The Meaning of 1 Samuel 15:24 Explained

1 Samuel 15:24

KJV: And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

YLT: And Saul saith unto Samuel, 'I have sinned, for I passed over the command of Jehovah, and thy words; because I have feared the people, I also hearken to their voice;

Darby: And Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of Jehovah, and thy words; for I feared the people, and hearkened to their voice.

ASV: And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Jehovah, and thy words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And Saul  said  unto Samuel,  I have sinned:  for I have transgressed  the commandment  of the LORD,  and thy words:  because I feared  the people,  and obeyed  their voice. 

What does 1 Samuel 15:24 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 15:24 mean?

And said Saul to Samuel I have sinned for I have transgressed - the commandment of Yahweh and your words because I feared the people and obeyed their voice
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר שָׁא֤וּל אֶל־ שְׁמוּאֵל֙ חָטָ֔אתִי כִּֽי־ עָבַ֥רְתִּי אֶת־ פִּֽי־ יְהוָ֖ה וְאֶת־ דְּבָרֶ֑יךָ כִּ֤י יָרֵ֙אתִי֙ הָעָ֔ם וָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע בְּקוֹלָֽם

וַיֹּ֨אמֶר  And  said 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
שָׁא֤וּל  Saul 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שָׁאוּל  
Sense: a Benjamite, son of Kish, and the st king of Israel.
שְׁמוּאֵל֙  Samuel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: שְׁמוּאֵל  
Sense: son of Elkanah by his wife Hannah and judge or prophet of Israel during the days of Saul and David.
חָטָ֔אתִי  I  have  sinned 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
עָבַ֥רְתִּי  I  have  transgressed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: עָבַר 
Sense: to pass over or by or through, alienate, bring, carry, do away, take, take away, transgress.
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.
פִּֽי־  the  commandment 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: פֶּה  
Sense: mouth.
יְהוָ֖ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
דְּבָרֶ֑יךָ  your  words 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: דָּבָר  
Sense: speech, word, speaking, thing.
כִּ֤י  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
יָרֵ֙אתִי֙  I  feared 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: יָרֵא 
Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
הָעָ֔ם  the  people 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.
וָאֶשְׁמַ֖ע  and  obeyed 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, first person common singular
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
בְּקוֹלָֽם  their  voice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.