I Samuel 15:26 · Bible study
1 Samuel 15:26 Commentary: Samuel's Refusal and God's Rejection
Hebrew · 7 what the commentators say
Meaning in one sentence
Samuel refuses to return with Saul after he rejects God's word, pronouncing God's rejection.
Research Summary
- Meaning: Samuel's refusal is a prophetic enactment of God's judgment against Saul's disobedience. The rejection of the king is rooted in his rejection of God's word.
- Key words: H3988 מָאַס (ma'as), "reject", used both of Saul's rejection of God's word and God's rejection of Saul; the exact verbal parallel emphasizes divine consequence.
- Main debate: Whether Samuel's later return with Saul (v.31) contradicts his earlier refusal. Some say he changed his mind (Gill), others that he spoke truthfully in the moment (Wesley), and others that the return was for worship only.
- Theological theme: God's sovereignty in judgment and the necessity of wholehearted obedience. The narrative shows that partial obedience is still disobedience.
- Best use: Preaching on the seriousness of sin, the nature of true repentance, and the unchanging reliability of God's word. Also a warning to leaders that position does not protect from accountability.
Translation Comparison
BSB Berean Standard Bible 2020
“I will not return with you,” Samuel replied. “For you have rejected the word of the LORD, and He has rejected you as king over Israel.”
WEB World English Bible 2000
Samuel said to Saul, “I will not return with you; for you have rejected Yahweh’s word, and Yahweh has rejected you from being king over Israel.”
KJV King James Version 1769
And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee: for thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
ASV American Standard Version 1901
And Samuel said unto Saul, I will not return with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
YLT Young's Literal Translation 1898
And Samuel saith unto Saul, `I do not turn back with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah doth reject thee from being king over Israel.'
Darby Darby Bible 1890
And Samuel said to Saul, I will not turn again with thee; for thou hast rejected the word of Jehovah, and Jehovah has rejected thee from being king over Israel.
Douay-Rheims Douay-Rheims Bible 1899
And Samuel said to Saul: I will not return with thee, because thou hath rejected the word of the Lord, and the Lord hath rejected thee from being king over Israel.
Translations in other languages (10 available)
Y Samuel respondió á Saúl: No volveré contigo; porque desechaste la palabra de Jehová, y Jehová te ha desechado para que no seas rey sobre Israel.
E Samuel respondeu a Saul: Não voltarei contigo; porque rejeitaste a palavra do SENHOR, e o SENHOR te rejeitou para que não sejas rei sobre Israel.
Samuel dit à Saül: Je ne retournerai point avec toi; car tu as rejeté la parole de l’ Éternel, et l’ Éternel te rejette, afin que tu ne sois plus roi sur Israël.
Samuel sprach zu Saul: Ich will nicht mit dir umkehren; denn du hast des HERRN Wort verworfen, und der HERR hat dich auch verworfen, daß du nicht König seist über Israel.
Doch Samuel zeide tot Saul: Ik zal met u niet wederkeren; omdat gij het woord des HEEREN verworpen hebt, zo heeft u de HEERE verworpen, dat gij geen koning over Israel zult zijn.
“Io non ritornerò con te, poiché hai rigettato la parola dell’Eterno, e l’Eterno ha rigettato te perché tu non sia più re sopra Israele”.
A gdy się odwrócił Samuel, żeby odszedł, uchwycił skrzydło płaszcza jego, i oderwało się.
И отвечал Самуил Саулу: не ворочусь я с тобою, ибо ты отверг слово Господа, и Господь отверг тебя, чтобы ты не был царем над Израилем.
撒母耳 對 掃羅 說：「我不 同你 回去；因為 你厭棄 耶和華 的命令，耶和華 也厭棄 你作 以色列 的王。」
And Samuel said to Saul, I will not go back with you: for you have put away from you the word of the Lord, and the Lord has put you from your place as king over Israel.
Verse in Context
Original Language (Biblical Hebrew)
Old Testament · Biblical Hebrew · I Samuel 15:26
Source: STEPBible TAGNT/TEHB (CC-BY 4.0). Click or tap a morphology code to see the full parsing.
