1 Samuel 15:24 kjv
And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
1 Samuel 15:24 nkjv
Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
1 Samuel 15:24 niv
Then Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned. I violated the LORD's command and your instructions. I was afraid of the men and so I gave in to them.
1 Samuel 15:24 esv
Saul said to Samuel, "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
1 Samuel 15:24 nlt
Then Saul admitted to Samuel, "Yes, I have sinned. I have disobeyed your instructions and the LORD's command, for I was afraid of the people and did what they demanded.
1 Samuel 15 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference Note |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 15:9 | But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen... | Saul's partial obedience, key to his confession. |
| 1 Sam 15:22 | And Samuel said, "Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices... | Emphasizes obedience over ritual. |
| 1 Sam 15:23 | For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and presumption is as iniquity and idolatry... | God's rejection of Saul due to disobedience. |
| Prov 29:25 | The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe. | Direct parallel to Saul's motivation. |
| Gal 1:10 | For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man?... | Choosing to please God over men. |
| Acts 5:29 | But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than men." | Priority of divine obedience over human command. |
| Matt 10:28 | And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul, but rather fear him... | Right fear of God, not men. |
| John 12:42-43 | Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in him, but for fear of the Pharisees... | Fear of man hindering confession/obedience. |
| Jer 7:22-23 | For when I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not speak to them... | God prioritizes obedience above sacrifice from beginning. |
| Hosea 6:6 | For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings. | Divine preference for spiritual heart over ritual. |
| Psa 51:16-17 | For you will not delight in sacrifice, or I would give it; you will not be pleased... | Broken and contrite heart preferred over sacrifice. |
| Isa 1:11-15 | "What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says the LORD; I have had enough..." | God's disdain for external worship without internal change. |
| James 1:22 | But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. | Practical exhortation against partial obedience. |
| Luke 11:28 | But he said, "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!" | Blessing for hearing and obeying God's Word. |
| Rom 1:28-32 | And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind... | Consequence of choosing human will over God's. |
| Prov 28:13 | Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes... | Nature of true confession vs. Saul's justification. |
| 2 Cor 7:10 | For godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas... | Distinction between godly sorrow and worldly sorrow. |
| Exod 10:16-17 | So Pharaoh hurriedly called Moses and Aaron and said, "I have sinned against the LORD..." | Similar superficial confession, lacking true repentance. |
| Num 14:1-12 | Then all the congregation raised a loud cry, and the people wept that night... | Israel's fear of enemies and disobedience to God, leading to judgment. |
| Heb 3:12-19 | Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading... | Unbelief and disobedience preventing entrance into God's rest. |
| 1 Sam 13:13-14 | Samuel said to Saul, "You have done foolishly. You have not kept the command of the LORD... | Previous instance of Saul's disobedience and divine rejection. |
1 Samuel 15 verses
1 Samuel 15 24 Meaning
In 1 Samuel 15:24, King Saul confesses his transgression to the prophet Samuel, admitting he directly disobeyed God's command concerning the Amalekites. His rationale for this disobedience was his fear of the people and his decision to comply with their wishes instead of God's clear directive. This verse highlights Saul's compromised leadership and misplaced allegiance, demonstrating his greater concern for popular approval than divine authority.
1 Samuel 15 24 Context
1 Samuel chapter 15 records God's command through Samuel to Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites, a long-standing enemy of Israel with a history of attacking them (Deut 25:17-19). This command, known as cherem (devotion to destruction), meant no plunder or captives were to be taken; everything was to be annihilated as an act of divine judgment. Saul, however, practiced partial obedience: he defeated the Amalekites but spared King Agag and the best of the livestock, claiming they were for sacrifice to the LORD. This act was a direct defiance of God's clear instructions. Samuel confronts Saul, emphasizing that "to obey is better than sacrifice" (v. 22). God's irreversible decision to reject Saul as king for his disobedience is declared (v. 23). It is within this confrontational context, immediately after being informed of God's definitive rejection, that Saul offers his confession in verse 24. This historical backdrop highlights the seriousness of divine commands and the standard of absolute obedience required of Israel's king, who was meant to perfectly embody God's rule.
1 Samuel 15 24 Word analysis
- And Saul said: Indicates a direct, immediate response by Saul. His words come in a moment of crisis, following Samuel's pronouncement of God's rejection.
- to Samuel,: Samuel acts as God's direct messenger and representative. Saul's confession is directed to Samuel because Samuel is the conduit through which God's command and rejection were communicated.
- "I have sinned,: (Hebrew: חָטָאתִי, chatati) This term implies missing the mark, falling short of a standard. It is an admission of failure or wrong-doing. However, in this context, later events show it's a confession rooted in regret over consequences rather than true contrition.
