Note: This view shows ‘verses’ which are not natural language units and hence sometimes only part of a sentence will be visible. Normally the OET discourages the reading of individual ‘verses’, but this view is only designed as a tool for doing comparisons of different translations. Click on any Bible version abbreviation down the left-hand side to see the verse in more of its context. The OET segments on this page are still very early looks into the unfinished texts of the Open English Translation of the Bible. Please double-check these texts in advance before using in public.
Text critical issues=none Clarity of original=clearImportance to us=important (All still tentative.)
OET (OET-RV)But Shemuel asked, ⇔ “Is Yahwehhappier with burntofferingsand sacrifices ⇔ than with those who follow his instructions? ⇔ Listen, obedience is better than sacrifice— ⇔ ≈paying attention is worth more than the fat of rams.
Key: khaki:verbs, green:YHWH.
Note: Automatic aligning of the OET-RV to the LV is done by some temporary software, hence the OET-RV alignments are incomplete (and may occasionally be wrong).
BrTrAnd Samuel said, Does the Lord take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in hearing the words of the Lord? behold, obedience is better than a good sacrifice, and hearkening than the fat of rams.
ULTAnd Samuel said, ⇔ “Is the delight of Yahweh in burnt offerings and sacrifices ⇔ as in listening to the voice of Yahweh? ⇔ Behold, listening is better than sacrifice, ⇔ to pay attention than the fat of rams.
USTBut Samuel replied, ⇔ “It pleases Yahweh more when people do what he tells them to do ⇔ than when they completely burn animals as sacrifices to him and offer him other kinds of sacrifices. ⇔ It is much better to obey Yahweh than to offer sacrifices to him. ⇔ It is better to pay attention to what he says and do it than to burn the fat of rams as a sacrifice to him.
BSB § But Samuel declared: ⇔ “Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices ⇔ as much as in obedience to His voice? ⇔ Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, ⇔ and attentiveness is better than the fat of rams.
OEBAnd Samuel said, ‘Does the Lord delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as in obedience to the voice of the Lord? Behold to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
WEBBESamuel said, “Has the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the LORD’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.
NETThen 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.
LSVAnd Samuel says, “Has YHWH had delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as [in] listening to the voice of YHWH? Behold, listening is better than sacrifice; to give attention than fat of rams;
FBV“Does the Lord prefer burnt offerings and sacrifices, or obedience to what he says?” Samuel asked. “Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice. Paying attention is more important than offering the fat of rams.
T4TBut Samuel replied, ⇔ “Which do you think pleases Yahweh more, animals that are completely burned on the altar and other sacrifices, ⇔ or people obeying him [SYN]? ⇔ It is better to obey Yahweh than to offer sacrifices to him. ⇔ It is better to pay attention to what he says than to burn the fat of rams, even though God said they should be sacrificed to him.
LEB• Then Samuel said,“Is there as much delight for Yahweh in burnt offerings and sacrifices • as there is in obeying[fn] Yahweh? • Look! To obey[fn]is better than sacrifice; • to give heed than the fat of rams.
BBEAnd 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.
JPSAnd Samuel said: 'Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in hearkening to the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
ASVAnd 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.
DRAAnd Samuel said: Doth the Lord desire holocausts and victims, and not rather that the voice of the Lord should be obeyed? For obedience is better than sacrifices: and to hearken rather than to offer the fat of rams.
YLTAnd 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;
DrbyAnd 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.
RVAnd 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.
WbstrAnd 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.
KJB-1769And Samuel said, Hath the LORDas 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. (And Samuel said, Hath the LORDas 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. )
KJB-1611[fn]And Samuel saide, Hath the LORDas great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey, is better then sacrifice: and to hearken, then the fat of rammes. (And Samuel said, Hath the LORDas great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey, is better then sacrifice: and to hearken, then the fat of rams.)
BshpsAnd Samuel sayde: Hath the Lorde as great pleasure in burnt sacrifices and offerynges, as when the voyce of the Lorde is obeyed? Beholde, to obey, is better then sacrifice: and to hearken, is better then the fat of rammes. (And Samuel said: Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt sacrifices and offerings, as when the voice of the Lord is obeyed? Behold, to obey, is better then sacrifice: and to hearken, is better then the fat of rams.)
