1 Samuel 15:22–23
Samuel to Saul: listening to God is better than sacrifice
Study it word by word22Samuel said, “Does YHWH have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in listening to the voice of YHWH? Look, to listen is better than sacrifice, to pay attention than the fat of rams.
23For rebellion is the sin of divination, and stubbornness is wickedness and teraphim. Because you have despised the word of YHWH, he has despised you from being king.”
In its context
20Saul said to Samuel, “Yes, I have listened to the voice of YHWH, and I went on the way on which YHWH sent me; and I have brought Agag king of Amalek, and Amalek I have devoted to destruction.
21But the people took from the spoil animals of the flock and herd, the firstfruits of what was devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to YHWH your Elohim in Gilgal.”
…
24Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned, for I have transgressed the command of YHWH and your words, because I feared the people and listened to their voice.
25And now, forgive, please, my sin, and return with me, and I will bow down to YHWH.”
Its words in the original
- יֹּאמֶרyomer· say
Say, speak. The most common verb for bringing in what someone says; sometimes "think" (say to oneself) or "command".
- שְׁמוּאֵלshemuel· Samuel
Samuel, the name of two persons. One was a chief of the tribe of Simeon (Numbers 34:20). The best known is the son of Elkanah and Hannah, prophet and last judge of Israel, who anointed the kings Saul and David. The name sounds like "heard by El" or "name of El."
- חֵפֶץchefets· delight, desire, matter
Delight, pleasure, desire: what pleases someone. It can also be a valuable thing or a matter, an affair.
- יהוָהyhva· YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
- עֹלוֹתolot· burnt offering
Burnt offering: a sacrifice in which the animal is burned whole on the altar, as a total gift to God. The Hebrew word means "what goes up" (in smoke).
- זְבָחִיםzevachim· sacrifice
Sacrifice: an animal offered to God; part of its meat was eaten in a shared meal.
- שְׁמֹעַshemoa· hear, listen, obey
Hear, listen. In the Bible listening truly includes paying heed; so it often means "obey". In the causative form, make heard, proclaim.
- קוֹלkol· voice, sound
Voice or sound: what is heard, from a person, an animal or a thing (thunder, steps).
- טוֹבtov· good
Good in the widest sense: pleasant, beautiful, useful, right, of good quality. As a noun, "good", "good things", "well-being".
- הַקְשִׁיבhakshiv· pay attention, listen
To pay attention, to listen carefully, to prick up the ears. It is more than hearing: it is heeding what is said.
- חֵלֶבchelev· fat; best
Fat. It was considered the best part of the animal, so it also means "the best".
- אֵילִיםelim· ram
Ram: the male sheep. Also a leader, a strong tree, or a pillar.
- חַטַּאתchatat· sin, sin offering
Sin: missing the mark of what God asks; also the guilt and the punishment. In the laws the same word also names the sacrifice offered for sin.
- קֶסֶםkesem· divination
Divination: an attempt to know what is hidden by lots or signs; also what was paid to the diviner.
- מֶרִיmeri· rebellion
Rebellion. "Sons of rebellion" are rebels.
- אָוֶןaven· wickedness, trouble
Wickedness, trouble: what is empty and comes to nothing; also the evil and the affliction it brings.
- תְרָפִיםterafim· household gods
Teraphim: images of gods kept in the home. The Bible counts them among idols (1 Samuel 15:23; Zechariah 10:2).
- הַפְצַרhaftsar· urge, press
Urge, press someone; insist.
- מָאַסְתָּmaasta· reject, despise
Despise, reject, refuse something.
- דְּבַרdevar· word, matter, thing
Word; what is said. Also "matter" or "thing": what is spoken about, an affair, an event.
- מֶּלֶךְmelech· king
King: the ruler of a city, a people or a kingdom.