- for I have transgressed: (Hebrew: עָבַרְתִּי, avarti) This verb means "to pass over," "to cross over a boundary," or "to violate." It suggests a deliberate crossing of a known line or command, not merely an unintentional sin. This emphasizes a knowing act of disobedience.
- the command of the LORD: (Hebrew: מִצְוַת יְהוָה, mitzvat Yahweh) Refers to the specific and explicit instruction given by God regarding the total destruction of Amalek. Yahweh denotes the covenant God of Israel, highlighting the absolute authority behind the command. This was not a general moral failing but a direct breach of a revealed divine decree.
- and your words,: Saul acknowledges Samuel's role as God's prophet. Disobeying Samuel's words was equivalent to disobeying God's words (cf. Deut 18:18-19). This reveals that Saul knew the source and authority of the command.
- because I feared: (Hebrew: כִּי יָרֵאתִי, ki yareiti) "Feared" here refers to the fear of human disapproval or physical consequence, distinct from the reverent "fear of the LORD" which leads to obedience and wisdom. Saul's motivation was primarily external pressure from his subjects. This type of human fear is a snare that traps one into disobedience (Prov 29:25).
- the people: (Hebrew: הָעָם, ha'am) Refers to the Israelite soldiers and common populace. Saul prioritized their immediate desires (e.g., for plunder or a perceived noble act of sacrifice) over God's absolute command. This showcases a foundational weakness in his kingship: a greater desire to please people than God.
- and obeyed their voice.: (Hebrew: וָאֶשְׁמַע בְּקֹלָם, va'eshma b'qolam, literally "and I listened to their voice.") This is a profound contrast to "obeying the voice of the LORD." Saul listened to and heeded the human voice above the divine. This reveals his ultimate loyalty was to public opinion and his own perceived stability as king among the people, rather than God's mandate.
Words-Group Analysis:
- "I have sinned, for I have transgressed the command of the LORD and your words,": Saul attempts to admit guilt but simultaneously diminishes it by attributing his failure to external factors. The sequence of "sinned" and "transgressed" builds to indicate a conscious violation. Including "your words" emphasizes his clear knowledge of the divine origin of the command via Samuel.
- "because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.": This phrase exposes the core reason for his disobedience: human approval. It presents a stark contrast between choosing God's way versus the world's way. This fear led him to choose immediate, perceived safety and popularity over faithfulness, setting a dangerous precedent for a leader.
1 Samuel 15 24 Bonus section
- Saul's Lack of True Repentance: While Saul says "I have sinned," his subsequent actions and repeated appeals to Samuel for honor before the people (1 Sam 15:30) indicate that his sorrow was not godly sorrow leading to repentance but worldly sorrow for the consequences he faced. He still sought Samuel's public approval, demonstrating that his primary concern was his status among men, not true reconciliation with God.
- The Weight of Divine Commands: The cherem command regarding Amalek was specific and absolute. Saul's selective obedience exposed his misunderstanding of divine authority – God does not want part of us; He demands all. His reasoning, that the best of the flock was spared for sacrifice, also highlights a misunderstanding that ritual could substitute for obedience (1 Sam 15:22-23).
- A Recurring Temptation: The fear of man (or pleasing man) is a recurring human temptation, particularly for leaders. It often leads to compromise with divine standards. Saul's example serves as a potent warning against allowing external pressures to dictate internal obedience to God. His failure underscores that true spiritual authority and kingship must derive from, and remain subject to, God's Word alone.
1 Samuel 15 24 Commentary
1 Samuel 15:24 is a pivotal verse, encapsulating Saul's fundamental flaw as king. His confession of "sin" and "transgression" might initially seem commendable, yet its subsequent justification—"because I feared the people and obeyed their voice"—reveals a heart more concerned with external approval and maintaining his position than with true obedience to God. This is not genuine repentance, but a confession motivated by the devastating consequences of being caught and rejected. Saul's fear of man proved a snare (Prov 29:25), leading him to prioritize the wishes of his soldiers—who likely desired spoil for themselves—over God's unambiguous cherem command. He was a people-pleaser before he was a God-pleaser. This episode serves as a powerful reminder that partial obedience is full disobedience in God's eyes, and that justifications for sin, no matter how outwardly plausible, do not excuse it. It underscores the profound theological truth: absolute obedience to God's specific word is non-negotiable for those in His service.
- Example 1 (Leadership): A church leader might implement popular but unbiblical programs, fearing congregational pushback if they uphold clear biblical teachings. Saul's actions demonstrate the danger of such compromise.
- Example 2 (Personal Obedience): An individual might neglect quiet time or tithes, yielding to social pressure or the "voice" of consumerism, rather than prioritizing God's commands in their daily life.