1 Samuel 15:23
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.”
22 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.
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.
25 Now therefore, please forgive my sin and return with me so I can worship the LORD.”
Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.
Compare
- BSB
- 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.”
- KJV
- For 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.
- WEB
- For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected the LORD’s word, he has also rejected you from being king.”
- ASV
- For 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.
- DARBY
- For 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.
- BLB
- For [as] the sin of witchcraft [is] rebellion, and iniquity and teraphim [is] stubbornness, because you have rejected the word of YHWH, so He has rejected you as king.”
- ÅB
- for gjenstridighet er ikke bedre enn trolldoms-synd, og trossighet er som avgudsdyrkelse. Fordi du har forkastet Herrens ord, har han forkastet deg, så du ikke skal være konge.
- OTB
- For opprør er som synden trolldom,
Og trass er som misgjerning og avgudsdyrkelse.
Fordi du har forkastet Herrens ord,
Har han også forkastet deg fra å være konge.» - B1930
- for gjenstridighet er ikke bedre enn trolldoms-synd, og trossighet er som avgudsdyrkelse. Fordi du har forkastet Herrens ord, har han forkastet dig, så du ikke skal være konge.
Study notes (Tyndale)
Original text and word study
Cross references
Jeremiah 28:16
Therefore this is what the LORD says: ‘I am about to remove you from the face of the earth. You will die this year because you have preached rebellion against the LORD.’”
Read in context1 Samuel 13:14
But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”
Read in contextLeviticus 20:6
Whoever turns to mediums or spiritists to prostitute himself with them, I will also set My face against that person and cut him off from his people.
Read in contextGalatians 5:20
idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,
Read in context2 Corinthians 6:16
What agreement can exist between the temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell with them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be My people.”
Read in contextJeremiah 29:32
this is what the LORD says: ‘I will surely punish Shemaiah the Nehelamite and his descendants. He will have no one left among this people, nor will he see the good that I will bring to My people, declares the LORD, for he has preached rebellion against the LORD.’”
Read in contextDeuteronomy 18:10–11
Let no one be found among you who sacrifices his son or daughter in the fire, practices divination or conjury, interprets omens, practices sorcery,
Read in contextEzekiel 2:5–8
And whether they listen or refuse to listen—for they are a rebellious house—they will know that a prophet has been among them.
Read in context