1 Samuel 15:10

KJV

¶ Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying,

KJV (with Strong's)

Then came the word {H1697} of the LORD {H3068} unto Samuel {H8050}, saying {H559},

Complete Jewish Bible

Then the word of ADONAI came to Sh'mu'el:

Berean Standard Bible

Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying,

American Standard Version

Then came the word of Jehovah unto Samuel, saying,

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 15:10 marks a solemn and pivotal moment in the narrative of King Saul's reign, immediately following his grave act of partial obedience and outright disobedience regarding God's explicit command concerning the Amalekites. This verse serves as the authoritative divine announcement of impending judgment, delivered through the prophet Samuel, signaling God's profound displeasure and the severe consequences that await Saul for his failure to fully and faithfully obey the Lord's word. It underscores the absolute necessity of complete submission to divine decree, particularly for those in positions of leadership.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This concise yet weighty verse immediately follows Saul's catastrophic failure to execute God's command to utterly destroy the Amalekites. In [1 Samuel 15:1-3](/1-samuel/15-1-3 "1 Samuel 15:1-3 - God's Command to Destroy Amalek"), Samuel had conveyed the Lord's unequivocal directive: "utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey." However, [1 Samuel 15:9](/1-samuel/15-9 "1 Samuel 15:9 - Saul's Disobedience") reveals Saul's blatant deviation, as he and his people "spared Agag and the best of the sheep, oxen, fatlings, lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them." This act of selective obedience, motivated by human reasoning, fear of the people, or desire for spoils, directly contravened the divine mandate, setting the immediate stage for the swift and severe divine response initiated in this verse. The abrupt "Then came the word of the LORD" underscores the direct and urgent nature of God's reaction to Saul's profound sin and the imminent unfolding of divine judgment.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The command to annihilate Amalek was not an arbitrary act but a divinely ordained judgment rooted in their ancient and persistent hostility towards Israel. Amalek had launched an unprovoked attack on the Israelites during their vulnerable exodus from Egypt, as recounted in [Exodus 17:8-16](/exodus/17-8-16 "Exodus 17:8-16 - Amalek Attacks Israel") and reiterated in [Deuteronomy 25:17-19](/deuteronomy/25-17-19 "Deuteronomy 25:17-19 - Remember Amalek"). This was a command of *herem*, or "devotion to destruction," a concept where everything was to be consecrated to God by being destroyed, signifying God's absolute judgment and Israel's complete reliance on Him. For a king, obedience to such a command was paramount, demonstrating his submission to God's ultimate authority and his fitness to lead God's people. Saul's failure to fully execute the *herem* was not a minor oversight but a profound theological and political transgression, undermining God's sovereignty and revealing a fatal flaw in his leadership—a preference for his own will or the people's favor over divine decree.