Scholars' Consensus
Commentators across traditions agree on the central fact: Samuel's refusal to return with Saul was not a mere personal decision but a prophetic act embodying the divine decree. The Hebrew verb מָאַסְתָּה (you have rejected) and וַיִּמְאָסְךָ (he has rejected you) form a stark correspondence, Saul's rejection of God's word results in God's rejection of him as king. Adam Clarke says Samuel could not acknowledge Saul as king after God had rejected him. Matthew Henry notes that Saul's confession was extorted, forced by the threat of deposition, and lacked genuine sorrow. John Wesley adds that Samuel's words were no lie; he spoke what he intended at that moment, though he later saw reason to change. John Gill explains that Samuel later returned with Saul after a change of mind, which a good man may make without any imputation of falsehood. Keil and Delitzsch emphasize that the tearing of the robe in verse 27 served as a visible sign that the kingdom was being torn from Saul. The consensus: Samuel's refusal was both a truthful personal response and a solemn prophetic declaration of God's judgment.
How settled is the interpretation?
Interpretive difficulty: Medium
Main views:
- Truthful intention (Wesley): Samuel meant what he said initially; his later return was a legitimate change of mind, not a lie.
- Change of mind (Gill): Samuel later returned with Saul after a change of heart; a good man may do so without falsehood.
- Return for worship only: Samuel's return was for public worship, not to reinstate the king; the rejection remained.
What is clear: Saul was rejected as king over Israel, and Samuel's refusal was a prophetic act consistent with that judgment.
What Scholars Agree and Debate
| Topic | Agreed | Debated |
|---|---|---|
| The sincerity of Saul's repentance | All traditions agree that Saul acknowledged his sin (v.24) and asked for pardon (v.25). | Some commentators (Matthew Henry) see his confession as insincere and self-serving, extorted by the threat of deposition. Others (Gill) treat it as a genuine though inadequate confession, noting that he still blames the people. |
| The finality of God's rejection of Saul as king | Christians agree that God removed the kingdom from Saul and gave it to another (David). | Some traditions (e.g., Reformed) understand this as an unconditional divine decree that cannot be reversed. Others (e.g., Arminian/Wesleyan) see it as conditional, if Saul had truly repented, God might have relented, though the text shows no such possibility. |
| Did Samuel lie or change his mind? | All agree that Samuel's words in v.26 expressed a real intention at the moment. | Wesley argues it was not a lie because Samuel meant what he said; he later legitimately changed his mind. Gill says a good man may change his intention without sin. Others see the later return as a separate action that does not nullify the earlier refusal. |
| The meaning of God's 'repentance' in this chapter | The passage states that God does not repent like a human (v.29). | Calvinists use v.29 to affirm God's immutability, while those who emphasize God's responsiveness to human actions (e.g., Wesleyan) highlight the anthropomorphic language of God repenting in v.11. Both sides recognize a mystery in how God's unchanging will interacts with human history. |
Historical & Cultural Context
Set in the aftermath of Saul's failed campaign against the Amalekites, this verse comes at the moment of final confrontation between prophet and king. God had commanded the total destruction of Amalek and all its possessions (v.3). Saul, however, spared King Agag and the best livestock, claiming the people kept them to sacrifice to God (vv.9,15). Samuel's arrival at Gilgal exposes the disobedience. The location is significant: Gilgal is where Saul was first confirmed as king (1 Samuel 11:15) and where he earlier offered an unlawful sacrifice (1 Samuel 13). Now it is the site of his rejection.
