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.”
Parallel translations
- WEB 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.”
- KJV 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.
- BSB “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.”
- NKJV 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.”
- NASB 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.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Saul again confesses sin but pleads to be honored before the elders and Israel. His chief concern remains his public reputation rather than God.
Overview
Saul repeats his confession yet his request to be honored before the people exposes that pride still rules his heart. He wants the appearance of restored standing more than reconciliation with God. The verse is a sobering portrait of a religiosity driven by image rather than by humble surrender.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- John 12:43for they loved men’s praise more than God’s praise.
- John 5:44How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?
- Isa 29:13The Lord said, “Because this people draws near with their mouth and with their lips to honor me, but they have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which has been taught;
- 2 Tim 3:5holding a form of godliness, but having denied its power. Turn away from these, also.
- Hab 2:4Behold, his soul is puffed up. It is not upright in him, but the righteous will live by his faith.
- Luke 18:9–14He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 15:30 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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