1 Samuel 15:19
New International Version
Why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you pounce on the plunder and do evil in the eyes of the LORD?”

New Living Translation
Why haven’t you obeyed the LORD? Why did you rush for the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’s sight?”

English Standard Version
Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you pounce on the spoil and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?”

Berean Standard Bible
So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”

King James Bible
Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

New King James Version
Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do evil in the sight of the LORD?”

New American Standard Bible
Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Instead, you loudly rushed upon the spoils and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD!”

NASB 1995
“Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD?”

NASB 1977
“Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD?”

Legacy Standard Bible
Why then did you not obey the voice of Yahweh, but rushed upon the spoil and did what was evil in the eyes of Yahweh?”

Amplified Bible
Why did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but [instead] swooped down on the plunder [with shouts of victory] and did evil in the sight of the LORD?”

Christian Standard Bible
So why didn’t you obey the LORD? Why did you rush on the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’s sight? ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
So why didn’t you obey the LORD? Why did you rush on the plunder and do what was evil in the LORD’s sight?”

American Standard Version
Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of Jehovah, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah?

Contemporary English Version
Why didn't you listen to the LORD? Why did you keep the animals and make him angry?"

English Revised Version
wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst that which was evil in the sight of the LORD?

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Why didn't you obey the LORD? Why have you taken their belongings and done what the LORD considers evil?"

Good News Translation
Why, then, did you not obey him? Why did you rush to grab the loot, and so do what displeases the LORD?"

International Standard Version
Why didn't you obey the LORD, but grabbed the spoil and did evil in the LORD's sight?"

Majority Standard Bible
So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD??

NET Bible
Why haven't you obeyed the LORD? Instead you have greedily rushed upon the plunder! You have done what is wrong in the LORD's estimation."

New Heart English Bible
Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but took the spoils, and did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD?"

Webster's Bible Translation
Why then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

World English Bible
Why then didn’t you obey Yahweh’s voice, but took the plunder, and did that which was evil in Yahweh’s sight?”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and why have you not listened to the voice of YHWH—and fly to the spoil, and do evil in the eyes of YHWH?”

Young's Literal Translation
and why hast thou not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah -- and dost fly unto the spoil, and dost do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah?'

Smith's Literal Translation
And wherefore didst thou not hear to the voice of Jehovah, and wilt clothe thyself with the spoil, and thou wilt do the evil in the eyes of Jehovah.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Why then didst thou not hearken to the voice of the Lord: but hast turned to the prey, and hast done evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Why then, did you not listen to the voice of the Lord? Instead, you turned to the spoils, and you did evil in the eyes of the Lord.”

New American Bible
Why then have you disobeyed the LORD? You have pounced on the spoil, thus doing what was evil in the LORD’s sight.”

New Revised Standard Version
Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD? Why did you swoop down on the spoil, and do what was evil in the sight of the LORD?”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but have spared the plunder, and have done evil in the sight of the LORD?

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
How is it you have not listened to the voice of LORD JEHOVAH, but you have returned for the spoil, and you have done evil before LORD JEHOVAH?”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Wherefore then didst thou not hearken to the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst that which was evil in the sight of the LORD?'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And why didst not thou hearken to the voice of the Lord, but didst haste to fasten upon the spoils, and didst that which was evil in the sight of the Lord?

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samuel Denounces Saul
18and sent you on a mission, saying, ‘Go and devote to destruction the sinful Amalekites. Fight against them until you have wiped them out.’ 19So why did you not obey the LORD? Why did you rush upon the plunder and do evil in the sight of the LORD?” 20“But I did obey the LORD,” Saul replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction.…

Cross References
1 Samuel 13:13
“You have acted foolishly,” Samuel declared. “You have not kept the command that the LORD your God gave you; if you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel for all time.

1 Samuel 12:14-15
If you fear the LORD and serve Him and obey His voice, and if you do not rebel against the command of the LORD, and if both you and the king who rules over you follow the LORD your God, then all will be well. / But if you disobey the LORD and rebel against His command, then the hand of the LORD will be against you as it was against your fathers.

1 Samuel 28:18
Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.

1 Kings 13:21-22
and the prophet cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have defied the word of the LORD and have not kept the commandment that the LORD your God gave you, / but you went back and ate bread and drank water in the place where He told you not to do so, your body shall never reach the tomb of your fathers.’”

1 Kings 20:36
Then the prophet said to him, “Because you have not obeyed the voice of the LORD, as soon as you depart from me a lion will kill you.” And when he left, a lion found him and killed him.

2 Kings 5:26-27
But Elisha questioned him, “Did not my spirit go with you when the man got down from his chariot to meet you? Is this the time to accept money and clothing, olive groves and vineyards, sheep and oxen, menservants and maidservants? / Therefore, the leprosy of Naaman will cling to you and your descendants forever!” And as Gehazi left his presence, he was leprous—as white as snow.

Isaiah 1:19-20
If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the best of the land. / But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword.” For the mouth of the LORD has spoken.

Jeremiah 7:23-24
but this is what I commanded them: Obey Me, and I will be your God, and you will be My people. You must walk in all the ways I have commanded you, so that it may go well with you. / Yet they did not listen or incline their ear, but they followed the stubborn inclinations of their own evil hearts. They went backward and not forward.

