1 Samuel 15 30

1 Samuel 15:30 kjv

Then he said, I have sinned: yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.

1 Samuel 15:30 nkjv

Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God."

1 Samuel 15:30 niv

Saul replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God."

1 Samuel 15:30 esv

Then he said, "I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the LORD your God."

1 Samuel 15:30 nlt

Then Saul pleaded again, "I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the LORD your God."

1 Samuel 15 verses

1 Samuel 15 30 Meaning

In 1 Samuel 15:30, Saul, having been definitively rejected by God as king through the prophet Samuel due to his disobedience, makes a final plea. His "confession" of sin, though present, is superficial. His primary concern is the preservation of his reputation and status before the people of Israel and their elders, rather than genuine contrition or restoration of his relationship with God. He desperately requests Samuel to accompany him back to the people, implying a public display of solidarity, so that Saul may continue a show of reverence to the LORD, not for true worship, but to maintain his public image as king.

1 Samuel 15 30 Context

Chapter 15 of 1 Samuel chronicles the pivotal event of God's definitive rejection of Saul as king due to his disobedience. The LORD commanded Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites and all their possessions (cherem), a direct command of holy war for their historical opposition to Israel. However, Saul partially obeyed, sparing King Agag and the best of the livestock, ostensibly for sacrifice, but actually due to his and the people's greed and desire for personal gain or prestige. Samuel confronts Saul, who attempts to justify his actions, shift blame to the people, and feign obedience. Samuel delivers God's verdict that obedience is more important than sacrifice, and because Saul has rejected the word of the LORD, the LORD has rejected him as king. Saul's subsequent "confession" (v. 24) is insincere, quickly followed by a plea to Samuel not to leave him, fearing loss of prestige. In 15:30, Saul’s deep-seated insecurity and fear of man are laid bare. He is more concerned with external appearances and the esteem of his people than with divine approval. This event highlights the nature of true worship—it must stem from a heart of obedience, not mere ritual or public show.

1 Samuel 15 30 Word analysis

• Then Saul said: Saul's words directly follow Samuel's definitive declaration of God's rejection. His response shows desperation rather than true sorrow.
• "I have sinned" (חָטָאתִי - ḥāṭā’tî): A direct confession of wrongdoing. While literally meaning "to miss the mark," here it's an acknowledgment of offense against God's command. However, its sincerity is immediately undercut by his subsequent actions and plea. It sounds more like an admission of being caught rather than true remorse.
• "Yet (וְעַתָּה - vĕ'attāh, lit. "and now" or "but now") please honor me (כַּבְּדֵנִי־נָא - kabbĕḏēnî-nāʾ, from כָּבַד - kābad, meaning "to be heavy, glorious, honored"): This conjunctive "yet" or "but now" dramatically shifts the focus from his "sin" to his immediate, self-serving concern. The root kābad means to make weighty, give esteem or glory. Here, Saul is pleading for social validation and preservation of his reputation, demanding public honor from Samuel, who represents God. This highlights a fundamental flaw in his character – prioritizing human approval over divine judgment.
• "now before the elders of my people (לְעֵינֵי זִקְנֵי עַמִּי - lĕ‘ênê ziqnê ‘ammî, "in the eyes of the elders of my people") and before Israel (וְלִפְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - wĕliph'nê yiśrā’ēl, "and before the face of Israel"): Saul specifies his audience. The elders represent the regional and tribal leaders, and "Israel" signifies the broader public. His request reveals his deepest fear: public shame and loss of legitimate kingship in the eyes of his subjects. His concern is horizontal (man-to-man reputation) not vertical (man-to-God relationship).
• "and return with me (וְשׁוּב עִמִּי - wĕšûḇ ‘immî) that I may worship (וְאֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה - wĕ’eštaḥăweh, from שָׁחָה - šāḥâ, "to bow down, prostrate oneself, worship"): The request to return implies public support and an endorsement of his continued rule. The word šāḥâ means to humble oneself before someone, often in reverence or worship. While a common term for worship, coming from Saul, it suggests a performative act intended to deceive or reassure the people rather than an act of genuine devotion to God. It is a show of religious piety for outward consumption.
• "the LORD your God" (לַיהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ - la-YHWH ’ĕlōhêkā): Significant. Saul does not say "the LORD my God," but "the LORD your God." This subtle distinction, though not always conclusive, can sometimes imply a distance or detachment from a personal covenant relationship. It further emphasizes that his primary concern is Samuel's presence for his public image, not his own re-establishment of a deep, personal connection with God. This points to his ongoing spiritual alienation.

1 Samuel 15 30 Bonus section

Saul’s character, as displayed in 1 Samuel 15:30, stands in stark contrast to later figures of true repentance and submission to God's will. For example, David, when confronted with his sin, exhibits genuine remorse and seeks restoration with God above all else (2 Sam 12:13; Psa 51). Saul’s inability to grasp the profound implications of his sin against the Holy God, and his continued focus on public image, ultimately set him on a downward spiral that led to his ultimate rejection and demise. This verse serves as a potent reminder that true spiritual leadership and authority flow from obedience and a right relationship with God, not from outward display or human adulation. The use of "the LORD your God" reinforces his detachment, implying he sees God as Samuel's God, not intimately his own. This further signifies the chasm between Saul's external religiosity and his internal spiritual state.

1 Samuel 15 30 Commentary

1 Samuel 15:30 encapsulates Saul’s tragic spiritual decline and reveals a pivotal aspect of his character flaw: his profound insecurity and preoccupation with human approval over divine obedience. While he confesses sin, it is not accompanied by true repentance. A truly contrite heart, like that expressed in Psalm 51, seeks first to be reconciled with God, humbling oneself fully. Saul's "I have sinned" is quickly overridden by his immediate follow-up: "Yet, please honor me." This exposes that his deepest pain is not the offense against God but the potential loss of his social standing and perceived authority.

His desire for Samuel to return and for public worship is not born of a thirst for spiritual reconciliation but a desperate attempt to manipulate appearances. By having Samuel, the esteemed prophet, visibly support him, Saul aims to retain credibility in the eyes of his people, especially the powerful elders. This superficiality highlights a core biblical theme: God desires genuine obedience and heart-worship more than outward rituals (1 Sam 15:22; Hos 6:6; Isa 29:13). Saul’s words and actions are a direct polemic against true Yahwistic faith, which emphasizes a transformed heart and sincere devotion above all else. His struggle foreshadows a pattern seen in individuals who are "lovers of self" and "lovers of human praise" rather than "lovers of God" (John 12:43).