1 Samuel 15:11 Meaning and Explanation
“It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →The LORD grieves over Saul's turning away, and Samuel cries out all night.
What Does 1 Samuel 15:11 Mean?
God speaks His sorrow over Saul, who has turned back from following Him and left His commandments unperformed. The word translated repenteth conveys deep grief and a change in God's dealing with the king. Samuel is so shaken that he cries to the LORD through the whole night.
Disobedience grieves the heart of God; it is never a small or merely legal matter. Yet notice the prophet's response: not cold satisfaction at Saul's fall, but tears and prayer. To love as God loves is to be wounded by another's sin and to carry it before the LORD in the dark.
1 Samuel 15:11 in the Original Language
nacham (נָחַם), 'repenteth' -- to be deeply moved with grief or to change one's course, here expressing God's sorrow over Saul.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 15:11
What does 1 Samuel 15:11 mean?
The LORD grieves over Saul's turning away, and Samuel cries out all night.