1 Samuel 15 28

1 Samuel 15:28 kjv

And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou.

1 Samuel 15:28 nkjv

So Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.

1 Samuel 15:28 niv

Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to one of your neighbors?to one better than you.

1 Samuel 15:28 esv

And Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you this day and has given it to a neighbor of yours, who is better than you.

1 Samuel 15:28 nlt

And Samuel said to him, "The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to someone else ? one who is better than you.

1 Samuel 15 verses

1 Samuel 15 28 Meaning

This verse pronounces God's definitive rejection of Saul as king due to his disobedience. It declares that the LORD, the sovereign God of Israel, has already "torn" or irrevocably taken the kingdom from Saul and has bestowed it upon another individual, described as Saul's "neighbor," who is deemed "better" or more righteous in God's sight. This judgment signifies a divinely orchestrated transfer of power, immediately effective.

1 Samuel 15 28 Context

This verse is the climax of Samuel's confrontation with King Saul after Saul's disobedient actions during the war against the Amalekites in 1 Samuel 15. God had commanded Saul to utterly destroy everything, "man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." However, Saul, under the guise of offering sacrifices to the LORD, spared Agag the Amalekite king and the best of the livestock (1 Sam 15:8-9, 20-21).

Samuel, filled with grief, delivers God's condemnation. Saul's defense centered on partially obeying and retaining "good" things for sacrifice, leading to Samuel's iconic declaration that "to obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Sam 15:22-23). Saul's actions revealed his desire for self-preservation, people-pleasing, and partial obedience rather than complete submission to God's clear command. This was not Saul's first major transgression, as he had earlier usurped Samuel's priestly role in chapter 13.

The historical context is critical: Israel had only recently established its monarchy, seeking "a king like all the other nations" (1 Sam 8:5). God, through Samuel, granted their request but intended for their king to be fundamentally different – a ruler under God's supreme authority, upholding His law. Saul's repeated failures demonstrated his unsuitability for this unique divine mandate. Samuel's words in verse 28 underscore God's unwavering sovereignty over His chosen kingdom and His king. The tearing of Samuel's robe earlier in the chapter, signifying a break, prefigures this verbal pronouncement of the kingdom being "torn" from Saul.

1 Samuel 15 28 Word analysis

• And Samuel said to him: This highlights Samuel's authoritative role as God's prophet and spokesman. His words are not personal opinion but a divine oracle, making the judgment irreversible.
• The LORD (YHWH): Emphasizes that this is not human politicking or a coup, but the sovereign act of the covenant God of Israel. It underscores divine initiative and power.
• has torn (קָרַע - qaraʿ): This verb means to rip, to cut apart, or to separate violently. It's a forceful, decisive, and irreversible action. The same root is used when Samuel's robe tears (1 Sam 15:27), visually representing the rending of the kingdom from Saul. It implies an abrupt, complete severance rather than a gradual decline. This tearing signifies an end to God's endorsement of Saul's reign from this day forward.
• the kingdom of Israel: Refers specifically to the kingship, the divinely ordained position of leadership over God's people. It's not just territory, but the spiritual and political authority tied to the covenant.
• from you (מֵעָלֶיךָ - me'alayik): Explicitly designates Saul as the recipient of this divine judgment. It singles him out as the one from whom the authority is removed.
• today (הַיּוֹם - hayyōm): This word emphasizes the immediate and definitive nature of the pronouncement. The transfer of the kingdom is already sealed in God's eyes; it's an accomplished fact from this moment onward, though its full manifestation will unfold over time. It underlines the finality of the judgment.
• and has given it (וּנְתָנָהּ - ūntānāh): The action is a divine grant or transfer. The kingdom is God's to give. He is not merely allowing a change; He is actively orchestrating it.
• to a neighbor of yours (לְרֵעֲךָ - lere'aka): The term re'a often means "friend," "companion," or "fellow man." In this context, it signifies someone from within the community of Israel, a contemporary of Saul. This term makes the future king sound unassuming, perhaps someone close by or even known to Saul, but the revelation that it's David later adds irony. It indicates God's choice from within Israel, not an outsider.
• who is better (טוֹב - ṭôḇ) than you: "Better" here refers to moral and spiritual superiority from God's perspective. It does not necessarily imply military prowess or outward appearance (which characterized Saul), but rather a heart that seeks to obey God completely and humbly (e.g., Acts 13:22, a man after God's own heart). Saul was "goodly" (handsome, tall - 1 Sam 9:2) in human eyes, but the next king would be "better" in God's eyes, valuing obedience over sacrifice, integrity over appearance.

1 Samuel 15 28 Bonus section

• The immediacy implied by "today" is significant. While Saul continued to reign for some years after this declaration, God's effective rejection occurred at that moment. This is a critical theological distinction between divine decree and historical manifestation. Saul was functioning as king, but his legitimate divine backing was revoked.
• This passage powerfully illustrates the principle that God's choices are not based on human metrics (like Saul's impressive stature or initial popularity) but on a person's heart posture towards Him. The concept of "better" foreshadows God choosing David, a shepherd boy, underscoring this divine perspective (1 Sam 16:7).
• The incident highlights the ultimate accountability of all leaders, even kings, to God. Earthly power is provisional and delegated, subject to God's higher will and His righteous judgments.

1 Samuel 15 28 Commentary

1 Samuel 15:28 serves as a stark declaration of God's uncompromising judgment against disobedience, especially in leadership. Saul's failure was not merely a mistake but a fundamental rebellion against God's explicit command and His divine standards for kingship. He attempted to manage his sin by offering excuses and religious performance (sacrifices) rather than genuinely repent.

Samuel's announcement that "the LORD has torn the kingdom...from you today" underscores the sovereignty of God over human institutions, including kingship. God is the ultimate grantor and remover of authority. The "tearing" is vivid and reflects the permanence and pain of this divine separation. Saul had torn Samuel's robe in a moment of desperation; God, in turn, effectively tears Saul from his position of authority.

The designation of the new king as "a neighbor... who is better than you" introduces an element of mystery while affirming that God had already made His choice. This "better" quality implies spiritual fitness, humility, and a heart devoted to God's will—qualities lacking in Saul, who frequently acted from fear of people or self-interest rather than fear of the LORD. This foundational difference between Saul and the divinely chosen successor, David, would shape the trajectory of Israelite monarchy. This verse is not simply a transfer of power, but a re-affirmation of God's character: He values wholehearted obedience over outward performance, and He remains true to His holy standards, even when His chosen leaders fail Him.