1 Samuel 15:19 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Samuel asks why Saul seized the spoil instead of obeying the LORD.
What Does 1 Samuel 15:19 Mean?
Now comes the question that names the sin. Why, Samuel asks, did Saul not obey the voice of the LORD, but instead fly upon the spoil and do evil in His sight? The picture is of a man pouncing greedily on what he was told to forsake.
Disobedience is here measured by a single standard: the voice of the LORD. Saul's religious explanations fall away before this plain word, evil in the sight of the LORD. What looks like reasonable gain can be rebellion when it stands against God's command. The heart's true loyalty is revealed by what it grasps when God says let go.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 15:19
What does 1 Samuel 15:19 mean?
Samuel asks why Saul seized the spoil instead of obeying the LORD.