GnvaAnd Samuel saide, Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as when the voyce of the Lord is obeyed? beholde, to obey is better then sacrifice, and to hearken is better then the fatte of rammes. (And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great pleasure in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as when the voice of the Lord is obeyed? behold, to obey is better then sacrifice, and to hearken is better then the fat of rams. )
CvdlSamuel saide: Hath the LORDE pleasure in sacrifices and burntofferynges, as in obeynge the voyce of the LORDE? Beholde, obedience is better then offerynge, and to herken is better then the fat of rammes. (Samuel said: Hath the LORD pleasure in sacrifices and burnt-offerings, as in obeing the voice of the LORD? Behold, obedience is better then offering, and to hearken is better then the fat of rams.)
WyclAnd Samuel seide, Whether the Lord wole brent sacrifices, ethir slayn sacrifices, and not more that me obeie to the vois of the Lord? For obedience is betere than sacrifices, and to `herkene Goddis word is more than to offre the ynnere fatnesse of rammes; (And Samuel said, Whether the Lord will burnt-sacrifices, either slain/killed sacrifices, and not more that me obey to the voice of the Lord? For obedience is better than sacrifices, and to herkene God’s word is more than to offer the inner fatness of rams;)
LuthSamuel aber sprach: Meinest du, daß der HErr Lust habe am Opfer und Brandopfer als am Gehorsam der Stimme des HErr’s? Siehe, Gehorsam ist besser denn Opfer und Aufmerken besser denn das Fett von Widdern; (Samuel but spoke: Meinest you(sg), that the/of_the LORD desire/lust have in/at/on_the victim/prey and burnt-offering as in/at/on_the Gehorsam the/of_the voice the LORD’s? See/Look, Gehorsam is better because victim/prey and Aufmerken better because the Fett from Widdern;)
ClVgEt ait Samuel: Numquid vult Dominus holocausta et victimas, et non potius ut obediatur voci Domini? melior est enim obedientia quam victimæ, et auscultare magis quam offerre adipem arietum.[fn] (And he_said Samuel: Is_it vult Master holocausta and victimas, and not/no rather as obediaturvociDomini? melior it_is because obedientia how victimæ, and auscultaremagis how offerrefatmarietum. )
15.22Melior est, etc. RAB. in lib. Reg. Quia per victimas aliena caro, etc., usque ad Paulus autem audacter dicit: Ego non solum ligari in Jerusalem, sed etiam mori paratus sum Act. 21..
15.22Melior it_is, etc. RAB. in/into/on lib. Reg. Because through victimas aliena caro, etc., until to Paulus however audacter he_says: I not/no solum ligari in/into/on Yerusalem, but also mori paratus sum Act. 21..
15:22What is more pleasing: God values obedience much more than ritual (see also Ps 40:6; Hos 6:6; Matt 12:7). • the fat of rams: The choicest parts of the animal were offered to God.
God instructed Saul to “completely destroy” the Amalekites, who had ambushed the Israelites after the Exodus (see Exod 17:8-16; Deut 25:17-19). The Hebrew word kharam (“completely destroy”) often means dedicating something or someone completely to the Lord, either by destroying it (1 Sam 15:3; Josh 6:17-18) or by giving it as an offering (see Lev 27:28-29; Josh 6:19).
Complete destruction was called for in cases where those to be destroyed had committed a severe offense against God, such as worshiping false gods (Deut 7:1-6; 13:12-18). In 1 Samuel 15:3, complete destruction is prescribed as God’s judgment on a nation that mistreated his chosen people. Those who curse God’s family are, in turn, cursed (Gen 12:3).
God still judges the godless and impenitent. But in the new covenant, Christians are not called to be agents of such judgment. God calls us to exercise his mercy toward those who wrong us (see Luke 9:51-56). We must completely destroy whatever within ourselves wars against Christ (Rom 8:12-13; Col 3:5). And we must overcome the enemies of Christ by our faith, by the Good News, and by our love (Eph 6:10-20; 1 Jn 2:9-17). God will mete out judgment according to his justice and in his time (Rom 12:19; 2 Thes 1:6-10).
