Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul said. “I went on the mission the LORD assigned me. I completely destroyed the Amalekites and brought back Agag their king. New Living Translation “But I did obey the LORD,” Saul insisted. “I carried out the mission he gave me. I brought back King Agag, but I destroyed everyone else. English Standard Version And Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD. I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. Berean Standard Bible “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. Berean Literal Bible And Saul said to Samuel, “Because I have listened to the voice of YHWH and gone in the way that YHWH sent me and brought back Agag king of Amalek, and the Amalekite I have devoted to destruction. King James Bible And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. New King James Version And Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and brought back Agag king of Amalek; I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. New American Standard Bible Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the LORD, for I went on the mission on which the LORD sent me; and I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites. NASB 1995 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the LORD, and went on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. NASB 1977 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of the LORD, and went on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. Legacy Standard Bible Then Saul said to Samuel, “I did obey the voice of Yahweh and went on the way on which Yahweh sent me and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek and have devoted the Amalekites to destruction. Amplified Bible Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and have brought back Agag the king of Amalek, and have completely destroyed the Amalekites. Berean Annotated Bible “But I did obey the LORD {YHWH}, Saul (desired) (his name is El) replied. “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. I brought back Agag (I will overtop) king of Amalek (dweller in a valley) and devoted the Amalekites to destruction. Christian Standard Bible “But I did obey the LORD! ” Saul answered. “I went on the mission the LORD gave me: I brought back King Agag of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. Holman Christian Standard Bible “But I did obey the LORD!” Saul answered. “I went on the mission the LORD gave me: I brought back Agag, king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. American Standard Version And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of Jehovah, and have gone the way which Jehovah sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. Contemporary English Version "But I did listen to the LORD!" Saul answered. "He sent me on a mission, and I went. I captured King Agag and destroyed his nation. English Revised Version And Saul said unto Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. GOD'S WORD® Translation "But I did obey the LORD," Saul told Samuel. "I went where the LORD sent me, brought [back] King Agag of Amalek, and claimed the Amalekites for God. Good News Translation "I did obey the LORD," Saul replied. "I went out as he told me to, brought back King Agag, and killed all the Amalekites. International Standard Version Saul told Samuel, "I did obey the LORD. I went on the mission on which the LORD sent me, I brought Agag king of Amalek, and I completely destroyed the Amalekites. NET Bible Then Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the LORD! I went on the campaign the LORD sent me on. I brought back King Agag of the Amalekites after exterminating the Amalekites. New Heart English Bible Saul said to Samuel, "But I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. Webster's Bible Translation And Saul said to Samuel, Yea, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard Bible“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. World English Bible Saul said to Samuel, “But I have obeyed Yahweh’s voice, and have gone the way which Yahweh sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Saul says to Samuel, “Because—I have listened to the voice of YHWH, and I go in the way which YHWH has sent me, and bring in Agag king of Amalek, and I have devoted Amalek; Berean Literal Bible And Saul said to Samuel, “Because I have listened to the voice of YHWH and gone in the way that YHWH sent me and brought back Agag king of Amalek, and the Amalekite I have devoted to destruction. Young's Literal Translation And Saul saith unto Samuel, 'Because -- I have hearkened to the voice of Jehovah, and I go in the way which Jehovah hath sent me, and bring in Agag king of Amalek, and Amalek I have devoted; Smith's Literal Translation And Saul will say to Samuel, That I heard to the voice of Jehovah, and I will go in the way which Jehovah sent me, and I will bring Agag king of Amalek, and I utterly destroyed Amalek. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleAnd Saul said to Samuel: Yea I have hearkened to the voice of the Lord, and have walked in the way by which the Lord sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalec, and Amalec I have slain. Catholic Public Domain Version And Saul said to Samuel: “On the contrary, I did listen to the voice of the Lord, and I walked in the way along which the Lord sent me, and I led back Agag, the king of Amalek, and I put to death Amalek. New American Bible Saul explained to Samuel: “I did indeed obey the LORD and fulfill the mission on which the LORD sent me. I have brought back Agag, the king of Amalek, and, carrying out the ban, I have destroyed the Amalekites. New Revised Standard Version Saul said to Samuel, “I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, I have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, I have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and I have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd Saul said to Samuel, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone on the mission on which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of the Amalekites, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Shaul said to Shemueil: “I have listened to the voice of LORD JEHOVAH, and I went in the way that he sent me, and I brought Agag, King of Amaleq, and the Amalekites I have destroyed OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And Saul said unto Samuel: 'Yea, I have hearkened to the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. Brenton Septuagint Translation And Saul said to Samuel, Because I listened to the voice of the people: yet I went the way by which the Lord sent me, and I brought Agag the king of Amalec, and I destroyed Amalec. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Samuel Denounces Saul…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. 21The troops took sheep and cattle from the plunder, the best of the things devoted to destruction, in order to sacrifice them to the LORD your God at Gilgal.”… Cross References “But I did obey the LORD,” 1 Samuel 12:14 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. Deuteronomy 13:4 You are to follow the LORD your God and fear Him. Keep His commandments and listen to His voice; serve Him and hold fast to Him. Joshua 22:5 But be very careful to observe the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the LORD gave you: to love the LORD your God, to walk in all His ways, to keep His commandments, to hold fast to Him, and to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul.” Saul replied. 1 Samuel 24:17 and said to David, “You are more righteous than I, for you have rewarded me with good, though I have rewarded you with evil. 1 Samuel 26:21 Then Saul replied, “I have sinned. Come back, David my son. I will never harm you again, because today you considered my life precious. I have played the fool and have committed a grave error!” “I went on the mission that the LORD gave me. Exodus 3:10 Therefore, go! I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring My people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Jonah 3:2 “Get up! Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message that I give you.” Jeremiah 1:7 But the LORD told me: “Do not say, ‘I am only a child.’ For to everyone I send you, you must go, and all that I command you, you must speak. I brought back Agag king of Amalek Numbers 24:7 Water will flow from his buckets, and his seed will have abundant water. His king will be greater than Agag, and his kingdom will be exalted. Deuteronomy 25:17-19 Remember what the Amalekites did to you along your way from Egypt, / how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God. / When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget! Esther 3:1 After these events, King Xerxes honored Haman son of Hammedatha, the Agagite, elevating him to a position above all the princes who were with him. and devoted the Amalekites to destruction.” Exodus 17:14-16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” / And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner. / “Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.” Deuteronomy 20:16-17 However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. / For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, 1 Kings 20:42 And the prophet said to the king, “This is what the LORD says: ‘Because you have let slip from your hand the man I had devoted to destruction, your life will be exchanged for his life, and your people for his people.’” 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 28:18 Because you did not obey the LORD or carry out His burning anger against Amalek, the LORD has done this to you today. Treasury of Scripture And Saul said to Samuel, Yes, I have obeyed the voice of the LORD, and have gone the way which the LORD sent me, and have brought Agag the king of Amalek, and have utterly destroyed the Amalekites. Yea 1 Samuel 15:13 And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD. Job 33:9 I am clean without transgression, I am innocent; neither is there iniquity in me. Job 34:5 For Job hath said, I am righteous: and God hath taken away my judgment. have brought 1 Samuel 15:3,8 Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass… Jump to Previous Agag Amalek Am'alek Amalekites Amal'ekites Assigned Destroyed Destruction Hearkened Indeed Mission Obey Obeyed Orders Samuel Saul Utterly Voice WayJump to Next Agag Amalek Am'alek Amalekites Amal'ekites Assigned Destroyed Destruction Hearkened Indeed Mission Obey Obeyed Orders Samuel Saul Utterly Voice Way1 Samuel 15 1. Samuel sends Saul to destroy Amalek6. 