1 Samuel 15:28

²⁶ “I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.”

²⁷ As Samuel turned to go, Saul grabbed the hem of his robe, and it tore.

So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

²⁹ Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.”

³⁰ “I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

Here the Bible tells a story about someone else. Ask yourself what it can say to us today. Do read the surrounding verses too, because the context often says more than a single verse.

Compare

BSB: So Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today and has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.
KJV: And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
WEB: Samuel said to him, “The LORD has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and has given it to a neighbor of yours who is better than you.
ASV: And Samuel said unto him, Jehovah hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbor of thine, that is better than thou.
DARBY: Then Samuel said to him, Jehovah has rent the kingdom of Israel from thee to-day, and has given it to thy neighbour, who is better than thou.
BLB: And Samuel said to him, “YHWH has torn the kingdom of Israel from you today, and He has given it to your neighbor who is better than you.

ÅB: Da sa Samuel til ham: Herren har idag revet kongedømmet over Israel fra deg og gitt det til en annen, som er bedre enn du.
OTB: Så sa Samuel til ham: «Herren har i dag revet Israels kongedømme fra deg og gitt det til din nabo som er bedre enn deg.
B1930: Da sa Samuel til ham: Herren har idag revet kongedømmet over Israel fra dig og gitt det til en annen, som er bedre enn du.

Study notes (Tyndale)

Original text and word study

Cross references

1 Samuel 28:17–18
He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingship out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David.
Read in context
Acts 13:22
After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’
Read in context
Romans 13:1
Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which is from God. The authorities that exist have been appointed by God.
Read in context
1 Samuel 2:7–8
The LORD sends poverty and wealth; He humbles and He exalts.
Read in context
Daniel 4:17
This decision is the decree of the watchers, the verdict declared by the holy ones, so that the living will know that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes, setting over it the lowliest of men.’
Read in context
Daniel 4:32
You will be driven away from mankind to live with the beasts of the field, and you will feed on grass like an ox. And seven times will pass you by, until you acknowledge that the Most High rules over the kingdom of mankind and gives it to whom He wishes.”
Read in context
1 Kings 11:30–31
And Ahijah took hold of the new cloak he was wearing, tore it into twelve pieces,
Read in context
Jeremiah 27:5–6
By My great power and outstretched arm, I made the earth and the men and beasts on the face of it, and I give it to whom I please.
Read in context