Parallel Verses

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.

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.

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 The people took from the plunder of the flock the best of the sheep and cattle to sacrifice to Jehovah your God in Gilgal. 22 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.
23 The sin of divination is rebellion. Wickedness and idolatry are arrogance. They are evil. Because you rejected the word of Jehovah, he rejects you as king.

Cross References

Hosea 6:6

I desire loving-kindness (mercy), not sacrifice, and knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Mark 12:33

To love him with all the heart, and with all understanding, and with total strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is much more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Jeremiah 7:22-23

For I did not speak to your fathers, or command them in the day that I brought them out of the land of Egypt, concerning burnt offerings and sacrifices.

Micah 6:6-8

With what shall I come before Jehovah? Shall I bow down before the high God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with year old calves?

Matthew 12:7

If you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless.

Psalm 40:6-8

You have not desired sacrifice and meal offering. You have opened my ears. Burnt offering and sin offering you have not required.

Psalm 50:8-9

I do not reprove you for your sacrifices or burnt offerings, which are constantly (always) in front of me.

Psalm 51:16-17

You do not desire sacrifice. Otherwise, I would offer one to you. You are not pleased with burnt offerings.

Proverbs 21:3

To practice righteousness and justice is more acceptable to Jehovah than sacrifice.

Ecclesiastes 5:1

Guard your step when you go to the house of God. It is better to go there and listen than to bring the sacrifices fools bring. Fools are not aware that they do evil.

Matthew 9:13

You should learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice'; for I came, not to call the righteous, but sinners.

Isaiah 1:11-17

Jehovah says: What do your many animal sacrifices mean to me? I have had enough of your burnt offerings of rams and enough fat from your fattened calves. I am not pleased with the blood of bulls, lambs, or male goats.

Jeremiah 11:7

I solemnly warned your fathers in the day that I brought them up from the land of Egypt. Even to this day I persistently warned them, saying: 'Listen to my voice.'

Jeremiah 26:13

You must change the way you are living and the things you are doing. You must obey Jehovah your God. If you do, he will change his mind about the destruction that he said he would bring on you.

Amos 5:21-24

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

Matthew 23:23

Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! You tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy and faith. You should do both and leave nothing undone.

Hebrews 10:4-10

It is not possible for the blood of bulls and of goats to take away sins.

Exodus 19:5

If you will obey me and are faithful to the terms of my covenant, then out of all the nations you will be my own special possession, for all the earth is mine.

Jeremiah 11:4

It is the covenant I made with their ancestors when I brought them out of Egypt. Egypt was like an iron smelter (furnace) to them. I told them to obey me and to do everything that I commanded. I told them that if they obeyed, they would be my people and I would be their God.

Matthew 5:24

leave your gift at the altar and go make peace with your brother. Then return and make your offering.

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