1 Samuel 15:23
What does 1 Samuel 15:23 mean?
A plain-English look at 1 Samuel 15:23 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.
What 1 Samuel 15:23 means
This verse, spoken by the prophet Samuel to King Saul, equates rebellion against God's commands with serious spiritual offenses. Specifically, rebellion is likened to witchcraft, an act of seeking power or knowledge outside of God, which is strictly forbidden in the Old Testament. Stubbornness, a refusal to obey God's direct instructions, is paralleled with iniquity and idolatry, both of which involve turning away from the true God to serve other gods or self. The gravity of these comparisons highlights that disobedience to God is not a minor transgression but a fundamental rejection of His authority and character. The verse underscores that such defiance results in divine consequences, as evidenced by Saul's rejection as king.
Parallel translations
WEB
World English Bible · 2000For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
KJV
King James Version · 1611For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
ASV
American Standard Version · 1901For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king.
BBE
Bible in Basic English · 1949For to go against his orders is like the sin of those who make use of secret arts, and pride is like giving worship to images. Because you have put away from you the word of the Lord, he has put you from your place as king.
YLT
Young's Literal Translation · 1862for a sin of divination <FI>is<Fi> rebellion, and iniquity and teraphim <FI>is<Fi> stubbornness; because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, He also doth reject thee from <FI>being<Fi> king.'
DRA
Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752Because it is like the sin of witchcraft, to rebel: and like the crime of idolatry, to refuse to obey. Forasmuch, therefore, as thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord hath also rejected thee from being king.
DBY
Darby Bible · 1890For rebellion is [as] the sin of divination, And selfwill is [as] iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, He hath also rejected thee from being king.
Context
This verse is found within the narrative of 1 Samuel 15, which recounts Yahweh’s command to Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites, including all their livestock. Saul, however, disobeys by sparing King Agag and the best of the sheep and oxen, ostensibly for sacrifice. Samuel confronts Saul regarding this act of partial obedience. This specific verse is Samuel’s direct condemnation of Saul’s actions, immediately preceding Yahweh’s definitive statement of rejection. This rejection leads directly to the anointing of David as the next king, setting the stage for the subsequent divine narrative of Israel.
v.22And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
v.23This passage
v.24And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Jehovah, and thy words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.
Cross references
Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.
- Jeremiah 29:32
therefore thus saith Jehovah, Behold, I will punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite, and his seed; he shall not have a man to dwell among this people, neither shall he behold the good that I will do unto my people, saith Jehovah, because he hath spoken rebellion against Jehovah.
- 1 Samuel 12:14
If ye will fear Jehovah, and serve him, and hearken unto his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of Jehovah, and both ye and also the king that reigneth over you be followers of Jehovah your God, well:
- Leviticus 20:6
And the soul that turneth unto them that have familiar spirits, and unto the wizards, to play the harlot after them, I will even set my face against that soul, and will cut him off from among his people.
- Job 34:37
For he addeth rebellion unto his sin; He clappeth his hands among us, And multiplieth his words against God.
- Ezekiel 2:5
And they, whether they will hear, or whether they will forbear (for they are a rebellious house), yet shall know that there hath been a prophet among them.
- 2 Kings 17:15
And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified unto them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the nations that were round about them, concerning whom Jehovah had charged them that they should not do like them.
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