1 Samuel 15:24

KJV

¶ 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.

KJV (with Strong's)

And Saul {H7586} said {H559} unto Samuel {H8050}, I have sinned {H2398}: for I have transgressed {H5674} the commandment {H6310} of the LORD {H3068}, and thy words {H1697}: because I feared {H3372} the people {H5971}, and obeyed {H8085} their voice {H6963}.

Complete Jewish Bible

Sha'ul said to Sh'mu'el, "I have sinned. I violated the order of ADONAI and your words too, because I was afraid of the people and listened to what they said.

Berean Standard Bible

Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have transgressed the LORD’s commandment and your instructions, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

American Standard Version

And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Jehovah, and thy words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 15:24 captures King Saul's pivotal and problematic confession to the prophet Samuel, where he acknowledges transgressing the Lord's command and Samuel's words. This admission, however, is immediately qualified by his explanation that he acted out of fear of the people and a desire to obey their voice. This moment serves as a stark revelation of Saul's spiritual priorities, highlighting a profound character flaw—a greater concern for human approval than for divine obedience—which ultimately sealed his rejection as king and stands as a poignant warning against compromised faith and superficial repentance.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the dramatic climax of a direct confrontation between Samuel and Saul, following Saul's egregious failure to fully execute God's explicit command regarding the Amalekites. In [1 Samuel 15:3](/1-samuel/15-3 "1 Samuel 15:3 - God's Command to Utterly Destroy Amalek"), the Lord, through Samuel, had commanded a complete "devotion to destruction" (herem) of all Amalek, including their king and livestock. Saul, however, spared King Agag and the finest of the sheep and oxen, ostensibly for sacrifice to the Lord. Samuel's subsequent, scathing rebuke, culminating in the powerful declaration in [1 Samuel 15:22-23](/1-samuel/15-22-23 "1 Samuel 15:22-23 - Obedience is Better than Sacrifice"), emphasized that "to obey is better than sacrifice" and unequivocally announced God's rejection of Saul's kingship due to his rebellion. Saul's words in [1 Samuel 15:24](/1-samuel/15-24 "1 Samuel 15:24 - Saul's Qualified Confession") are his immediate, desperate, and ultimately insufficient response to this divine judgment, revealing a self-preservation instinct rather than true contrition. This episode marks a definitive turning point in the narrative, solidifying Saul's spiritual decline and setting the stage for David's anointing as the next king of Israel.

* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The concept of "herem" (devotion to destruction) was a unique and severe command in ancient Israelite warfare, signifying that certain enemies and their possessions were to be utterly destroyed as an offering to God. This practice served to prevent contamination from pagan practices and demonstrated Israel's absolute reliance on Yahweh for victory and sustenance. For a king, obedience to such a command was paramount, as he was God's chosen representative and the custodian of divine law. Furthermore, the relationship between prophet and king was crucial; the prophet served as God's direct messenger, holding the king accountable to divine mandates. Saul, as Israel's first king, was under immense pressure to establish his authority and secure popular support. In a culture where a king's perceived strength and wealth (including captured spoils) often bolstered his image and prestige, Saul's decision to spare the best livestock and the enemy king (perhaps as a trophy or for tribute) could be seen as an attempt to enhance his standing with the people. This cultural pressure, however, directly conflicted with the divine mandate, exposing Saul's misplaced priorities and his failure to grasp the unique nature of Israel's covenant relationship with God.

