Parallel Verses

A Conservative Version

And Samuel said, Has LORD as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

New American Standard Bible

Samuel said,
Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obeying the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed than the fat of rams.

King James Version

And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.

Holman Bible

Then Samuel said:

Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices
as much as in obeying the Lord?


Look: to obey is better than sacrifice,
to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

International Standard Version

Samuel said, "Does the LORD delight as much in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the LORD? Surely, to obey is better than sacrifice, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams.

American Standard Version

And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Amplified

Samuel said,“Has the Lord as great a delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices
As in obedience to the voice of the Lord?
Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice,
And to heed [is better] than the fat of rams.

Bible in Basic English

And Samuel said, Has the Lord as much delight in offerings and burned offerings as in the doing of his orders? Truly, to do his pleasure is better than to make offerings, and to give ear to him than the fat of sheep.

Darby Translation

And Samuel said, Has Jehovah delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, As in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, Attention than the fat of rams.

Julia Smith Translation

And Samuel will say, Was it pleasing to Jehovah in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as to hear to the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to hear, above a good sacrifice, and to hearken, above the fat of rams.

King James 2000

And Samuel said, 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 hearken than the fat of rams.

Lexham Expanded Bible

Then Samuel said, "Is there [as much] delight for Yahweh in burnt offerings and sacrifices as [there is] in {obeying} Yahweh? Look! {To obey} [is] better than sacrifice; to give heed than the fat of rams.

Modern King James verseion

And Samuel said, Does Jehovah delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice! To listen is better than the fat of rams!

Modern Spelling Tyndale-Coverdale

Then said Samuel, "Hath the LORD as great pleasure in burnt sacrifices and offerings, as he hath that thou shouldest obey his voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to give heed is better than the fat of rams.

NET Bible

Then Samuel said, "Does the Lord take pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as he does in obedience? Certainly, obedience is better than sacrifice; paying attention is better than the fat of rams.

New Heart English Bible

Samuel said, "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.

The Emphasized Bible

Then said Samuel - Doth that which is pleasing unto Yahweh consist in ascending-offerings and sacrifices, So much as in hearkening unto the voice of Yahweh? Lo! to hearken, is, better, than, sacrifice. And, to give heed, than, the fat of rams;

Webster

And Samuel said, Hath 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 hearken than the fat of rams.

World English Bible

Samuel said, "Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

Youngs Literal Translation

And Samuel saith, 'Hath Jehovah had delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? lo, hearkening than sacrifice is better; to give attention than fat of rams;

Themes

Amalekites » Defeated by saul

Amalekites, the » saul » Condemned for not utterly destroying

the Burnt offering » Obedience better than

Christian ministers » Expostulate with rulers » Samuel with saul

Church and state » Ecclesiastical power superior to civil » Reproves rulers

Delight » What the lord delights in

Delight » What the lord does not delight in

Desires » What the lord desires

Desires » What the lord does not desire

Falsehood » Instances of » Saul, in professing to samuel to have obeyed the commandment to destroy all spoils of the amalekites, when in fact he had not obeyed

Formalism » The insufficiency of

Gilgal » Place of the first encampment of the israelites west of the jordan river » An altar built at, and sacrifice offered

Kings » Who reigned over all israel » saul

Obedience » The obeying of the lord

Obedience » To God, the duty of » Better than sacrifice

Obedience to God » Better than sacrifice

Offerings » Useless when not accompanied by genuine piety

Offerings » Withheld see offerings; withheld » Insufficient to secure salvation

Presumption » Instances of » Sparing the amalekites

Religion » Formalism » The insufficiency of

Repentance » Instances of » Saul, at the rebuke of samuel for not destroying the amalekites

Reproof » Faithfulness in » Samuel, of saul

Requirements » What the lord does not require

Rulers' » Wicked » Instances of » Saul, sparing agag and the best of the booty

Sacrifice » What is better than sacrifice

Sacrifices » Insufficient to secure salvation

Sacrifices » Generally the best of their kind

Sacrifices » Without obedience, worthless

samuel » Life summarized » Courageous

saul » King of israel » Dedicates the spoils of war

Saul, king of israel » The man who lost a crown characteristics of » Disobedience

