1 Samuel 15:22 Meaning and Explanation
“And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Samuel declares that obedience pleases the LORD more than sacrifice.
What Does 1 Samuel 15:22 Mean?
Samuel speaks the timeless heart of the chapter: to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. God takes no delight in offerings that come in place of obedience. The outward act of worship cannot outweigh a yielded will.
This word reaches its fullness in the One who came saying, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. Where Saul withheld and bargained, Christ obeyed completely, and His perfect obedience becomes the offering that saves. God desires not our gifts but ourselves; the truest worship is a life surrendered to His voice.
1 Samuel 15:22 in the Original Language
shama (שָׁמַע), 'obey' -- to hear with the whole self in a way that yields to and acts upon what is heard.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 15:22
What does 1 Samuel 15:22 mean?
Samuel declares that obedience pleases the LORD more than sacrifice.