1 Samuel 15:22
20 “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction.
21 The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”
But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is like the sin of divination, and arrogance is like the wickedness of idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of the LORD, He has rejected you as king.”
24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- But Samuel declared: “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.
- KJV
- And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
- WEB
- Samuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the LORD’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
- ASV
- And 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.
- DARBY
- And Samuel said, Has Jehovah delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, As in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, Attention than the fat of rams.
- BLB
- And Samuel said, “Has YHWH delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as [in] listening to the voice of YHWH? Behold, to listen is better than sacrifice, [and] to heed than the fat of rams.
- ÅB
- Da sa Samuel: Har vel Herren like så meget behag i brennoffer og slaktoffer som i lydighet mot Herrens ord? Nei, lydighet er bedre enn slaktoffer, hørsomhet bedre enn fettet av værer;
- OTB
- Samuel sa:
«Har Herren like stor glede i brennoffer og slaktoffer
Som i å adlyde Herrens røst?
Se, å adlyde er bedre enn offer,
Og å lytte er bedre enn fettet av værer. - B1930
- Da sa Samuel: Har vel Herren like så meget behag i brennoffer og slaktoffer som i lydighet mot Herrens ord? Nei, lydighet er bedre enn slaktoffer, hørsomhet bedre enn fettet av værer;
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.
Read in contextPsalms 51:16–17
For You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; You take no pleasure in burnt offerings.
Read in contextProverbs 21:3
To do righteousness and justice is more desirable to the LORD than sacrifice.
Read in contextAmos 5:21–24
“I hate, I despise your feasts! I cannot stand the stench of your solemn assemblies.
Read in contextMark 12:33
and to love Him with all your heart and with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself, which is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”
Read in contextMatthew 9:13
But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Read in contextMicah 6:6–8
With what shall I come before the LORD when I bow before the God on high? Should I come to Him with burnt offerings, with year-old calves?
Read in contextJeremiah 7:22–23
For when I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt, I did not merely command them about burnt offerings and sacrifices,
Read in context