The Meaning of 1 Samuel 15:23 Explained

1 Samuel 15:23

KJV: For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

YLT: for a sin of divination is rebellion, and iniquity and teraphim is stubbornness; because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, He also doth reject thee from being king.'

Darby: For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And selfwill is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, He hath also rejected thee from being king.

ASV: For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, he hath also rejected thee from being king.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

For rebellion  [is as] the sin  of witchcraft,  and stubbornness  [is as] iniquity  and idolatry.  Because thou hast rejected  the word  of the LORD,  he hath also rejected  thee from [being] king. 

What does 1 Samuel 15:23 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 15:17-35 - Shallow Repentance Unavailing
Samuel was deeply moved when he heard of Saul's failure, "and he cried unto the Lord all night." Thus he was prepared to accost the sinful king. Mr. Finney tells of a minister who was so burdened with the souls of men that he could do but little preaching, his whole time and strength being given to prayer. It is only in that spirit that men like Samuel can undertake their solemn duty.
Saul's response was very unsatisfactory. He began by laying the blame on the people, 1 Samuel 15:21. He pretended that the object of sparing the cattle, etc., was to sacrifice them to God-a very hypocritical excuse, 1 Samuel 15:22. Without any deep consciousness of sin, he lightly professed sorrow, and hoped to pacify Samuel by asking that they might kneel together in worship, 1 Samuel 15:25. When the old prophet refused to let him off so easily, the only thing that Saul cared for was that the elders should still honor him, 1 Samuel 15:30. How hardened Saul had become! This was the beginning of the sin unto death.
For Review Questions, see the e-Sword Book Comments. [source]

Chapter Summary: 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

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 15:23 mean?

For [as] the sin of witchcraft rebellion [is] and [as] iniquity and idolatry Stubbornness [is] because you have rejected - the word of Yahweh and He has rejected you from [being] king -
כִּ֤י חַטַּאת־ קֶ֙סֶם֙ מֶ֔רִי וְאָ֥וֶן וּתְרָפִ֖ים הַפְצַ֑ר יַ֗עַן מָאַ֙סְתָּ֙ אֶת־ דְּבַ֣ר יְהוָ֔ה וַיִּמְאָסְךָ֖ מִמֶּֽלֶךְ ס

חַטַּאת־  [as]  the  sin 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: חַטָּאָה 
Sense: sin, sinful.
קֶ֙סֶם֙  of  witchcraft 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: קֶסֶם  
Sense: divination, witchcraft.
מֶ֔רִי  rebellion  [is] 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מְרִי  
Sense: rebellion.
וְאָ֥וֶן  and  [as]  iniquity 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָוֶן 
Sense: trouble, wickedness, sorrow.
וּתְרָפִ֖ים  and  idolatry 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Noun, masculine plural
Root: תְּרָפִים  
Sense: idolatry, idols, image(s), teraphim, family idol.
הַפְצַ֑ר  Stubbornness  [is] 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Infinitive absolute
Root: פָּצַר  
Sense: to press, push.
יַ֗עַן  because 
Parse: Adverb
Root: יַעַן  
Sense: because, therefore, because that, on account of prep.
מָאַ֙סְתָּ֙  you  have  rejected 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: מָאַס 
Sense: to reject, despise, refuse.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
דְּבַ֣ר  the  word 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
יְהוָ֔ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַיִּמְאָסְךָ֖  and  He  has  rejected  you 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular, second person masculine singular
Root: מָאַס 
Sense: to reject, despise, refuse.
מִמֶּֽלֶךְ  from  [being]  king 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular
Root: מֶלֶךְ 
Sense: king.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation