1 Samuel 15:35 kjv
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.
1 Samuel 15:35 nkjv
And Samuel went no more to see Saul until the day of his death. Nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul, and the LORD regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
1 Samuel 15:35 niv
Until the day Samuel died, he did not go to see Saul again, though Samuel mourned for him. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
1 Samuel 15:35 esv
And Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death, but Samuel grieved over Saul. And the LORD regretted that he had made Saul king over Israel.
1 Samuel 15:35 nlt
Samuel never went to meet with Saul again, but he mourned constantly for him. And the LORD was sorry he had ever made Saul king of Israel.
1 Samuel 15 35 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 15:10-11 | Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, “I greatly regret that I have made Saul king... | LORD's initial regret about Saul's kingship. |
| 1 Sam 15:22-23 | Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying...? Reb… as the sin of divination... | Obedience is preferred over sacrifice; rebellion's severity. |
| 1 Sam 15:28-29 | The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today... and He who is the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind... | God's unchangeable character despite changed actions. |
| Num 23:19 | God is not a man, that He should lie; nor a son of man, that He should repent... | God's immutability; not repenting like humans. |
| Mal 3:6 | For I am the LORD, I do not change; therefore you are not consumed, O sons of Jacob. | God's unchanging nature. |
| Jas 1:17 | Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above... with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. | God's consistency and faithfulness. |
| Gen 6:6-7 | So the LORD was grieved that He had made man on the earth, and He was pained in His heart. And the LORD said, “I will destroy man... | God's "repentance" as sorrow leading to changed action. |
| Exod 32:14 | So the LORD relented from the harm which He said He would do to His people. | God's conditional relenting based on human action. |
| Jer 18:7-10 | The instant I speak concerning a nation and concerning a kingdom, to pluck up... if that nation turns... I will repent... | God's conditional prophecies and relational responses. |
| Jonah 3:10 | Then God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God relented... | God's compassion leading to a change in judgment. |
| Ps 33:11 | The counsel of the LORD stands forever, The plans of His heart to all generations. | God's eternal purpose cannot be thwarted. |
| Isa 46:10 | Declaring the end from the beginning... My counsel shall stand, And I will do all My pleasure... | God's sovereignty and predetermined will. |
| Hos 13:11 | I gave you a king in My anger, And took him away in My wrath. | God's ultimate control over kingship; removal of Saul. |
| 1 Sam 16:1 | Now the LORD said to Samuel, "How long will you mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him... Fill your horn... I will send you to Jesse..." | God moving Samuel beyond mourning to anoint David. |
| Ps 78:40-41 | How often they rebelled against Him... grieved Him in the desert! Yes, again and again they tempted God... | Israel's persistent rebellion causing grief to God. |
| Eph 4:30 | And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. | Grieving God through disobedience (NT parallel). |
| 1 John 2:15-17 | Do not love the world or the things in the world... the world is passing away... | Worldly pursuit over obedience (Saul's fault). |
| Prov 14:12 | There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. | Human self-reliance leading to downfall (Saul). |
| 2 Tim 3:1-5 | But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves... | Warnings against self-will and disobedience. |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first... | Judgment begins with God's people (Saul). |
| Rom 11:29 | For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. | Gifts are irrevocable, but an individual's enjoyment can be forfeited by disobedience. |
| Heb 12:29 | For our God is a consuming fire. | God's holiness and consuming judgment against sin. |
1 Samuel 15 verses
1 Samuel 15 35 Meaning
This verse marks a decisive turning point, signifying a permanent estrangement between the prophet Samuel and King Saul following Saul's disobedient actions against the divine command regarding the Amalekites. Despite this irreparable rift, Samuel expressed profound personal grief over Saul's spiritual downfall and the severe consequences it brought upon him. Concurrently, it states that the LORD expressed deep sorrow or a change in His relationship with Saul, regretting, from a relational and consequential perspective, that He had appointed Saul as king over Israel, due to Saul's persistent disobedience.
1 Samuel 15 35 Context
1 Samuel 15:35 concludes the pivotal account of Saul's definitive rejection as king. Prior to this verse, the LORD commanded Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites (1 Sam 15:2-3) because of their ancient hostility against Israel (Exod 17:8-16, Deut 25:17-19). However, Saul disobeyed, sparing King Agag and the best of the livestock, rationalizing his actions as a means to offer sacrifices to the LORD (1 Sam 15:9, 15). Samuel confronted Saul, condemning his partial obedience and highlighting that "to obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Sam 15:22). Saul's persistent rationalization and unwillingness to truly humble himself sealed his fate. God declared He had rejected Saul from being king, and Samuel, having performed God's will by executing Agag (1 Sam 15:33), now separates from Saul. This verse encapsulates the sorrow and finality of God's rejection of Saul due to his self-will and incomplete obedience. The broader context highlights the early development of the monarchy in Israel, God's standards for His appointed leaders, and the severe consequences of disobedience, setting the stage for David's rise.
1 Samuel 15 35 Word analysis
- And Samuel: The prophet Samuel, central figure in anointing and rebuking Saul, represents divine authority and will.