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 But I did obey the LORD, Saul's claim of obedience is a central issue in this passage. The biblical context reveals that God had given Saul a clear command through the prophet Samuel to completely destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul's assertion of obedience is contradicted by his actions, highlighting a common theme in Scripture where outward compliance is mistaken for true obedience (1 Samuel 15:22). This phrase also reflects the human tendency to justify partial obedience as full compliance, a theme seen throughout the Bible. 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. Persons / Places / Events 1. SaulThe first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel. In this passage, Saul is defending his actions to Samuel, claiming obedience to God's command. 2. Samuel A prophet and judge of Israel who anointed Saul as king. He is the one delivering God's message of judgment to Saul for his disobedience. 3. Agag The king of the Amalekites, whom Saul spared despite God's command to destroy all the Amalekites. 4. Amalekites A nomadic tribe that was a longstanding enemy of Israel. God commanded their complete destruction due to their opposition to Israel. 5. Gilgal The location where Saul and Samuel are having this conversation. It is a significant place in Israel's history, often associated with renewal and covenant. Teaching Points Obedience Over SacrificeTrue obedience to God involves complete adherence to His commands, not partial compliance or rationalization of disobedience. The Danger of Self-Deception Saul's claim of obedience reveals how easily we can deceive ourselves into believing we are following God when we are not. Consequences of Disobedience Saul's failure to fully obey God led to his rejection as king, illustrating the serious consequences of disobedience. The Importance of Godly Leadership Leaders are held to a high standard of obedience and integrity, as their actions have significant impacts on those they lead. Repentance and Accountability When confronted with sin, genuine repentance and accountability are necessary for restoration with God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 15:20?2. How does Saul's response in 1 Samuel 15:20 reflect partial obedience to God? 3. What can we learn about true obedience from Saul's actions in 1 Samuel 15:20? 4. How does 1 Samuel 15:20 connect with Jesus' teachings on obedience in John 14:15? 5. In what ways might we justify disobedience like Saul in 1 Samuel 15:20? 6. How can we ensure our actions align with God's commands, unlike Saul's in 1 Samuel 15:20? 7. Why did Saul claim obedience in 1 Samuel 15:20 despite sparing King Agag and livestock? 8. How does 1 Samuel 15:20 challenge the concept of selective obedience to God? 9. What does Saul's response in 1 Samuel 15:20 reveal about human nature and self-deception? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 15? 11. Who was Agag in the Bible's narrative? 12. If Saul reportedly destroyed the Amalekites earlier (1 Samuel 15), why do they reappear here in 1 Samuel 30? 13. How can 1 Samuel 31:4-5 claim Saul died by falling on his own sword if 2 Samuel 1:10 says an Amalekite killed him? 14. Who killed Saul? Saul took his own sword and fell upon it.... Thus Saul died... (I Samuel 31:4-6) An Amalekite slew him (2 Samuel 1:1- 16) What Does 1 Samuel 15:20 Mean But I did obey the LORDSaul’s opening words sound confident, yet they reveal a heart already on the defensive. • Earlier Samuel had confronted him: “Why then did you not obey the voice of the LORD?” (1 Samuel 15:19). Saul’s “but” pushes back against that charge. • True obedience is measured by God’s standard, not ours (James 1:22). Claiming faithfulness while redefining it is self-deception (1 John 2:4). • Saul is echoing Israel’s pattern in Judges: “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (Judges 21:25). By insisting he obeyed, Saul reveals how far his eyes have drifted from God’s clear command (1 Samuel 15:1-3). I went on the mission that the LORD gave me Here Saul rehearses the assignment as proof of loyalty. • Mission language reminds us that God’s call is specific (Genesis 6:22; Acts 26:19). Partial completion is not mission accomplished. • God had said, “Now go and attack Amalek and devote to destruction all that belongs to them” (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul’s summary omits the word “all,” signaling selectivity. • Jesus links love to full obedience: “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Saul’s mission talk lacks that love; it centers on his effort, not God’s honor. I brought back Agag king of Amalek and devoted the Amalekites to destruction With this admission Saul unwittingly proves his disobedience. • God’s command was to leave no survivor (1 Samuel 15:3). Sparing Agag contradicts that order. • The verb “brought back” shows Saul assumed authority to revise God’s plan, much like Uzzah later presumed to steady the ark (2 Samuel 6:6-7). Both acts ended in judgment. • Keeping Agag alive allowed the symbol of Amalek’s rebellion to linger. Centuries later Haman the Agagite rises against Israel (Esther 3:1), illustrating the long-term cost of unfinished obedience. • Even Saul’s claim to have “devoted the Amalekites to destruction” is selective; verse 9 records that he and the people spared “the best of the sheep and cattle.” God sees the hidden exceptions (Hebrews 4:13). summary 1 Samuel 15:20 captures Saul’s self-justification. He frames partial compliance as full obedience, redefining God’s clear command to suit his reputation. The verse warns that doing “most” of what God says while reserving personal preferences is still disobedience. True allegiance submits without editing, trusts God’s wisdom above human reasoning, and obeys completely for His glory. (20) Yea, I have obeyed . . .