Saul's request that Samuel return with him (v.25) is a desperate attempt to preserve public honor, he wants the prophet's visible endorsement to keep the people's confidence. Samuel's refusal (v.26) is not rudeness but theology: the king who rejects God's word cannot claim the prophet's fellowship. The dramatic tearing of the robe (v.27) becomes a prophetic sign that the kingdom is torn from Saul. Yet Samuel does return in verse 31, after Saul pleads, 'honor me now before the elders.' This return is not a retraction of judgment; it is a last concession to public order and worship. The kingdom is still given to another. The narrative forces readers to see that God's word, once spoken, does not change, even when a prophet's personal actions seem to shift. The Hebrew verb shuv (to return) carries the weight: Samuel at first refuses to shuv with Saul because the breach is too deep; later he shuvs to accompany him, but the kingdom will not return. In this we see the terrible cost of disobedience and the strange mercy of a God who allows a reprieved king to worship one last time.
Textual Notes
The consulted sources note no significant textual variants for verse 26. The Hebrew text is consistent across manuscripts. A minor variant appears in verse 27 regarding the verb וַיִּקָּרַע (was torn), which is Niphal in the Masoretic Text; some versions (LXX) may read a Qal form, but this does not affect the interpretation of verse 26.
Reception History
Throughout church history, this verse has been a key text for understanding the gravity of rejecting God's command. The early church read it as a warning that even the anointed king is not exempt from judgment. In the medieval period, it was used in sermons on obedience to God's law over human rationalization. In the Reformation, both Lutheran and Reformed preachers emphasized that Saul's outward worship could not compensate for his disobedience. In the Wesleyan revival, it was often preached as a caution that a believer can fall from grace through persistent sin. Today, it continues to challenge readers in leadership to take God's word seriously and to examine whether their repentance is genuine or merely a bid to save face.
Preaching This Verse
Three-Point Outline
- God's word rejected: Saul's sin was not small, he deliberately spared what God had condemned. The verb "reject" (ma'as) is used first of Saul's action, then of God's response. Disobedience is not a mistake; it is a choice.
- Prophetic refusal: Samuel's "I will not return" is a public declaration that Saul's sin has broken fellowship. It is a pastoral and prophetic boundary, not personal anger.
- A torn robe and a torn kingdom: The accidental tearing of Samuel's robe becomes a living parable. God's judgment is irreversible; but in grace, Samuel returns to lead worship, a sign that God does not abandon his people even when he removes their leader.
Five-Point Outline
- The commission: God's clear command to destroy Amalek.
- The compromise: Saul spares the king and the best spoils, rationalizing it as sacrifice.
- The confrontation: Samuel confronts Saul; Saul offers a half-confession, blaming the people.
- The consequence: Samuel refuses to return; the robe tears; the kingdom is given to another.
- The aftermath: Samuel returns for Saul's public worship, but the sentence stands, God has rejected Saul from being king.
Illustration hooks
- A child disobeys a parent's clear rule, then offers a flimsy excuse. The parent's refusal to accept the apology is not an end to love but a refusal to pretend the offense is minor. Later the child offers a genuine apology; the parent accepts it but the natural consequences remain.
- An employee fails to follow a direct safety procedure, leading to a dangerous situation. The boss sets a meeting to address it. The employee says "I'm sorry" but tries to blame coworkers. The boss insists the employee take responsibility before any restoration can happen.
- In church life, a leader falls into serious sin. The congregation may love the person but must uphold the church's standards. The time of separation is painful but necessary for real repentance to grow.
Questions your congregation is asking
- Did God permanently reject Saul, or was there hope if he truly repented?
- How do we know if our repentance is sincere like David's or superficial like Saul's?
- Why did Samuel change his mind and go back? Does that mean God changed his mind about Saul?
Leading a Discussion
This passage confronts us with the gravity of disobedience and the complexity of human repentance. Saul's story is not simply about a bad king; it's about how even those called by God can drift into stubborn self-justification. Discuss the following questions with an open heart, remembering that all of us have areas where we struggle to fully obey.
Discussion questions
- Read 1 Samuel 15:24, 26. What specific sin did Saul admit? Why did he blame the people?
- What does Samuel mean when he says "you have rejected Yahweh's word"? How is rejecting God's word different from simply making a mistake?
- Why do you think Samuel refused to return with Saul? What message did that send to Saul and to the people watching?
- In verse 27, Saul grabs Samuel's robe and it tears. What does this torn robe symbolize? How does Samuel interpret it in verse 28?
