1 Samuel 28:18 Meaning and Explanation
“Because thou obeyedst not the voice of the LORD, nor executedst his fierce wrath upon Amalek, therefore hath the LORD done this thing unto thee this day.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Samuel names the reason for Saul's downfall: his failure to obey the LORD's command concerning Amalek.
What Does 1 Samuel 28:18 Mean?
Samuel traces the present judgment back to its root. Saul did not obey the voice of the LORD in the matter of Amalek, when he was commanded to carry out God's sentence and instead kept back what he chose. That disobedience, long past, is the seed now bearing its bitter harvest. The prophet leaves no doubt about the cause.
Partial obedience, Saul's old failure, is here shown to be disobedience in full. To obey God in what suits us while withholding what does not is to choose our judgment over His. The believer is urged to take obedience seriously, not as cold legalism but as the loving response of trust, knowing that the One who commands sees the end from the beginning and asks nothing without cause.
1 Samuel 28:18 in the Original Language
shamaʻ (שָׁמַע), 'obey' -- to hear in a way that yields and acts, not merely to listen.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 28:18
What does 1 Samuel 28:18 mean?
Samuel names the reason for Saul's downfall: his failure to obey the LORD's command concerning Amalek.