1 Samuel 15:30 "I have sinned," Saul replied. "Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God."

Bible > 1 Samuel > Chapter 15 > Verse 30

◄ 1 Samuel 15:30 ►

New International Version
Saul replied, “I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel; come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

New Living Translation
Then Saul pleaded again, “I know I have sinned. But please, at least honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel by coming back with me so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

English Standard Version
Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may bow before the LORD your God.”

Berean Standard Bible
“I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

King James Bible
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.

New King James Version
Then he said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now, please, before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.”

New American Standard Bible
Then Saul said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before all Israel, and go back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

NASB 1995
Then he said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.”

NASB 1977
Then he said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then he said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.”

Amplified Bible
Saul said, “I have sinned; but please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and go back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

Christian Standard Bible
Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the LORD your God.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Saul said, “I have sinned. Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me so I can bow in worship to the LORD your God.”

American Standard Version
Then he said, I have sinned: yet honor me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship Jehovah thy God.

Contemporary English Version
Saul said, "I did sin, but please honor me in front of the leaders of the army and the people of Israel. Come back with me, so I can worship the LORD your God."

English Revised Version
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.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Saul replied, "I have sinned! Now please honor me in front of the leaders of my people and in front of Israel. Come back with me, and let me worship the LORD your God."

Good News Translation
"I have sinned," Saul replied. "But at least show me respect in front of the leaders of my people and all of Israel. Go back with me so that I can worship the LORD your God."

International Standard Version
"I've sinned," Saul said. "But please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me so I may worship the LORD your God."

Majority Standard Bible
“I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

NET Bible
Saul again replied, "I have sinned. But please honor me before the elders of my people and before Israel. Go back with me so I may worship the LORD your God."

New Heart English Bible
Then he said, "I have sinned: yet please honor me now before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship the LORD your God."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then he said, I have sinned: yet honor 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.

World English Bible
Then he said, “I have sinned; yet please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and come back with me, that I may worship Yahweh your God.”

Literal Translations

Literal Standard Version
And he says, “I have sinned; now please honor me before [the] elderly of my people and before Israel, and return with me; and I have bowed myself to your God YHWH.”

Young's Literal Translation
And he saith, 'I have sinned; now, honour me, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn back with me; and I have bowed myself to Jehovah thy God.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And he will say, I sinned this time; honor me now before the old men of my people, and before Israel, and turn back with me, and I worshipped to Jehovah thy God.

Catholic Translations

Douay-Rheims Bible
Then he said: I have sinned: yet honour me now before the ancients of my people, and before Israel, and return with me, that I may adore the Lord thy God.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then he said: “I have sinned. But now, honor me before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and return with me, so that I may adore the Lord your God.”

New American Bible
But Saul answered: “I have sinned, yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Return with me that I may worship the LORD your God.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then Saul said, “I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.”

Translations from Aramaic

Lamsa Bible
Then Saul said, I have sinned; yet honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel, and return again with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shaul said: “I have sinned! Now honor me before the Elders of my people and before Israel and return with me. I shall worship LORD JEHOVAH your God!”

OT Translations

JPS Tanakh 1917
Then he said: 'I have sinned; yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and return with me, that I may worship the LORD thy God.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Saul said, I have sinned; yet honour me, I pray thee, before the elders of Israel, and before my people; and turn back with me, and I will worship the Lord thy God.

Additional Translations ...

Audio Bible

Context

Saul's Confession
…29Moreover, the Glory of Israel does not lie or change His mind, for He is not a man, that He should change His mind.” 30“I have sinned,” Saul replied. “Please honor me now before the elders of my people and before Israel. Come back with me, so that I may worship the LORD your God.” 31So Samuel went back with Saul, and Saul worshiped the LORD.…

Berean Standard Bible · Download

Cross References

1 Samuel 13:13-14
“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. / But now your kingdom will not endure; the LORD has sought a man after His own heart and appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept the command of the LORD.”

1 Samuel 28:17-18
He has done exactly what He spoke through me: The LORD has torn the kingdom out of your hand and given it to your neighbor David. / Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today.

