1 Samuel 15 16

1 Samuel 15:16 kjv

Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

1 Samuel 15:16 nkjv

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Be quiet! And I will tell you what the LORD said to me last night." And he said to him, "Speak on."

1 Samuel 15:16 niv

"Enough!" Samuel said to Saul. "Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night." "Tell me," Saul replied.

1 Samuel 15:16 esv

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! I will tell you what the LORD said to me this night." And he said to him, "Speak."

1 Samuel 15:16 nlt

Then Samuel said to Saul, "Stop! Listen to what the LORD told me last night!" "What did he tell you?" Saul asked.

1 Samuel 15 verses

1 Samuel 15 16 Meaning

This verse marks a pivotal moment of direct confrontation, where the prophet Samuel authoritatively silences King Saul's verbose excuses regarding his disobedience. Samuel announces his intention to relay a recent, divine message, unequivocally stating that his forthcoming words are not his own thoughts or interpretations, but the direct pronouncement of Yahweh Himself, revealed to him just the previous night. It underscores the ultimate authority of God's word above all human justification or political expediency.

1 Samuel 15 16 Context

1 Samuel Chapter 15 narrates the divine command given to King Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites (the cherem or "devotion to destruction") in retribution for their historical enmity against Israel during the Exodus (Exo 17:8-16; Deut 25:17-19). Saul initially complies by mustering a large army and striking Amalek. However, he disobeys God's specific instructions by sparing King Agag and the best of the livestock, presumably to offer them as sacrifices and possibly for personal gain or prestige.

The verses leading up to 1 Samuel 15:16 describe God's "regret" over making Saul king due to his disobedience, and Samuel's profound grief (1 Sam 15:10-11). Samuel then goes to confront Saul, who attempts to present himself as having fully obeyed, even asserting, "I have performed the commandment of the Lord" (1 Sam 15:13). Saul tries to shift blame to the people and offer a pious justification—the spared animals were for sacrifice (1 Sam 15:15). Verse 16 intervenes dramatically, with Samuel cutting off Saul's flow of self-justification to deliver a fresh divine verdict. This encounter marks the final rejection of Saul's kingship by God.

Historically and culturally, the cherem command was an extreme measure in ancient warfare, reserved for peoples deemed irredeemable or as part of holy war, to prevent the contamination of Israel by their practices and deities. Disobeying this command was a direct affront to God's authority and covenant faithfulness. Prophets, like Samuel, served as direct conduits of God's will to the kings, often delivering harsh judgments and maintaining God's sovereignty over the monarchy.

1 Samuel 15 16 Word analysis

• Then Samuel said to Saul: Establishes the speaker (Samuel, the prophet) and the recipient (Saul, the king). It highlights the unique dynamic: the spiritual authority confronting the reigning temporal power.
• 'Stop!': Hebrew: הֶרֶף (Hereph). This is a strong imperative, an abrupt command from the root רָפָה (raphah), meaning "to relax," "to let go," "to cease," or "to desist." It is an interjection used to silence someone immediately and forcefully. In this context, it cuts off Saul's attempt to rationalize or minimize his disobedience, signaling that no further human argument will suffice in the face of divine revelation.
• I will tell you: Hebrew: אַגִּידָה לְךָ (aggidah l'kha). From נָגַד (nagad), "to declare," "to make known," "to report." This phrase signifies Samuel's role as a divine messenger. He is not offering an opinion or engaging in a debate; he is about to deliver a pronouncement, a fixed and unchangeable word from God. The directness highlights his authority as God's prophet.
• what the Lord said: Hebrew: אֵת אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר יְהוָה (et asher dibber Yahweh).
  • The Lord: Hebrew: יְהוָה (Yahweh). This is the personal, covenant name of God, emphasizing His unique sovereignty, holiness, and direct involvement in Israel's affairs. It lends ultimate, unquestionable authority to the message Samuel is about to convey. It is not "a god" but the God of Israel speaking.
  • said: Hebrew: דִּבֶּר (dibber). From דָּבַר (dabar), meaning "to speak," "to communicate," "to declare." This emphasizes an articulate, intentional communication from God, not merely an impression or feeling.
• to me: Samuel is explicitly named as the recipient of the divine message, confirming his prophetic authority and legitimizing the words he is about to utter. He is the chosen vessel.
• last night: Hebrew: הַלַּיְלָה (hallaylah). This temporal marker indicates a recent, fresh, and specific divine revelation. It suggests a significant overnight communication, possibly through a dream or direct voice, making the message undeniably current and directly applicable to Saul's present predicament. It underlines that this is not an old prophecy but a direct answer to God's prior "regret" (1 Sam 15:11).
• Words-group Analysis: "Then Samuel said to Saul, 'Stop!'": This opening establishes a confrontation rooted in Samuel's divine mandate. The imperative "Stop!" underscores the stark contrast between Saul's human self-justification and the imminent, undeniable divine verdict.
• Words-group Analysis: "I will tell you what the Lord said to me last night.": This declaration defines Samuel's immediate purpose: to deliver God's explicit word, not engage in argument. The recent nature of the revelation ("last night") intensifies its relevance and irrefutable authority for the present moment of judgment on Saul's actions. It signifies the end of debate and the beginning of divine pronouncement.

1 Samuel 15 16 Bonus section

• The immediacy indicated by "last night" suggests that God had already formed His judgment concerning Saul's kingship even before Samuel embarked on his journey to meet Saul. This implies God's full foreknowledge and decisive character, not reacting to Saul's excuses but already having weighed the initial disobedience.
• This exchange foreshadows the theological principle often repeated in the Prophets and affirmed in the New Testament: outward religious observances are meaningless without genuine, heart-level obedience to God's direct commands (Isa 1:11-17, Jer 7:21-23, Mk 12:33).
• Samuel's command highlights the tension between prophetic authority and royal authority in early Israel. While Saul was the king, Samuel, as God's prophet, held a higher spiritual authority when delivering divine messages, a relationship critical for Israel's covenant fidelity.

1 Samuel 15 16 Commentary

This verse serves as the immediate turning point in the confrontation between Samuel and Saul, dramatically shifting from Saul's evasions to the weight of God's impending judgment. Samuel’s forceful command, "Stop!" signals that the time for human reasoning, excuses, or pretense of piety is over. Saul's claims of having obeyed the Lord and sparing livestock for sacrifice (1 Sam 15:13-15) are dismissed outright by the sheer force of Samuel's prophetic authority.

By announcing he would deliver what "the Lord said to me last night," Samuel emphasizes the immediate, fresh, and undeniable source of his message. This is not Samuel's opinion, but Yahweh's direct word, making any further argument futile. The very specificity ("last night") underscores that God’s rejection of Saul’s incomplete obedience was a settled matter from divine counsel, even before Saul presented his false narrative. The verse sets the stage for the iconic pronouncement in 1 Samuel 15:22: "To obey is better than sacrifice." It reveals a core truth: God values complete and humble obedience to His clear commands far above human-contrived religious acts or self-serving justifications.