* **Key Themes:** [1 Samuel 15:10](/1-samuel/15-10 "1 Samuel 15:10 - The Word of the LORD Comes to Samuel") highlights several crucial themes that resonate throughout the book of Samuel and the broader Old Testament. Firstly, it emphasizes **Divine Communication and Sovereignty**: God is not a distant deity but actively involved in the affairs of His people and their leaders, directly communicating His will and responding decisively to human actions. The phrase "the word of the LORD came" signifies a direct, authoritative, and active revelation. Secondly, it underscores the critical theme of **Obedience vs. Disobedience**: Saul's partial obedience is exposed as complete disobedience, revealing that God demands absolute submission, not merely outward compliance or humanly rationalized alternatives. This sets up the profound theological declaration that "to obey is better than sacrifice" found later in [1 Samuel 15:22](/1-samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice"). Finally, the verse reinforces **Samuel's Prophetic Role**: Samuel remains God's faithful messenger, a consistent and unwavering conduit for divine truth and judgment, even when delivering difficult or painful pronouncements against the king himself. This further cements the prophet's authority as superior to the king's when it comes to the divine word.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **Word (Hebrew, _dâbâr'_):** The Hebrew term דָבָר (H1697, *dâbâr*) translated as "word" in "the word of the LORD" is exceptionally rich and multifaceted. Beyond a mere spoken utterance, it can denote a thing, an affair, a matter, a message, or even an event. In this context, it signifies a concrete, authoritative divine declaration that carries the full weight of God's will and purpose. It is not a suggestion or an impression but a definitive pronouncement that actively brings about what it speaks, highlighting God's dynamic involvement in history.
* **LORD (Hebrew, _Yᵉhôvâh'_):** The divine name יְהֹוָה (H3068, *Yᵉhôvâh*), commonly rendered "LORD" in English translations, is the covenant name of God, revealing Him as the self-existent, eternal, and unchanging One. Its presence here emphasizes that the message originates from the sovereign, covenant-keeping God of Israel, the one true God who holds ultimate authority over kings and nations. It underscores the absolute and non-negotiable nature of the command and the judgment that follows.
* **Saying (Hebrew, _ʼâmar'_):** The Hebrew verb אָמַר (H559, *ʼâmar*), translated "saying," is a primitive root signifying to speak, utter, or declare with great latitude. In this context, it introduces the direct speech of God, emphasizing the verbal and explicit nature of the divine communication to Samuel. It signifies that what follows is not an interpretation or a summary, but the precise and direct content of God's message, demanding Samuel's faithful transmission and the reader's careful attention.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"¶ Then came the word of the LORD":** This opening phrase functions as a classic prophetic formula, signaling a direct, authoritative, and immediate divine revelation. The "Then" indicates an abrupt and direct consequence or follow-up to the preceding events—Saul's profound act of disobedience. The "word of the LORD" (דְּבַר יְהוָה, *davar Yahweh*) stresses that the message originates from God Himself, carrying His absolute authority and expressing His divine will and judgment. It is not Samuel's opinion or interpretation but a direct communication from the Sovereign Lord, initiating an irreversible course of action.
* **"unto Samuel, saying,":** This clause precisely identifies the recipient of the divine message and indicates that what follows is the direct content of God's communication. Samuel, as God's chosen prophet and faithful messenger, serves as the indispensable conduit through whom God speaks to His people and their king. The inclusion of "saying" prepares the reader for the weighty pronouncement that Samuel is about to deliver on God's behalf, emphasizing the verbal nature and directness of the divine address, setting the stage for the solemn declaration of judgment.

#### Literary Devices
The verse primarily employs a **Prophetic Formula**, specifically "Then came the word of the LORD unto Samuel, saying." This formula is a recurring literary device throughout the Old Testament, serving to authenticate the message that follows as directly from God, lending it immense authority, solemnity, and irrefutability. It immediately establishes the divine origin of the subsequent pronouncement, removing any doubt about its source or legitimacy. Furthermore, the verse functions as a moment of **Foreshadowing**, signaling that a significant divine judgment is imminent. The abruptness of "Then came..." creates a palpable sense of dramatic tension and immediate consequence, implying that God's response to Saul's disobedience is swift and severe. There is also an element of **Dramatic Irony**, as the reader is acutely aware of Saul's recent actions and partial obedience, while the "word of the LORD" is about to expose the true nature and devastating consequences of his rebellion, which Saul himself has yet to fully grasp.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This brief verse is pregnant with profound theological significance, serving as a powerful reminder of God's active involvement in human affairs and His unyielding commitment to His own holiness and the integrity of His commands. It underscores that God is not a passive observer but an omniscient and righteous judge who sees all actions, even those performed in secret or with seemingly good intentions. Saul's disobedience, though perhaps rationalized by him as a means to offer "better" sacrifices, was a direct affront to God's explicit word, demonstrating a fundamental lack of trust and submission to divine authority. God's immediate response through Samuel highlights that disobedience has swift and serious consequences, and that divine judgment is inevitable when His commands are flouted, especially by those in positions of leadership. This moment sets the stage for the profound lesson that God values obedience above all else, leading to the ultimate rejection of Saul as king, a stark lesson in the absolute necessity of complete submission to God's revealed will.