Samuel is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [Is the delight of Yahweh as much in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in listening to the voice of Yahweh?]
Samuel is using the question form for emphasis. If speakers of your language would not use the question form for that purpose, you could translate this as an exclamation. Alternate translation: [Yahweh does not delight so much in burnt offerings and sacrifices as in listening to the voice of Yahweh!]
These two phrases mean basically the same thing. The second emphasizes the meaning of the first by repeating the same idea with different words. Samuel is speaking poetically here, and Hebrew poetry was based on this kind of repetition. It would be good to show this to your readers by including both phrases in your translation rather than combining them. It may be clearer in your language to connect the phrases with a word other than and in order to show that the second phrase is repeating the first one, not saying something additional. Alternate translation: [listening is better than sacrifice, indeed, to pay attention is better than the fat of rams]
Samuel is using the term pay attention by association to mean obedience. If it would be helpful in your language, you could use an equivalent expression or plain language. Alternate translation: [to comply]
Samuel is leaving out some of the words that in many languages a sentence would need in order to be complete. You can supply these words from the context if that would be clearer in your language. Alternate translation: [than burning the fat of rams on the altar to please Yahweh]
Saul’s war against the Amalekites exemplifies many of the key traits–good and bad–of Saul’s leadership over Israel. Immediately before the story is recounted, the author notes that during Saul’s entire reign he fought valiantly against Israel’s enemies on every side (1 Samuel 14:47-52), and he amassed an army of skilled soldiers. Thus, Saul fulfilled one of the primary reasons the people demanded that Samuel appoint a king over them (1 Samuel 8). Then the author notes that the Lord, through Samuel, directed Saul to attack the Amalekites and utterly destroy them and their belongings as punishment for their cruel attack on the Israelites after they left Egypt to travel to Mount Sinai (Exodus 17; Deuteronomy 25:17-19). So Saul mustered a large number of troops at a place called Telaim and traveled to an otherwise unknown “city of the Amalekites” and lay in lay in wait for them in a valley. Saul also warned the Kenites, the descendants of Moses’ father-in-law Hobab (also called Jethro), to move away from the Amalekites so they would not be killed in the coming battle. It appears that the Kenites had remained on good terms with the Israelites since the time of Hobab/Jethro and accompanied them as they entered the Promised Land, eventually settling among the Amalekites in the Negev near Arad (Judges 1:16). Saul defeated the Amalekites, pursuing them “from Havilah as far as Shur,” according the the Hebrew text. The region of Havilah, however, was several hundred miles from the Negev, making it unlikely to be the place to which Saul pursued them, and this is underscored by the Septuagint’s substitution of “Elath” for “Havilah”. It is possible that the author was using this phrase as a hyperbolic merism to indicate that Saul pursued the Amalekites throughout the entire land in which they lived (see also Genesis 25:18 regarding the Ishmaelites). But since elsewhere in Scripture the Amalekites are said to live in the Negev and in southern Canaan (Genesis 14:7; Numbers 13:29; 14:45; Judges 1:16), another possibility is that the “Havilah” reading is a textual corruption. The Septuagint translators may have preserved the original reading of “Elath,” or they may have been making their best guess as to the intended location. Simply based on the similarity of spelling and the geography of the region (as shown on this map), it is possible that the original reading was “Hachilah,” a hill where David would later have some close encounters with Saul during his time in the wilderness (1 Samuel 23:19; 26:1). In any case, Saul and his men thoroughly defeated the Amalekites, but they failed to completely destroy them (see 1 Samuel 30) and their belongings. Instead they took King Agag alive and kept the best of the spoils. After this Saul traveled to Carmel and set up a monument for himself, and then he continued on to Gilgal. When Samuel arrived in Gilgal, however, he was angry with Saul for failing to devote all of the Amalekites and their goods to destruction, and he told Saul that the Lord regretted having made him king. Samuel then killed King Agag himself at Gilgal and returned to his home in Ramah. Saul returned to his home in Gibeah, but Samuel never spoke with Saul again.