* **Key Themes:** The central themes illuminated by [1 Samuel 15:24](/1-samuel/15-24 "1 Samuel 15:24 - Saul's Qualified Confession") are profound and enduring. Firstly, it underscores the critical importance of **unconditional obedience** to God's commands, demonstrating that partial obedience is tantamount to complete disobedience. Saul's attempt to rationalize his actions by claiming a desire to offer sacrifices reveals a misunderstanding of God's priorities, as Samuel explicitly states that [obedience is more valuable than sacrifice](/1-samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience Over Sacrifice"). Secondly, the verse powerfully illustrates the destructive nature of the **fear of man** versus the **fear of God**. Saul's explicit confession, "I feared the people, and obeyed their voice," highlights a profound spiritual struggle where the desire for human approval and avoidance of popular disapproval superseded reverence and obedience to the Lord. This fear of man is consistently portrayed in scripture as a snare, as seen in [Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Snare of the Fear of Man"). Finally, Saul's confession raises critical questions about the nature of **true repentance**. While he admits to sin, his immediate self-justification suggests a conditional confession, lacking the deep contrition and unreserved responsibility that characterize genuine repentance, a pattern that would tragically continue throughout his reign.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **sinned (Hebrew, _ḥāṭāʼ_):** This primitive root literally means "to miss the mark" or "to go astray." In a moral and theological sense, it signifies a deviation from God's standard, a failure to meet His righteous requirements, or an act of disobedience against His revealed will. Saul's use of this word acknowledges his failure to hit the target of God's command but, as the rest of the verse reveals, does not necessarily imply deep contrition or a genuine desire for transformative change.
* **transgressed (Hebrew, _ʿāḇar_):** Meaning "to pass over," "to cross a boundary," or "to violate." This term emphasizes a deliberate and active crossing of a line or breaking of a covenant. It highlights that Saul's disobedience was not an accidental oversight but a conscious act of stepping beyond the clear boundaries set by God's explicit commandment, indicating a willful disregard for divine authority.
* **feared (Hebrew, _yârêʼ_):** While _yârêʾ_ can denote reverential awe or worshipful fear of God, in this context, it clearly signifies dread, apprehension, or a servile fear of human reaction. Saul's fear was not a healthy respect for authority but a debilitating anxiety about popular opinion and potential rebellion, which led him to compromise his divine mandate and prioritize human favor over divine approval.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned":** Saul's initial declaration is an admission of guilt, an acknowledgment of wrongdoing. On the surface, it appears to be a confession. However, given the immediate context of Samuel's severe rebuke and the subsequent qualification in the latter part of the verse, this admission is more a reluctant acknowledgment of being caught rather than a heartfelt expression of genuine sorrow for offending God. It is a statement of fact, a concession to the undeniable evidence, rather than a cry for forgiveness rooted in true contrition.
* **"for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words":** Here, Saul specifies the nature of his sin: a direct transgression against God's explicit command, delivered authoritatively through Samuel. This indicates Saul understood the divine origin and authority of the instruction he violated. His inclusion of "thy words" acknowledges Samuel's role as God's prophet, but also subtly attempts to diffuse the absolute divine weight of the command by implying a human element, perhaps making it seem less solely God's.
* **"because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice":** This is the pivotal clause, revealing the true motivation behind Saul's disobedience and the core of his spiritual failing. He explicitly states that his primary allegiance was to the people, not to God. His fear of human disapproval or potential rebellion, and his desire to retain popular favor and avoid social or political consequences, led him to compromise God's clear directive. This statement transforms his "confession" into an excuse, demonstrating a profound lack of genuine repentance and a heart still enslaved by the opinions and expectations of men.

#### Literary Devices
The passage employs several potent literary devices to convey its profound theological message. **Confession** is present in Saul's initial admission of sin, yet it is immediately undermined by **Justification**, as he provides an excuse for his actions rather than taking full responsibility. This creates a powerful **Contrast** between genuine repentance (which involves unreserved responsibility and sorrow for sin itself) and superficial acknowledgment (which seeks to shift blame or mitigate consequences). There is also significant **Irony** in Saul's statement: the king, chosen by God to lead His people and represent His authority, fears those very people more than he fears the Almighty God who appointed him. This highlights a fundamental inversion of proper spiritual order and allegiance. Furthermore, the scene serves as powerful **Foreshadowing**, as Saul's pattern of partial obedience and fear of man will continue to define his reign, ultimately leading to his complete rejection and tragic downfall. The narrative effectively uses **Direct Speech** to allow Saul's own words to expose the depth of his spiritual compromise and the true condition of his heart.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Saul's qualified confession in 1 Samuel 15:24 serves as a timeless theological lesson on the nature of obedience, the danger of misplaced fear, and the characteristics of true repentance. His failure to obey God fully, stemming from a desire to please people, illustrates that God demands wholehearted submission, not partial compliance or external religiosity. This incident underscores that the heart's motivation is paramount to God; He desires a relationship of trust and obedience that prioritizes His will above all human considerations. Saul's example warns against the spiritual idolatry of human approval, which inevitably leads to compromise with divine truth and a forfeiture of God's blessing. True repentance, in contrast to Saul's conditional admission, involves a contrite heart, a full acknowledgment of wrongdoing without excuse, and a turning away from the sin to embrace God's will, trusting in His mercy.

* [Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Fear of Man is a Snare")
* [Psalm 51:17](/psalm/51-17 "Psalm 51:17 - A Broken and Contrite Heart")
* [Matthew 6:24](/matthew/6-24 "Matthew 6:24 - No One Can Serve Two Masters")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Saul's tragic example in 1 Samuel 15:24 holds profound implications for contemporary believers. It compels us to rigorously examine the true motivations behind our actions and decisions. Are we driven by a genuine desire to please God above all else, or do we subtly, perhaps even unconsciously, allow the opinions, expectations, or potential disapproval of others to dictate our choices? The fear of man can manifest in many forms—from compromising our convictions to avoid social ostracism, to seeking validation through performance, to prioritizing worldly success over spiritual integrity. This passage challenges us to cultivate a deeper, reverential fear of God that eclipses all other fears, enabling us to stand firm in obedience regardless of external pressures. Furthermore, it calls us to practice authentic repentance, which is characterized by unreserved admission of sin, a rejection of all excuses, and a sincere turning towards God's righteous path, trusting in His mercy rather than attempting to manage our image or protect our reputation.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life might I be prioritizing the "voice of the people" over the "commandment of the LORD"?**
* **What specific fears (e.g., fear of rejection, failure, or disapproval) might be hindering my complete obedience to God?**
* **How can I cultivate a deeper, more reverential fear of God that empowers me to resist the snare of human approval?**
* **When I confess my sins, do I tend to offer excuses or justifications, or do I take full responsibility without reservation?**

