1 Samuel 15 · Verse 1

1 Samuel 15:1

Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord.
1 Samuel 15:1, King James Version

1 Samuel 15:1 in other translations

BSBThen Samuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you king over His people Israel. Now therefore, listen to the words of the LORD.
WEBSamuel said to Saul, “The LORD sent me to anoint you to be king over his people, over Israel. Now therefore listen to the voice of the LORD’s words.
ASVAnd Samuel said unto Saul, Jehovah sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of Jehovah.
YLTAnd Samuel saith unto Saul, ‘Me did Jehovah send to anoint thee for king over His people, over Israel; and now, hearken to the voice of the words of Jehovah:
DARBYAnd Samuel said to Saul, Jehovah sent me to anoint thee king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken to the voice of the words of Jehovah.
BBEAnd Samuel said to Saul, The Lord sent me to put the holy oil on you and to make you king over his people, over Israel: so give ear now to the words of the Lord.
WebsterSamuel also said to Saul, the LORD sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou to the voice of the words of the LORD.

What does 1 Samuel 15:1 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
1Sa 15:1-6. Saul Sent to Destroy Amalek. 1. Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee ...: now therefore hearken thou unto ... the Lord--Several years had been passed in successful military operations against troublesome neighbors. During these Saul had been left to act in a great measure at his own discretion as an independent prince. Now a second test is proposed of his possessing the character of a theocratic monarch in Israel; and in announcing the duty required of him, Samuel brought before him his official station as the Lord's vicegerent, and the peculiar obligation under which he was laid to act in that capacity. He had formerly done wrong, for which a severe rebuke and threatening were administered to him (1Sa 13:13, 14). Now an opportunity was afforded him of retrieving that error by an exact obedience to the divine command.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary

Introduction

Samuel sends Saul to destroy the Amalekites, and all their substance, 1Sam 15:1-3. Saul collects an immense army and comes against their city, 1Sam 15:4, 1Sam 15:5. He desires the Kenites to remove from among the Amalekites, 1Sam 15:6. He smites the Amalekites, and takes their king, Agag, prisoner, and saves the best of the spoil, 1Sam 15:7-9. The Lord is displeased, and sends Samuel to reprove him, 1Sam 15:10, 1Sam 15:11. The conversation between Samuel and Saul, in which the latter endeavors to justify his conduct, 1Sam 15:12-23. He is convinced that he has done wrong, and asks pardon, 1Sam 15:24-31. Samuel causes Agag to be slain; for which he assigns the reasons, 1Sam 15:32-35. Verse 1 The Lord sent me to anoint thee - This gave him a right to say what immediately follows.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:1-9
The sentence of condemnation against the Amalekites had gone forth long before, Ex 17:14; De 25:19, but they had been spared till they filled up the measure of their sins. We are sure that the righteous Lord does no injustice to any. The remembering the kindness of the ancestors of the Kenites, in favour to them, at the time God was punishing the injuries done by the ancestors of the Amalekites, tended to clear the righteousness of God in this dispensation. It is dangerous to be found in the company of God's enemies, and it is our duty and interest to come out from among them, lest we share in their sins and plagues, Re 18:4. As the commandment had been express, and a test of Saul's obedience, his conduct evidently was the effect of a proud, rebellious spirit. He destroyed only the refuse, that was good for little. That which was now destroyed was sacrificed to the justice of God.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Samuel 15:1 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיֹּ֤אמֶרvai.Yo.merand he saidH559
שְׁמוּאֵל֙she.mu.'ElSamuelH8050
אֶל\־'el-toH413
שָׁא֔וּלsha.'UlSaulH7586
אֹתִ֨י'o.Ti<obj.> meH853
שָׁלַ֤חsha.Lachhe sentH7971
יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahwehH3068
לִמְשָׁחֳךָ֣lim.sho.cho.Khato anoint youH4886
לְמֶ֔לֶךְle.Me.lekhto kingH4428
עַל\־'al-overH5921
עַמּ֖וֹa.Mopeople hisH5971
עַל\־'al-overH5921
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
וְעַתָּ֣הve.'a.Tahand thereforeH6258
שְׁמַ֔עshe.Ma'listenH8085
לְק֖וֹלle.Kolto [the] voice ofH6963
דִּבְרֵ֥יdiv.Rei[the] words ofH1697
יְהוָֽה\׃\ \סYah.wehYahwehH3068

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 15:1

  • 1 Samuel 9:16

    To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.

  • 1 Samuel 12:14

    If ye will fear the Lord, and serve him, and obey his voice, and not rebel against the commandment of the Lord, then shall both ye and also the king that reigneth over you continue following the Lord your God:

  • 1 Chronicles 22:12-13

    Only the Lord give thee wisdom and understanding, and give thee charge concerning Israel, that thou mayest keep the law of the Lord thy God. Then shalt thou prosper, if thou takest heed to fulfil the statutes and judgments which the Lord charged Moses with concerning Israel: be strong, and of good courage; dread not, nor be dismayed.

  • 1 Samuel 13:13

    And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

  • Psalms 2:10-11

    Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

  • 1 Samuel 15:16-18

    Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the Lord hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on. And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the Lord anointed thee king over Israel? And the Lord sent thee on a journey, and said, Go and utterly destroy the sinners the Amalekites, and fight against them until they be consumed.

  • 2 Samuel 23:2-3

    The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

  • 1 Samuel 10:1

    Then Samuel took a vial of oil, and poured it upon his head, and kissed him, and said, Is it not because the Lord hath anointed thee to be captain over his inheritance?

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
1 Samuel sends Saul to destroy Amalek.
6 Saul favours the Kenites.
7 He spares Agag and the best of the spoil.
10 Samuel denounces unto Saul God's rejection of him for his disobedience.
24 Saul's humiliation.
32 Samuel kills Agag.
34 Samuel and Saul part.

A.M. 2925. B.C. 1079. An. Ex. Is. 412. The Lord.
17,18; 9:16; 10:1
hearken.
16; 12:14; 13:13; 2Sa 23:2,3; 1Ch 22:12,13; Ps 2:10,11

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 15:1

    Samuel also said unto Saul, The Lord sent me to anoint thee to be king over his people, over Israel: now therefore hearken thou unto the voice of the words of the Lord.

  • 1 Samuel 15:2

    Thus saith the Lord of hosts, I remember that which Amalek did to Israel, how he laid wait for him in the way, when he came up from Egypt.

Read all of 1 Samuel 15

1 Samuel 15:1 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909		Y SAMUEL dijo á Saúl: Jehová me envió á que te ungiese por rey sobre su pueblo Israel: oye pues la voz de las palabras de Jehová.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885		*Et Samuel dit à Saül: L’ Éternel m’a envoyé pour t’oindre comme roi sur son peuple, sur Israël; et maintenant, écoute la voix des paroles de l’ Éternel.
German
Elberfelder 1871		Und Samuel sprach zu Saul: Jehova hat mich gesandt, um dich zum König zu salben über sein Volk, über Israel. So höre nun auf die Stimme der Worte Jehovas.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate		Et dixit Samuel ad Saul: Me misit Dominus ut ungerem te in regem super populum ejus Israël: nunc ergo audi vocem Domini.