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Translation
Young's Literal Translation
And Samuel turneth back after Saul, and Saul boweth himself to Jehovah;
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In the KJVVerse 7,592 of 31,102
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Commentary on 1 Samuel 15 verses 24–31
24 ¶ 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.
25 Now therefore, I pray thee, pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD.
26 And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
27 And as Samuel turned about to go away, he laid hold upon the skirt of his mantle, and it rent.
28 And Samuel said unto him, The LORD hath rent the kingdom of Israel from thee this day, and hath given it to a neighbour of thine, that is better than thou.
29 And also the Strength of Israel will not lie nor repent: for he is not a man, that he should repent.
30 Then he said, I have sinned: yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.
31 So Samuel turned again after Saul; and Saul worshipped the LORD.
Saul is at length brought to put himself into the dress of the penitent; but it is too evident that he only acts the part of a penitent, and is not one indeed. Observe,
I. How poorly he expressed his repentance. It was with much ado that he was made sensible of his fault, and not till he was threatened with being deposed. This touched him in a tender part. Then he began to relent, and not till then. When Samuel told him he was rejected from being king, then he said, I have sinned, Sa1 15:24. His confession was not free nor ingenuous, but extorted by the rack, and forced from him. We observe here several bad signs of the hypocrisy of his repentance, and that it came short even of Ahab's. 1. He made his application to Samuel only, and seemed most solicitous to stand right in his opinion and to gain his favour. He makes a little god of him, only to preserve his reputation with the people, because they all knew Samuel to be a prophet, and the man that had been the instrument of his preferment. Thinking it would please Samuel, and be a sort of bribe to him, he puts it into his confession: I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and thy word; as if he had been in God's stead, Sa1 15:24. David, though convinced by the ministry of Nathan, yet, in his confession, has his eye to God alone, not to Nathan. Psa 51:4 Against thee only have I sinned. But Saul, ignorantly enough, confesses his sin as a transgression of Samuel's word; whereas his word was no other than a declaration of the commandment of the Lord. He also applies to Samuel for forgiveness (Sa1 15:25): I pray thee, pardon my sin; as if any could forgive sin but God only. Those wretchedly deceive themselves who, when they have fallen into scandalous sin, think it enough to make their peace with the church and their ministers, by the show and plausible profession of repentance, without taking care to make their peace with God by the sincerity of it. The most charitable construction we can put upon this of Saul is to suppose that he looked upon Samuel as a sort of mediator between him and God, and intended an address to God in his application to him. However, it was very weak. 2. He excused his fault even in the confession of it, and that is never the fashion of a true penitent (Sa1 15:24): I did it because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice. We have reason enough to think that it was purely his own doing and not the people's; however, if they were forward to do it, it is plain, by what we have read before, that he knew how to keep up his authority among them and did not stand in any awe of them. So that the excuse was false and frivolous; whatever he pretended, he did not really fear the people. But it is common for sinners, in excusing their faults, to plead the thoughts and workings of their own minds, because those are things which, how groundless soever, no man can disprove; but they forget that God searchest the heart. 3. All his care was to save his credit, and preserve his interest in the people, lest they should revolt from him, or at least despise him. Therefore he courts Samuel with so much earnestness (Sa1 15:25) to turn again with him, and assist in a public thanksgiving for the victory. Very importunate he was in this matter when he laid hold on the skirt of his mantle to detain him (Sa1 15:27), not that he cared for Samuel, but he feared that if Samuel forsook him the people would do so too. Many seem zealously affected to good ministers and good people only for the sake of their own interest and reputation, while in heart they hate them. But his expression was very gross when he said (Sa1 15:30), I have sinned, yet honour me, I pray thee, before my people. Is this the language of a penitent? No, but the contrary: "I have sinned, shame me now, for to me belongs shame, and no man can loathe me so much as I loathe myself." Yet how often do we meet with the copies of this hypocrisy of Saul! It is very common for those who are convicted of sin to show themselves very solicitous to be honoured before the people. Whereas he that has lost the honour of an innocent can pretend to no other than that of a penitent, and it is the honour of a penitent to take shame to himself.