Self-righteousness » Instances of » saul

Self-will » Exemplified » King saul

Self-will and stubbornness » Exemplified » saul

Service » Test » King saul was condemned by it

Sheep » Males of, called rams

Interlinear

English(KJV)
Strong's
Root Form
Definition
Usage
שׁמוּאל 
Sh@muw'el 
Usage: 140

Hath the Lord

Usage: 0

עולה עלה 
`olah 
Usage: 288

זבח 
Zebach 
Usage: 162

the voice
קל קול 
Qowl 
Usage: 506

of the Lord

Usage: 0

זבח 
Zebach 
Usage: 162

and to hearken
קשׁב 
Qashab 
Usage: 46

than the fat
חלב חלב 
Cheleb 
Usage: 92

References

Images 1 Samuel 15:22

Prayers for 1 Samuel 15:22

Context Readings

Samuel Announces The Downfall Of Saul

21 But the people took of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to LORD thy God in Gilgal. 22 And Samuel said, Has LORD as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. 23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou have rejected the word of LORD, he has also rejected thee from being king.

Cross References

Hosea 6:6

For I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God more than burnt-offerings.

Mark 12:33

And to love him from the whole heart, and from the whole understanding, and from the whole soul, and from the whole strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt-offerings and sacrifices.

Jeremiah 7:22-23

For I spoke not to your fathers, nor commanded them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt-offerings or sacrifices.

Micah 6:6-8

Why shall I come before LORD, and bow myself before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings, with calves a year old?

Matthew 12:7

But if ye had known what this means, I desire mercy and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the innocent.

Psalm 40:6-8

Sacrifice and offering thou did not desire, {but a body thou have prepared for me (LXX/NT)}. Whole burnt-offering and sacrifice for sin thou did not require.

Psalm 50:8-9

I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices, and thy burnt-offerings [being] continually before me.

Psalm 51:16-17

For thou delight not in sacrifice, else I would give it. Thou have no pleasure in burnt-offering.

Proverbs 21:3

To do righteousness and justice is more acceptable to LORD than sacrifice.

Ecclesiastes 5:1

Keep thy foot when thou go to the house of God, for to draw near to hear is better than to give the sacrifice of fools. For they know not that they do evil.

Matthew 9:13

But after going, learn what this means, I desire mercy, and not sacrifice, for I came not to call the righteous, but sinners for repentance.

Isaiah 1:11-17

What to me is the multitude of your sacrifices? says LORD. I have had enough of the burnt-offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts. And I do not delight in the blood of bullocks or of lambs or of he-goats.

Jeremiah 11:7

For I earnestly protested to your fathers in the day that I brought them up out of the land of Egypt, even to this day, rising early and protesting, saying, Obey my voice.

Jeremiah 26:13

Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of LORD your God, and LORD will relent of the evil that he has pronounced against you.

Amos 5:21-24

I hate, I despise your feasts, and I will take no delight in your solemn assemblies.

Matthew 23:23

Woe to you, scholars and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because ye tithe the mint and the anise and the cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law--justice and mercy and faith. These things must be done, and not neglecting t

Hebrews 10:4-10

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

Exodus 19:5

Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be my own possession from among all peoples, for all the earth is mine,

Jeremiah 11:4

which I commanded your fathers in the day that I brought them forth out of the land of Egypt, out of the iron furnace, saying, Obey my voice, and do them, according to all which I command you, so ye shall be my people, and I will b

Matthew 5:24

leave there thy gift before the altar, and go. First be reconciled to thy brother, and then, after coming, bring thy gift.

King James Version Public Domain

Holman Christian Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2009 by Holman Bible Publishers.

International Standard Version Copyright © 1996-2008 by the ISV Foundation.

New American Standard Bible Copyright ©1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org

American Standard Version Public Domain

NET Bible copyright © 1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. NetBible

Basic English, produced by Mr C. K. Ogden of the Orthological Institute - public domain