### FAQ
**Was Saul's confession in 1 Samuel 15:24 genuine repentance?**

Answer: While Saul uses the words "I have sinned," his confession is widely considered by scholars to be superficial and lacking genuine repentance. The immediate qualification, "because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice," reveals that his primary concern was not offending God but rather the consequences of his disobedience, particularly Samuel's pronouncement of God's rejection and the potential loss of his kingdom. True repentance involves a change of heart and mind, a sorrow for sin itself, and a turning away from the wrong path, as exemplified by David in [Psalm 51](/psalm/51 "Psalm 51 - David's Prayer of Repentance"). Saul's subsequent actions throughout his reign confirm this lack of genuine contrition, as he continued to demonstrate a pattern of self-interest and disobedience rather than humble submission to God.

**What does it mean to "fear the people" in this context, and why is it so detrimental?**

Answer: To "fear the people" in this context means to be more concerned with human approval, public opinion, or the avoidance of popular disapproval than with obeying God. For Saul, it meant prioritizing the people's desire for spoils and a victorious king's image over God's explicit command for complete destruction. This fear is detrimental because it shifts one's ultimate allegiance from God to humanity. As [Proverbs 29:25](/proverbs/29-25 "Proverbs 29:25 - The Fear of Man is a Snare") states, "The fear of man lays a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is safe." It leads to compromise, disobedience, and ultimately, spiritual bondage, as one becomes enslaved to the ever-changing whims and expectations of others rather than the unchanging will of God. It prevents one from living authentically for God.

**Why was partial obedience considered complete disobedience by God?**

Answer: God's commands are not suggestions or options from which we can pick and choose. They are expressions of His perfect will and character, demanding complete and unqualified submission. In the case of the Amalekites, God's command for "herem" (utter destruction) was a test of Saul's obedience and a demonstration of Israel's complete reliance on Him. Saul's partial obedience—sparing the best of the livestock and King Agag—was a direct violation of the spirit and letter of the command. It implied that Saul knew better than God, or that he could improve upon God's plan. As Samuel famously declared in [1 Samuel 15:22](/1-samuel/15-22 "1 Samuel 15:22 - Obedience is Better than Sacrifice"), "Has the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams." For God, who sees the heart, partial obedience reveals a rebellious spirit and a lack of trust, which is tantamount to full disobedience in His eyes.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
Saul's profound failure to obey God fully due to his fear of man starkly contrasts with the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ. Where Saul prioritized human approval and his own perceived advantage, Christ perfectly embodied the fear of God, demonstrating unwavering submission to the Father's will, even unto death. The Old Testament consistently reveals humanity's inability to perfectly obey God's commands, highlighting the desperate need for a perfect deliverer. Jesus, as the ultimate King, did not succumb to the fear of man, but rather, as prophesied in [Psalm 40:8](/psalm/40-8 "Psalm 40:8 - Delight to Do Your Will"), delighted to do His Father's will. His entire life, from His incarnation to His crucifixion, was an act of perfect obedience, as seen in [Philippians 2:8](/philippians/2-8 "Philippians 2:8 - Christ's Humility and Obedience"). He perfectly fulfilled the Law and all righteousness, not for His own gain, but for the redemption of humanity. Through His sinless life and atoning death, Christ provides the perfect righteousness that covers our disobedience and offers true repentance, freeing us from the snare of the fear of man and empowering us to obey God from a heart transformed by His Spirit. In Christ, we find the ultimate King who truly feared God, not man, and whose perfect obedience secures our salvation, allowing us to live lives of genuine submission to God, no longer bound by the opinions of others, but by the liberating truth of the Gospel, as declared in [John 8:36](/john/8-36 "John 8:36 - The Son Sets You Free").

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.

Cross-References

Isaiah 51:12

I, [even] I, [am] he that comforteth you: who [art] thou, that thou shouldest be afraid of a man [that] shall die, and of the son of man [which] shall be made [as] grass;

Isaiah 51:13

And forgettest the LORD thy maker, that hath stretched forth the heavens, and laid the foundations of the earth; and hast feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, as if he were ready to destroy? and where [is] the fury of the oppressor?

2 Samuel 12:13

And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.

Proverbs 29:25

¶ The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

Numbers 22:34

And Balaam said unto the angel of the LORD, I have sinned; for I knew not that thou stoodest in the way against me: now therefore, if it displease thee, I will get me back again.

Exodus 23:2

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to [do] evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest [judgment]:

Revelation 21:8

But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.