The Meaning of 1 Samuel 15:19 Explained

1 Samuel 15:19

KJV: Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of the LORD, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of the LORD?

YLT: and why hast thou not hearkened to the voice of Jehovah -- and dost fly unto the spoil, and dost do the evil thing in the eyes of Jehovah?'

Darby: Why then didst thou not hearken to the voice of Jehovah, but didst fall upon the spoil, and didst evil in the sight of Jehovah?

ASV: Wherefore then didst thou not obey the voice of Jehovah, but didst fly upon the spoil, and didst that which was evil in the sight of Jehovah?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wherefore then didst thou not obey  the voice  of the LORD,  but didst fly  upon the spoil,  and didst  evil  in the sight  of the LORD? 

What does 1 Samuel 15:19 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 15:19 mean?

Then why not did you obey the voice of Yahweh and why did you swoop down on the spoil and do evil in the sight of Yahweh -
וְלָ֥מָּה לֹא־ שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ בְּק֣וֹל יְהוָ֑ה וַתַּ֙עַט֙ אֶל־ הַשָּׁלָ֔ל וַתַּ֥עַשׂ הָרַ֖ע בְּעֵינֵ֥י ؟ יְהוָֽה ס

וְלָ֥מָּה  Then  why 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
שָׁמַ֖עְתָּ  did  you  obey 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, second person masculine singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּק֣וֹל  the  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
יְהוָ֑ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
וַתַּ֙עַט֙  and  why  did  you  swoop  down 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עִיט 
Sense: to scream, shriek.
הַשָּׁלָ֔ל  the  spoil 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁלָל  
Sense: prey, plunder, spoil, booty.
וַתַּ֥עַשׂ  and  do 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: עָשָׂה 
Sense: to do, fashion, accomplish, make.
הָרַ֖ע  evil 
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine singular
Root: רַע 
Sense: bad, evil.
בְּעֵינֵ֥י  in  the  sight  of 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, cdc
Root: עֹונָה 
Sense: eye.
؟ יְהוָֽה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
ס  - 
Parse: Punctuation