: Simple declarative, but in this context, it sets up a powerful, challenging question.
• What then meaneth this bleating of the sheep (מֶה־ק֤וֹל הַצֹּאן֙ הַזֶּ֔ה וְהַמֹּאָ֣ת הַבָּקָ֔ר)
  • What then meaneth: A direct, rhetorical question expressing surprise and disbelief, implying a clear contradiction. Samuel knows exactly what it means, but he forces Saul to confront the obvious discrepancy.
  • this bleating: (ק֥וֹל הַצֹּאן֙, qol hatz-tzon - literally, "voice of the flock").
    • Bleating: Refers specifically to the sound of sheep. This auditory evidence is irrefutable and immediate, directly undermining Saul's spoken words. It serves as an incriminating witness.
    • sheep: (צֹאן, tzo'n) General term for small cattle, typically sheep or goats. These animals should have been utterly destroyed according to God's command. Their very existence in Saul's possession after the war against Amalek demonstrates his disobedience.
• in mine ears, (בְּאָזְנָ֑י, b'oznay - "in my ears")
  • Emphasizes that the sound is unmistakable and physically present, not just a rumor or abstract idea. It makes Saul's lie tangible and undeniable. It also points to Samuel's role as God's hearing instrument – God heard Saul's actions, and Samuel hears the physical evidence.
• and the lowing of the oxen which I hear? (אֲשֶׁ֥ר אָנֹכִ֖י שֹׁמֵֽעַ, asher anochi shome'a - literally, "which I hear")
  • lowing: (הֲמוֹן הַבָּקָר, hamon habaqar - "sound/noise of the cattle").
    • Lowing: The sound of larger cattle. Coupled with the bleating, it underscores the substantial number of animals spared.
  • oxen: (בָּקָר, baqar) Cattle. Again, explicitly commanded for destruction.
  • which I hear: Redundant for emphasis, highlighting the prophet's personal awareness and direct encounter with the evidence of disobedience. It highlights that the proof of sin is overt and impossible to hide.

Words-group Analysis:

• "What then meaneth this bleating... and the lowing... which I hear?": This phrase is a powerful rhetorical device. It's a question posed not out of ignorance but to elicit an explanation for an obvious contradiction. It forces Saul to account for the physical evidence of his transgression that contradicts his spoken claim of obedience. The sounds serve as a 'witness' against Saul, an accusation audible to all. It highlights the divine irony that the very spoil he took (under the guise of piety) would condemn him.
• "bleating of the sheep... lowing of the oxen": These sounds are the material manifestation of Saul's disobedience. They symbolize the conflict between Saul's false words ("I have performed the commandment") and his true actions (preserving the prohibited spoil). This directly contrasts superficial adherence to the law versus genuine, wholehearted obedience. The animals become unwilling witnesses against Saul's spiritual rebellion and human reasoning over God's clear command.

1 Samuel 15 14 Bonus section

The auditory nature of the evidence in 1 Samuel 15:14 is particularly significant. It serves as an "anti-liturgy," transforming what might have been considered legitimate sacrificial sounds (had the animals been acquired according to God's law) into a clamor of disobedience. This mirrors other biblical instances where sound plays a role in exposing or judging sin, such as the cries from Abel's blood (Gen 4:10) or the revelry at the Golden Calf in Exodus 32:17-18, where the sounds of idolatry directly betrayed the Israelites' rebellion. For Samuel, who heard from the Lord and served as God's voice, to then audibly hear the direct proof of disobedience underscored the unvarnished reality of Saul's rejection of God's command, providing no room for further excuse or pretense. This verse encapsulates the timeless truth that sin always leaves a footprint, and often, an audible cry, that cannot be silenced before the Creator.

1 Samuel 15 14 Commentary

1 Samuel 15:14 captures a pivotal moment exposing the depth of King Saul's disobedience. After his resounding declaration of "I have performed the commandment of the Lord," Samuel's penetrating question cuts through Saul's deception instantly. The bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the oxen are not incidental noises but the damning, tangible evidence of Saul's direct violation of the herem command – the sacred vow of complete destruction against Amalek. This scene underscores that while humans may rationalize, deceive, or hide their sins, God's discerning eye sees all, and even the "stones will cry out" (Luke 19:40) to expose truth. The sounds are a direct contradiction to Saul's words, illustrating the hollowness of his claimed obedience. It reveals Saul's underlying problem: not just an isolated act of sin, but a heart disposed to partial obedience, prioritizing human reputation or perceived benefit (like enriching his army or securing sacrifices) over the unambiguous will of God. This lack of complete surrender and fear of man rather than fear of God led to his downfall.

• Example 1: When we profess faith in public but secretly entertain habits that contradict biblical teaching.
• Example 2: Claiming to serve God wholeheartedly, while our priorities, finances, or time management betray a different master.