--These and the words which follow are simply a repetition of the king's former excuse for his act: but they show us what was the state of Saul's mind: he evidently disbelieved in the power of the Eternal as a heart reader. If he could justify himself before Samuel, that was all he cared for. He asserted his own integrity of purpose and his great zeal for the public sacrifice to God, knowing all the while that low earthly reasons had been the springs of his conduct. He reiterated the plea that what he had done was in accordance with the voice of the people, conscious all the while that the plea was false.Verses 20, 21. - Saul's justifcation of himself is remarkable, as he seems entirely unconscious of having done anything wrong. His education had no doubt been defective (1 Samuel 10:12), and his knowledge of the law was probably very small; but he must have listened to Samuel's injunctions in a very off hand way, and have troubled himself about very little more than that he was to make war upon the Amalekites. There may even have been the wish in his mind to let Samuel know that he was now king, and would carry on affairs after his own fashion. The very form of his answer requires notice; for the word rendered yea is literally in that, or because, and may be paraphrased as follows: Do you reproach me thus because I have obeyed you? See, there is Agag in proof of our victory; and if the people have spared the cattle, it was with the best of intentions. The next clause, the chief of the things which should have been utterly destroyed, reads in the A.V. like an ironical parenthesis. It is not so, but an important part of Saul's defence. These sheep and oxen were "the best of the devoted things," selected as the first fruits for sacrifice. Saul may not have known that such a sacrifice was forbidden (Deuteronomy 13:15-17). The words, to sacrifice unto Jehovah thy God, imply that Samuel ought to be pleased at the victorious army doing this public homage to the Deity whose prophet he was. It was virtually a compliment to himself, and is very much in accordance with the notions of the generality of people now, who consider that attendance at a place of worship, or sending their children to school, is a favour to the clergyman.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew “But I did obeyשָׁמַ֙עְתִּי֙ (šā·ma‘·tî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently the LORD,” יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel Saul שָׁא֜וּל (šā·’ūl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites replied. וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 559: To utter, say “I went וָאֵלֵ֕ךְ (wā·’ê·lêḵ) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk on the mission בַּדֶּ֖רֶךְ (bad·de·reḵ) Preposition-b, Article | Noun - common singular Strong's 1870: A road, a course of life, mode of action that אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that the LORD יְהוָ֑ה (Yah·weh) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel gave me. שְׁלָחַ֣נִי (šə·lā·ḥa·nî) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common singular Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out I brought back וָאָבִ֗יא (wā·’ā·ḇî) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Consecutive imperfect - first person common singular Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go Agag אֲגַג֙ (’ă·ḡaḡ) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 90: Agag -- king of Amalek king מֶ֣לֶךְ (me·leḵ) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 4428: A king of Amalek עֲמָלֵ֔ק (‘ă·mā·lêq) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6002: Amalek -- a descendant of Esau, also his posterity and utterly destroyed הֶחֱרַֽמְתִּי׃ (he·ḥĕ·ram·tî) Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular Strong's 2763: To seclude, to devote to religious uses, to be blunt as to the nose the Amalekites. עֲמָלֵ֖ק (‘ă·mā·lêq) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6002: Amalek -- a descendant of Esau, also his posterity Links 1 Samuel 15:20 NIV1 Samuel 15:20 NLT 1 Samuel 15:20 ESV 1 Samuel 15:20 NASB 1 Samuel 15:20 KJV 1 Samuel 15:20 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 15:20 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 15:20 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 15:20 French Bible 1 Samuel 15:20 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 15:20 Saul said to Samuel Yes I have (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |
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