II. How little he got by these thin shows of repentance. What point did he gain by them? 1. Samuel repeated the sentence passed upon him, so far was he from giving any hopes of the repeal of it, Sa1 15:26, the same with Sa1 15:23. He that covers his sins shall never prosper, Pro 28:13. Samuel refused to turn back with him, but turned about to go away, Sa1 15:27. As the thing appeared to him upon the first view, he thought it altogether unfit for him so far to countenance one whom God had rejected as to join with him in giving thanks to God for a victory which was made to serve rather Saul's covetousness than God's glory. Yet afterwards he did turn again with him (Sa1 15:31), upon further thoughts, and probably by divine direction, either to prevent a mutiny among the people or perhaps not to do honour to Saul (for, though Saul worshipped the Lord, Sa1 15:31, it is not said Samuel presided in that worship), but to do justice on Agag, Sa1 15:32. 2. He illustrated the sentence by a sign, which Saul himself, by his rudeness, gave occasion for. When Samuel was turning from him he tore his clothes to detain him (Sa1 15:27), so loth was he to part with the prophet; but Samuel put a construction upon this accident which none but a prophet could do. He made it to signify the rending of the kingdom from him (Sa1 15:28), and that, like this, was his own doing. "He hath rent it from thee, and given it to a neighbour better than thou," namely, to David, who afterwards, upon occasion, cut off the skirt of Saul's robe (Sa1 24:4), upon which Saul said (Sa1 24:20), I know that thou shalt surely be king, perhaps remembering this sign, the tearing of the skirt of Samuel's mantle. 3. He ratified it by a solemn declaration of its being irreversible (Sa1 15:29): The Strength of Israel will not lie. The Eternity or Victory of Israel, so some read it; the holy One, so the Arabic; the most noble One, so the Syriac; the triumphant King of Israel, so bishop Patrick. "He is determined to depose thee, and he will not change his purpose. He is not a man that should repent." Men are fickle and alter their minds, feeble and cannot effect their purposes; something happens which they could not foresee, by which their measures are broken. But with God it is not so. God has sometimes repented of the evil which he thought to have done, repentance was hidden from Saul, and therefore hidden from God's eyes.
Matthew Henry (1662–1714) — Commentary on the Whole Bible. This section covers verses 24–31. Public domain.
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Source: Quotations drawn from early Church Fathers and historical Christian theologians (AD 100–1500). Some quotes address the surrounding passage context rather than this verse alone.
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SUMMARY
1 Samuel 15:31 encapsulates a profoundly poignant and ironic moment in the narrative of King Saul's tragic rejection, depicting the prophet Samuel's reluctant return to accompany Saul after delivering God's irreversible judgment. This concession allows Saul to perform a public act of worship to the LORD, an outward display of piety that starkly contrasts with his preceding acts of partial disobedience and his underlying fear of man, thereby powerfully illustrating the critical chasm between external religious ritual and genuine, heart-felt obedience rooted in sincere repentance and submission to divine will.
CONTEXT
EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
Key Word Analysis
Verse Breakdown
Literary Devices
The verse employs several powerful literary devices that amplify its theological significance. Irony is profoundly evident, as Saul "worshipped the LORD" immediately after being definitively rejected by God for his disobedience. This outward act of piety stands in stark contrast to his inner rebellion and fear of man, highlighting the futility and emptiness of ritual without true submission. Juxtaposition is also powerfully employed, contrasting Samuel's unwavering prophetic integrity and obedience to God's command (even in his sorrowful, reluctant return) with Saul's superficial religiosity and self-serving motives. The entire scene serves as a form of foreshadowing, as Saul's demonstrated inability to genuinely obey God and his reliance on outward appearances foreshadow his continued spiritual decline, God's ultimate abandonment, and his tragic end, culminating in his death and the complete transfer of the kingdom to David. The narrative also masterfully builds dramatic tension through the intense confrontation between prophet and king, which resolves in this verse with Samuel's reluctant turning, setting the stage for the final, gruesome act of justice against Agag.
THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
1 Samuel 15:31 serves as a profound theological statement on the nature of true worship and obedience, echoing the timeless biblical truth that God values the heart's posture and genuine submission above mere outward performance. Saul's "worship" is exposed as hollow, a mere ritual devoid of the genuine submission and obedience that God truly desires, a principle powerfully articulated by Samuel himself in 1 Samuel 15:22. This incident underscores God's unwavering character and the certainty of His word; His righteous rejection of Saul is not reversed or mitigated by a public display of piety. It highlights the pervasive danger of spiritual hypocrisy and the human tendency to prioritize public image and self-preservation over divine command, a theme that resonates throughout biblical history and remains profoundly relevant for all who seek to follow God.
REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The scene in 1 Samuel 15:31 offers a sobering mirror for self-examination, challenging believers to look beyond the superficiality of religious performance to the true condition and motives of their hearts. Saul's public act of worship, tragically divorced from genuine obedience and repentance, serves as a stark warning against spiritual hypocrisy and the danger of prioritizing human approval over divine favor. It compels us to earnestly ask: Are our acts of worship, our service, our giving, and our devotional practices truly motivated by a profound love for God and an earnest desire to obey His word, or are they subtly driven by a need for external validation, a fear of man's disapproval, or a desire to maintain a certain image within our communities? True worship, as this narrative powerfully illustrates, is not merely a ritual or an external posture; it is a holistic lifestyle of submission, trust, and obedience that flows organically from a heart fully yielded to God. This narrative reminds us that God sees beyond the outward show, scrutinizing the deepest motives and intentions of the heart. It calls us to cultivate a deeper, more authentic faith where our inner life aligns seamlessly with our outward expressions, ensuring that our worship is truly "in spirit and in truth" (John 4:24).
Questions for Reflection
FAQ
Was Samuel's turning back a sign that God had changed His mind about rejecting Saul?
Answer: No, Samuel's turning back was not a reversal of God's definitive judgment against Saul. The prophet had already delivered God's irreversible decree in 1 Samuel 15:26, stating with absolute clarity, "I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, and the LORD hath rejected thee from being king over Israel." Samuel's subsequent action in 1 Samuel 15:31 was a pragmatic and sorrowful concession to Saul's desperate plea to be honored before the people (1 Samuel 15:30). This concession served two crucial purposes: it allowed for the public act of worship, which Saul felt was necessary for his public image, and, more importantly, it enabled Samuel to personally execute Agag (1 Samuel 15:33), thereby ensuring the full and public execution of God's justice against the Amalekites, which Saul had failed to carry out. It underscored Samuel's unwavering commitment to God's word and justice, even in a difficult and emotionally charged situation, and maintained his prophetic authority in the eyes of Israel.
CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The superficial worship of Saul in 1 Samuel 15:31, driven by a desire for public honor and self-preservation rather than genuine obedience, stands in stark and illuminating contrast to the perfect obedience and true worship embodied by Jesus Christ. While Saul's outward act of bowing down was hollow and hypocritical, Jesus' entire life was an act of perfect and unwavering submission to the Father's will, culminating in His ultimate, self-sacrificial death on the cross. The New Testament consistently portrays Jesus as the obedient Son, who did not seek His own glory but always sought to do the will of the One who sent Him (John 5:30 and John 6:38). Unlike Saul, who feared man more than God, Jesus fearlessly obeyed God, even to the point of death on a cross, demonstrating the ultimate act of humility and submission (Philippians 2:8). His life, death, and resurrection reveal the true nature of worship: not external ritual, but a heart fully surrendered in spirit and truth (John 4:23-24). Through Christ's perfect obedience, we, who were once disobedient like Saul, are now offered reconciliation and the ability to truly worship. He enables us to participate in a new covenant of the heart, where our worship is a genuine response to His perfect obedience and atoning sacrifice, empowering us to offer ourselves as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God, which is our true and proper worship (Romans 12:1).