Jeremiah 11:7-8
For from the time I brought your fathers out of the land of Egypt until today, I strongly warned them again and again, saying, ‘Obey My voice.’ / Yet they would not obey or incline their ears, but each one followed the stubbornness of his evil heart. So I brought on them all the curses of this covenant I had commanded them to follow but they did not keep.”

Ezekiel 20:21
But the children rebelled against Me. They did not walk in My statutes or carefully observe My ordinances—though the man who does these things will live by them—and they profaned My Sabbaths. So I resolved to pour out My wrath upon them and vent My anger against them in the wilderness.

Hosea 6:6
For I desire mercy, not sacrifice, and the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.

Amos 3:3
Can two walk together without agreeing where to go?

Matthew 7:21
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Matthew 21:28-31
But what do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first one and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’ / ‘I will not,’ he replied. But later he changed his mind and went. / Then the man went to the second son and told him the same thing. ‘I will, sir,’ he said. But he did not go. ...

Luke 6:46
Why do you call Me ‘Lord, Lord,’ but do not do what I say?


Treasury of Scripture

Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD, but did fly on the spoil, and did evil in the sight of the LORD?

fly upon

Proverbs 15:27
He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live.

Jeremiah 7:11
Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the LORD.

Habakkuk 2:9-12
Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! …

didst evil

2 Chronicles 33:2,6
But did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, like unto the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD had cast out before the children of Israel…

2 Chronicles 36:12
And he did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD his God, and humbled not himself before Jeremiah the prophet speaking from the mouth of the LORD.

Jump to Previous
Evil Eyes Hearken Hearkened Obey Orders Plunder Rushed Sight Spoil Swoop Violently Voice Wherefore
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Evil Eyes Hearken Hearkened Obey Orders Plunder Rushed Sight Spoil Swoop Violently Voice Wherefore
1 Samuel 15
1. Samuel sends Saul to destroy Amalek
6. Saul favors the Kenites
7. He spares Agag and the best of the spoil
10. Samuel denounces unto Saul God's rejection of him for his disobedience
24. Saul's humiliation
32. Samuel kills Agag
34. Samuel and Saul part














Why did you not obey
The Hebrew root for "obey" is "שָׁמַע" (shama), which means to hear, listen, or give heed. In the biblical context, obedience is not merely about hearing but involves a response of submission and action. The question posed here is rhetorical, highlighting Saul's failure to align his actions with God's explicit command. This disobedience is a central theme in the narrative, emphasizing the importance of obedience to God as a demonstration of faith and reverence.

the voice of the LORD?
The "voice of the LORD" refers to God's direct command, which in this context was delivered through the prophet Samuel. In the Hebrew tradition, the voice of God is authoritative and demands complete adherence. The phrase underscores the gravity of Saul's disobedience, as it was not merely a human directive he ignored, but the divine will. This highlights the biblical principle that God's commands are paramount and must be prioritized above personal desires or societal pressures.

Why did you rush upon the plunder
The phrase "rush upon the plunder" suggests a hasty and greedy action, driven by self-interest rather than divine instruction. The Hebrew word for "rush" can imply an impulsive or uncontrolled action. This reflects Saul's prioritization of material gain over spiritual obedience. In the historical context, plundering was common after a military victory, but God's command to Saul was to destroy everything, signifying a test of faith and obedience.

and do evil
The term "evil" in Hebrew is "רַע" (ra), which encompasses actions that are morally wrong or contrary to God's nature. Saul's actions are labeled as evil because they directly contravened God's command. This highlights the biblical understanding that evil is not just about intent but also about the failure to align with God's will. The narrative teaches that disobedience to God is inherently evil, regardless of human justification or reasoning.

in the sight of the LORD?
The phrase "in the sight of the LORD" indicates that all actions are visible and known to God. It serves as a reminder of God's omniscience and the futility of attempting to hide or justify disobedience. This phrase underscores the biblical truth that God's perspective is the ultimate measure of right and wrong. It calls believers to live with an awareness of God's constant presence and judgment, encouraging a life of integrity and faithfulness.

(19) Didst fly upon the spoil.--The expression used evidently includes the idea of greedy eagerness, as though Samuel detected a spirit of grasping covetousness at the bottom of this disobedient act of Saul's.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So why
וְלָ֥מָּה (wə·lām·māh)
Conjunctive waw | Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

did you not
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

obey
שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ (šā·ma‘·tā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the LORD?
יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Why did you rush
וַתַּ֙עַט֙ (wat·ta·‘aṭ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5860: To swoop down upon

upon
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the plunder
הַשָּׁלָ֔ל (haš·šā·lāl)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 7998: A prey, spoil, plunder, booty

and do
וַתַּ֥עַשׂ (wat·ta·‘aś)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 6213: To do, make

evil
הָרַ֖ע (hā·ra‘)
Article | Adjective - masculine singular
Strong's 7451: Bad, evil

in the sight
בְּעֵינֵ֥י (bə·‘ê·nê)
Preposition-b | Noun - cdc
Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain

of the LORD?”
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel


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OT History: 1 Samuel 15:19 Why then didn't you obey the voice (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 15:18
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