1 Samuel 15:24 Meaning and Explanation
“And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Saul confesses his sin but blames it on fearing the people.
What Does 1 Samuel 15:24 Mean?
At last Saul says the words I have sinned, admitting he transgressed the commandment of the LORD. Yet even his confession carries an excuse: he feared the people and obeyed their voice. He acknowledges the fault while shifting its cause.
The fear of man is a snare that has toppled many. Saul cared more for the crowd's approval than for God's command, and a confession half-burdened with blame is only half a confession. True repentance owns the sin without softening it, laying the whole of it before God and asking for mercy alone.
1 Samuel 15:24 in the Original Language
yare (יָרֵא), 'feared' -- to dread or stand in awe; here Saul's dread of people displaced his reverence for God.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 15:24
What does 1 Samuel 15:24 mean?
Saul confesses his sin but blames it on fearing the people.