1 Samuel 15:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Saul is commanded to carry out a complete judgment against Amalek, sparing nothing.
What Does 1 Samuel 15:3 Mean?
This is the charge that will test Saul's whole reign. He is sent as the instrument of a long-delayed verdict against a people whose violence had ripened over generations. The command is sweeping and severe, leaving no room for personal gain.
Such words are sobering, and Scripture does not soften them. They belong to a particular moment of judgment within God's dealings with the nations, and they remind us that evil is not endless in its reprieve. The deeper test for Saul is simple obedience: will he do exactly what the LORD has said, or carve out exceptions of his own?
1 Samuel 15:3 in the Original Language
charam (חָרַם), 'utterly destroy' -- to devote something entirely to God, placed beyond ordinary use or profit.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 15:3
What does 1 Samuel 15:3 mean?
Saul is commanded to carry out a complete judgment against Amalek, sparing nothing.