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1 Samuel 15:17

Samuel
PrideHumilityIdentity and self-worth

15 Saul answered, “The troops brought them from the Amalekites; they spared the best sheep and cattle to sacrifice to the LORD your God, but the rest we devoted to destruction.”

16 “Stop!” exclaimed Samuel. “Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.” “Tell me,” Saul replied.

And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel

18 and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’

19 So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”

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Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB
And Samuel said, “Although you were once small in your own eyes, have you not become the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel
KJV
And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?
WEB
Samuel said, “Though you were little in your own sight, weren’t you made the head of the tribes of Israel? The LORD anointed you king over Israel;
ASV
And Samuel said, Though thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel? And Jehovah anointed thee king over Israel;
DARBY
And Samuel said, Was it not when thou wast little in thine eyes that thou [becamest] the head of the tribes of Israel, and Jehovah anointed thee king over Israel?
BLB
And Samuel said, “Is [it] not [that] when you [were] small in your own eyes—the head of the tribes of Israel—then YHWH anointed you as king over Israel?
ÅB
Samuel sa: Da du var ringe i dine egne øyne, ble du hode for Israels stammer, og Herren salvet deg til konge over Israel.
OTB
Samuel sa: «Selv om du anså deg selv som ubetydelig, ble du ikke gjort til leder for Israels stammer? Og Herren salvet deg til konge over Israel,
B1930
Samuel sa: Da du var ringe i dine egne øine, blev du hode for Israels stammer, og Herren salvet dig til konge over Israel.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

  • 1 Samuel 15:1–3

    Then Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 9:21

    Saul replied, “Am I not a Benjamite from the smallest tribe of Israel, and is not my clan the least of all the clans of Benjamin? So why would you say such a thing to me?”

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 10:22

    So again they inquired of the LORD, “Has the man come here yet?” And the LORD replied, “Behold, he has hidden himself among the baggage.”

    Read in context

  • 1 Samuel 10:1

    Then Samuel took a flask of oil, poured it on Saul’s head, kissed him, and said, “Has not the LORD anointed you ruler over His inheritance?

    Read in context

  • Matthew 18:4

    Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

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  • Judges 6:15

    “Please, my Lord,” Gideon replied, “how can I save Israel? Indeed, my clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the youngest in my father’s house.”

    Read in context

  • Hosea 13:1

    When Ephraim spoke, there was trembling; he was exalted in Israel. But he incurred guilt through Baal, and he died.

    Read in context