- Verse 31 says Samuel went back with Saul. Does this contradict verse 26? How would you explain the sequence?
- What does Saul's request "honor me now before the elders" (v.30) reveal about his priorities?
- How does this story challenge your own approach to repentance? Do you ever find yourself more concerned about your reputation than about truly turning back to God?
Word Study
The key original-language words in this verse. Select any word for its full lexicon entry — meaning, every occurrence in Scripture, and related words.
Cross-References
Source: Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (TSK, public domain)
| Genesis 42:38 | He said, “My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he only is left. If harm happens to him along the way in which you go, then you will bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to Sheol.” |
| Genesis 43:11 | Their father, Israel, said to them, “If it must be so, then do this: Take from the choice fruits of the land in your bags, and carry down a present for the man, a little balm, a little honey, spices and myrrh, nuts, and almonds; |
| Genesis 43:14 | May God Almighty give you mercy before the man, that he may release to you your other brother and Benjamin. If I am bereaved of my children, I am bereaved.” |
| I Samuel 2:30 | “Therefore Yahweh, the God of Israel, says, ‘I said indeed that your house and the house of your father should walk before me forever.’ But now Yahweh says, ‘Far be it from me; for those who honor me I will honor, and those who despise me will be cursed. |
| I Samuel 13:14 | But now your kingdom will not continue. Yahweh has sought for himself a man after his own heart, and Yahweh has appointed him to be prince over his people, because you have not kept that which Yahweh commanded you.” |
| I Samuel 15:23 | For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because you have rejected Yahweh’s word, he has also rejected you from being king.” |
| I Samuel 15:31 | So Samuel went back with Saul; and Saul worshiped Yahweh. |
| I Samuel 16:1 | Yahweh said to Samuel, “How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from being king over Israel? Fill your horn with oil, and go. I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided a king for myself among his sons.” |
Interlinear and lexical data from STEPBible (CC BY 4.0). Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY 4.0). Commentaries are public domain.
For personal reflection
Read the devotional page — prayer, application, and "for families"
What the Commentators Say
6 public-domain commentaries, condensed into plain language.
Adam Clarke's Commentary Methodist/Wesleyan 1826
Samuel emphasizes that Samuel's refusal to go with Saul is not personal unwillingness but a necessary consequence of divine rejection. Since God has set Saul aside as king, Samuel cannot pretend otherwise by accompanying him and thereby acknowledging his royal standing.
Geneva Bible Notes Reformed 1599
Samuel stresses the direct connection between Saul's actions and God's response: because Saul deliberately cast aside God's command, God in turn casts him aside from the throne. The rejection is not arbitrary but a precise consequence of Saul's own rebellion against the divine word.
Gill's Exposition of the Bible Baptist 1748
Gill notes that Samuel refused to return with Saul not from deceit but from righteous indignation, since Saul still downplayed his sin and blamed the people. Samuel later changed his mind without lying, but Saul's partial repentance did not reverse God's settled decree that he was rejected as king.
Keil & Delitzsch OT Commentary Protestant 1876
Keil-Delitzsch stresses that the tearing of Samuel's robe happened accidentally, not intentionally by Saul, and God used this chance event as a visible sign that the kingdom was being torn from Saul. They explain "the Trust of Israel" as a name for God meaning the unchangeable One in whom Israel can safely trust, contrasting this with the anthropomorphic language of God repenting in other passages.
Matthew Henry's Commentary Reformed/Presbyterian 1710
Henry sees Saul's confession as hollow, forced out only by the threat of losing his throne. Unlike a true penitent, Saul is more concerned about regaining Samuel's approval than about his sin against God. His repentance is merely an act, not genuine sorrow.
Wesley's Explanatory Notes Methodist/Wesleyan 1754
Wesley argues that saying "I will not" is not a lie if the words match the speaker's intention at that moment, even if they later see reason to change their mind. He also notes that the rejection spoken of does not mean rejection from salvation, and questions who has authority to claim otherwise.