2 Samuel 12:13
Then David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against the LORD.” “The LORD has taken away your sin,” Nathan replied. “You will not die.

1 Kings 18:18
“I have not troubled Israel,” Elijah replied, “but you and your father’s house have, for you have forsaken the commandments of the LORD and have followed the Baals.

1 Chronicles 10:13-14
So Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance, / and he failed to inquire of the LORD. So the LORD put him to death and turned the kingdom over to David son of Jesse.

Psalm 51:11
Cast me not away from Your presence; take not Your Holy Spirit from me.

Isaiah 29:13
Therefore the Lord said: “These people draw near to Me with their mouths and honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. Their worship of Me is but rules taught by men.

Isaiah 66:2
Has not My hand made all these things? And so they came into being,” declares the LORD. “This is the one I will esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, who trembles at My word.

Jeremiah 7:4-7
Do not trust in deceptive words, saying: ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’ / For if you really correct your ways and deeds, if you act justly toward one another, / if you no longer oppress the foreigner and the fatherless and the widow, and if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place or follow other gods to your own harm, ...

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

Matthew 6:1-2
“Be careful not to perform your righteous acts before men to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. / So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward.

Matthew 15:8-9
‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’”

Matthew 23:5-7
All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries and lengthen their tassels. / They love the places of honor at banquets, the chief seats in the synagogues, / the greetings in the marketplaces, and the title of ‘Rabbi’ by which they are addressed.

Mark 7:6-7
Jesus answered them, “Isaiah prophesied correctly about you hypocrites, as it is written: ‘These people honor Me with their lips, but their hearts are far from Me. / They worship Me in vain; they teach as doctrine the precepts of men.’

Luke 16:15
So He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is prized among men is detestable before God.

Treasury of Scripture

Then he said, I have sinned: yet honor me now, I pray you, before the elders of my people, and before Israel, and turn again with me, that I may worship the LORD your God.

honour me now

Habakkuk 2:4
Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

John 5:44
How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only?

John 12:43
For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.

that I may worship

Isaiah 29:13
Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:

Luke 18:9-14
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: …

2 Timothy 3:5
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

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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

Berean Study Bible

I have sinned
This phrase is a confession from Saul, acknowledging his disobedience to God's command. The Hebrew word for "sinned" is "חָטָא" (chata), which means to miss the mark or to err. In the biblical context, sin is not just a moral failing but a breach of covenant with God. Saul's admission is significant, yet it lacks the depth of true repentance, as his concern seems more about his reputation than genuine remorse.

Saul replied
Saul's response is crucial in understanding his character. Throughout 1 Samuel, Saul is portrayed as a king who struggles with obedience and humility. His reply here is indicative of his pattern of behavior—acknowledging wrongdoing but failing to fully submit to God's authority. This moment is pivotal as it reflects Saul's internal conflict and his inability to fully align with God's will.

Please honor me now
The plea for honor reveals Saul's preoccupation with his status and image. The Hebrew word for "honor" is "כָּבֵד" (kaved), which can mean to be heavy or weighty, often used to describe glory or respect. Saul's request underscores his desire for human approval over divine approval, highlighting a key flaw in his leadership and spiritual life.

before the elders of my people
The elders were leaders and respected figures within the Israelite community. Saul's concern about his standing before them indicates his fear of losing political power and influence. Historically, the elders played a crucial role in decision-making and governance, and Saul's appeal to them shows his reliance on human structures rather than divine guidance.

and before Israel
Israel, as a nation, was God's chosen people, and Saul's kingship was meant to serve under God's authority. His desire to maintain honor before Israel reflects his understanding of the importance of public perception. However, it also reveals a disconnect between his role as king and his responsibility to lead the people in faithful obedience to God.

Come back with me
Saul's request for Samuel to return with him is an attempt to regain legitimacy and support. Samuel, as a prophet, represented God's voice, and his presence would signal divine approval. This request highlights Saul's dependence on external validation rather than seeking reconciliation with God.

so that I may worship
Worship in the Hebrew context, "שָׁחָה" (shachah), involves bowing down or prostrating oneself, signifying submission and reverence. Saul's desire to worship is more about ritual compliance than heartfelt devotion. True worship requires a contrite heart, which Saul seems to lack, as his focus remains on appearances.

the LORD your God
The phrase "the LORD your God" is telling, as Saul refers to God as Samuel's God rather than his own. This distinction suggests a relational distance between Saul and God, emphasizing his spiritual decline. In the broader biblical narrative, this separation marks a turning point where Saul's kingship is ultimately rejected by God.

Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers

(30) Yet honour me now, I pray thee, before the elders.--It was a strange penitence, after all, this sorrow of Saul for his great sin. He was, no doubt, terribly in earnest and in great fear; but his earnestness was based upon a desire to maintain his power and royal state, and his fear sprang from a well-grounded apprehension that if he lost the countenance of Samuel the seer, the revered and honoured servant of the Lord, he would probably forfeit his crown. "If Saul had been really penitent, he would pray to have been humble rather than to be honoured" (St. Gregory, quoted by Wordsworth).

Pulpit Commentary

Verses 30, 31. - Then he said, I have sinned. We have here no real confession of guilt. Even in ver. 24 the words were rather an expression of vexation at the strictness with which he was held to the letter of the command, than an acknowledgment that he really had done wrong. Here Saul's meaning seems to be, Well, granting that I have sinned, and that this sentence of exclusion kern the kingdom is passed upon me, yet at least pay me the honor due to the rank which I still continue to hold. And to this request Samuel accedes. Saul was de facto king, and would continue to be so during his lifetime. The anointing, once bestowed, was a consecration for life, and so generally it was in the days of the son that the consequences of the father's sin came fully to pass (1 Kings 11:34, 35; 1 Kings 14:13, etc.). Had Samuel refused the public honour due to Saul's rank, it would have given an occasion for intrigue and resistance to all who were disaffected with Saul's government, and been a step towards bringing back the old anarchy. Jehovah thy God. See on ver. 13.

Parallel Commentaries ...

Hebrew

“I have sinned,”
חָטָ֔אתִי (ḥā·ṭā·ṯî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 2398: To miss, to sin, to forfeit, lack, expiate, repent, lead astray, condemn

Saul replied.
וַיֹּ֣אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Please
נָ֛א (nā)
Interjection
Strong's 4994: I pray', 'now', 'then'

honor
כַּבְּדֵ֥נִי (kab·bə·ḏê·nî)
Verb - Piel - Imperative - masculine singular | first person common singular
Strong's 3513: To be heavy, weighty, or burdensome

me now
עַתָּ֗ה (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

before
נֶ֥גֶד (ne·ḡeḏ)
Preposition
Strong's 5048: A front, part opposite, a counterpart, mate, over against, before

the elders
זִקְנֵֽי־ (ziq·nê-)
Adjective - masculine plural construct
Strong's 2205: Old

of my people
עַמִּ֖י (‘am·mî)
Noun - masculine singular construct | first person common singular
Strong's 5971: A people, a tribe, troops, attendants, a flock

and before
וְנֶ֣גֶד (wə·ne·ḡeḏ)
Conjunctive waw | Preposition
Strong's 5048: A front, part opposite, a counterpart, mate, over against, before

Israel.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל (yiś·rā·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc

Come back
וְשׁ֣וּב (wə·šūḇ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

with me,
עִמִּ֔י (‘im·mî)
Preposition | first person common singular
Strong's 5973: With, equally with

so that I may worship
וְהִֽשְׁתַּחֲוֵ֖יתִי (wə·hiš·ta·ḥă·wê·ṯî)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hitpael - Conjunctive perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 7812: To depress, prostrate

the LORD
לַֽיהוָ֥ה (Yah·weh)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

your God.”
אֱלֹהֶֽיךָ׃ (’ĕ·lō·he·ḵā)
Noun - masculine plural construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative

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OT History: 1 Samuel 15:30 Then he said I have sinned: yet (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)