- came no more: Hebrew, לֹא שָׁב (lo shav), literally "did not return." This signifies a permanent, irreversible cessation of formal, public, prophetic visits. It emphasizes a complete rupture in their relationship, particularly in Samuel's capacity as God's representative to Saul the king.
- to see Saul: Hebrew, לִרְאוֹת שָׁאוּל (lirot Sha'ul). More than just casual viewing, this implies coming into his presence for official counsel or divine pronouncement. Samuel’s refusal to "see" Saul any further marks the end of God's direct, personal communication through Samuel to Saul as king.
- until the day of his death: This underscores the finality and the enduring nature of this separation, meaning Samuel never again resumed his official role towards Saul.
- nevertheless: Introduces a poignant contrast. Despite the formal separation, Samuel’s heart was still deeply affected.
- Samuel mourned: Hebrew, יִתְאַבֵּל (yit'abbel), "to mourn, lament, be grieved." This denotes deep sorrow and lamentation. It shows Samuel’s genuine love and compassion for Saul, and grief over Saul's spiritual failure and the tragic waste of God's calling upon him. It wasn't merely a formal judgment, but a personal heartbreak over what could have been.
- for Saul: Specifies the object of Samuel’s grief, confirming his empathy despite the judgment.
- and the LORD: Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, who initiated Saul's kingship.
- repented: Hebrew, וַיִּנָּחֶם (vayyinnacham), a reflexive verb derived from נחם (nacham), "to be sorry, regret, comfort." This is a crucial theological concept when applied to God. It does not mean God changed His perfect character, purposes, or omniscience (cf. 1 Sam 15:29; Num 23:19). Instead, it describes a change in God's disposition, action, or relationship due to a change in human conduct. It expresses God's deep grief, sorrow, or regret over the outcome that Saul's sin necessitated. God is pained when His created beings act contrary to His good will, requiring Him to alter His chosen course of action towards them (e.g., withdrawing favor, bringing judgment), rather than the original plan He had for their blessing. It's a statement of divine heartbreak over human rebellion and its inevitable consequences.
- that he had made Saul king: Indicates the specific act over which God expressed regret due to its tragic result. This emphasizes that Saul’s failure was profound enough to warrant a reversal of divine favor concerning his role as king.
- over Israel: The impact of Saul's kingship was on the whole nation, reinforcing the magnitude of his failure and its consequence.
- "Samuel came no more... nevertheless, Samuel mourned for Saul": This grouping highlights the paradox of divine judgment combined with personal empathy. Samuel executes God’s judgment fully, ensuring no further official contact with the disobedient king, yet simultaneously carries profound personal sorrow for the individual’s tragic downfall. It shows the emotional toll on the prophet in delivering divine pronouncements.
- "the LORD repented that he had made Saul king": This phrase encapsulates the divine response to human disobedience. It underscores God's sovereignty in choosing leaders and His holy intolerance for rebellion, while also portraying a "suffering" God who is grieved when His gracious appointments turn to unfaithfulness, requiring Him to change His relational posture and withdraw His blessing.
1 Samuel 15 35 Bonus section
The concept of divine nacham as expressed in this verse is key to understanding God's interaction with humanity. It shows that while God's ultimate decrees are fixed (e.g., His covenant promises to David), His interaction with individuals and nations can be dynamically influenced by their obedience or disobedience. God's "repentance" highlights His relational depth, showing that He is not an impassive deity but one who is intimately affected by the choices of His creation, feeling grief over their departure from His ways. This divine sorrow stands as a poignant reminder that God desires obedience not out of self-interest, but because it leads to blessing and life, and its absence brings about pain and loss, even for Him.
1 Samuel 15 35 Commentary
1 Samuel 15:35 serves as the solemn and final declaration of Saul's irreversible rejection as king and the enduring grief it caused both Samuel and God Himself. Samuel's decision to "come no more to see Saul" marks the definitive end of God's prophetic guidance being formally channelled to Saul. This was not Samuel's personal spite but God's withdrawal of direct, divine interaction through His prophet due to Saul's sustained rebellion against the clear command to utterly destroy the Amalekites.
Despite this definitive break and the severe judgment Samuel was instrumental in delivering, his "mourning for Saul" reveals the genuine, compassionate heart of the prophet. It was a lament for a wasted divine calling and the tragic self-destruction of Israel's first king. This mirrors divine sorrow over human sin.
Crucially, the statement that "the LORD repented that He had made Saul king" does not imply a change in God's character, omniscience, or sovereign plan. God remains immutable (Num 23:19; Mal 3:6). Rather, the Hebrew verb nacham ("repented") here signifies a change in God's relational posture and actions towards Saul due to Saul's changed conduct. It reflects God's deep grief and sorrow over the consequences of human rebellion that necessitated the withdrawal of His favor and the revocation of the kingly covenant with Saul’s house. God grieves over sin because it goes against His good and perfect will for His creation, forcing Him to enact consequences He would rather not. This verse, therefore, portrays God as both perfectly righteous in judgment and profoundly sorrowful over the spiritual and existential failures of His chosen servant. It's a powerful illustration of divine holiness meeting human disobedience, resulting in a just, yet deeply regretted, consequence.