1 Samuel 15:23 Meaning and Explanation
“For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Samuel equates rebellion with witchcraft and announces that Saul is rejected as king.
What Does 1 Samuel 15:23 Mean?
Samuel names the gravity of Saul's sin: rebellion is like the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness like idolatry. To set one's own will against God's word is to put self in the place that belongs to Him alone. Because Saul rejected that word, the kingship is now taken from him.
Sin laid bare is more serious than we imagine. To insist on our own way against God is, at its root, to bow before another god, the self. Yet the warning is also a mercy, calling us to surrender before our stubbornness costs us what we were given. What we reject in God's word, we may find rejected in our own lives.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 15:23
What does 1 Samuel 15:23 mean?
Samuel equates rebellion with witchcraft and announces that Saul is rejected as king.