* [1 Samuel 15:22-23](/1-samuel/15-22-23 "1 Samuel 15:22-23 - Obedience is Better Than Sacrifice")
* [Jeremiah 7:23](/jeremiah/7-23 "Jeremiah 7:23 - Hear My Voice")
* [Hebrews 3:7-19](/hebrews/3-7-19 "Hebrews 3:7-19 - Do Not Harden Your Hearts")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
1 Samuel 15:10, though concise, serves as a stark and enduring reminder of the gravity of obedience in the life of a believer. Just as God's word "came" to Samuel with immediate and profound implications for Saul, so too does God's word come to us today through the inspired Scriptures, calling for our complete and unreserved submission. We are often tempted to rationalize partial obedience, to spare what seems "good" or convenient, or to prioritize human approval and pragmatism over divine command. This verse challenges us to examine our hearts honestly: Do we truly value God's word above all else, or do we subtly edit His commands to fit our own desires, circumstances, or cultural norms? God's omniscience means He sees not just our outward actions, but the hidden intentions and attitudes of our hearts. Our response to His word reveals the true nature of our relationship with Him. A heart truly devoted to God will not merely hear His word, but will tremble at it, embrace it, and diligently seek to obey it in its entirety, trusting in His perfect wisdom, righteous judgment, and unfailing love.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be practicing "partial obedience," rationalizing my choices rather than fully submitting to God's clear commands?**
* **How does the immediacy and severity of God's response to Saul's disobedience challenge my understanding of God's active involvement and holy demands in my life today?**
* **What steps can I take to cultivate a heart that is more attuned to "the word of the LORD" and more willing to obey it without reservation or compromise?**

### FAQ
**Why was God's response to Saul's disobedience so immediate and severe?**

Answer: God's response was immediate and severe because Saul's disobedience was not a minor transgression but a direct affront to God's authority and a profound failure in his foundational role as king of Israel. The command to utterly destroy Amalek was a *herem*, a holy war of judgment, which underscored God's absolute sovereignty and Israel's complete reliance on Him. By sparing Agag and the best of the livestock, Saul demonstrated a lack of complete trust and obedience, prioritizing his own perceived gain, the people's desires, or his own reputation over God's explicit command. This act revealed a fundamental flaw in his character—a heart not fully devoted to the LORD. For God, who is holy, just, and unchanging, such blatant disobedience, especially from His chosen leader, could not go unaddressed. It was a decisive test of Saul's kingship, and his failure demonstrated his unfitness to rule according to God's will, leading to the ultimate consequence of his rejection as king, as detailed in [1 Samuel 15:23](/1-samuel/15-23 "1 Samuel 15:23 - Rebellion is as the Sin of Witchcraft"). God's immediate response underscores the seriousness of obedience and the consequences of rebellion against His divine word.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
While 1 Samuel 15:10 highlights Saul's profound failure to obey the word of the LORD, a failure that ultimately cost him his kingdom, it simultaneously points forward to the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ. Saul, the first king of Israel, was chosen by God but ultimately rejected because his heart was not fully submitted to God's commands; he prioritized his own will and the people's desires over divine instruction, leading to his downfall. In stark contrast, Jesus, the true and eternal King, perfectly embodied obedience to the Father's word. He did not come to do His own will but the will of Him who sent Him ([John 6:38](/john/6-38 "John 6:38 - Jesus Does the Father's Will")). Every "word of the LORD" that came to the prophets found its ultimate fulfillment and perfect expression in Christ. He is the living Word ([John 1:1](/john/1-1 "John 1:1 - The Word Was God")) who perfectly obeyed God's commands, even to the point of death on a cross ([Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Obedient to Death")). Unlike Saul, whose disobedience brought rejection and judgment, Christ's perfect obedience secured salvation and eternal life for all who believe ([Romans 5:19](/romans/5-19 "Romans 5:19 - Through One Man's Obedience")). Thus, 1 Samuel 15:10, a moment of divine judgment due to human failure, serves as a poignant backdrop against which the glorious and redemptive obedience of our Savior shines ever brighter, offering hope where human kings failed.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.