King James Version

1 Samuel 15:22

And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

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Hebrew

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וַיֹּ֣אמֶרvayomerand sayאָמַרconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and say”, the next action in the storyH559to say (used with great latitude)answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, [phrase] (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, [idiom] desire, determine, [idiom] expressly, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] intend, name, [id…שְׁמוּאֵ֗לshemuelShemuelשְׁמוּאֵלnoun, proper name — “Shemuel”H8050Shemuel, the name of three IsraelitesSamuel, Shemuel.הַחֵ֤פֶץhachefetsthe desireחֵפֶץparticle, interrogative, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “the desire”, the ordinary formH2656pleasure; hence (abstractly) desire; concretely, a valuable thing; hence (by extension) a matter (as something in mind)acceptable, delight(-some), desire, things desired, matter, pleasant(-ure), purpose, willingly.לַֽיהוָה֙layhvahto Jehovahיְהֹוָהpreposition, noun, proper name — “to Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).בְּעֹל֣וֹתbeolotin ascentעֹלָהpreposition, noun, common, feminine, plural, absolute — “in ascent”, the ordinary formH5930a step or (collectively, stairs, as ascending); usually a holocaust (as going up in smoke)ascent, burnt offering (sacrifice), go up to. See also H5766 (עֶוֶל).וּזְבָחִ֔יםuzevachimand sacrificeזֶבַחconjunction, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “and sacrifice”, the ordinary formH2077properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)offer(-ing), sacrifice.כִּשְׁמֹ֖עַkishmoaas hearשָׁמַעpreposition, verb, qal, infinitive construct — “as hear”, the to-form of the verbH8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)[idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) n…בְּק֣וֹלbeqolin soundקוֹלpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “in sound”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH6963a voice or sound[phrase] aloud, bleating, crackling, cry ([phrase] out), fame, lightness, lowing, noise, [phrase] hold peace, (pro-) claim, proclamation, [phrase] sing, sound, [phrase] spark, thunder(-ing), voice, [phrase] yell.יְהוָ֑הyehvahJehovahיְהֹוָהnoun, proper name — “Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).הִנֵּ֤הhinehloהִנֵּהparticle, demonstrative — “lo”H2009lo!behold, lo, see.שְׁמֹ֨עַ֙shemoahearשָׁמַעverb, qal, infinitive construct — “hear”, the to-form of the verbH8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)[idiom] attentively, call (gather) together, [idiom] carefully, [idiom] certainly, consent, consider, be content, declare, [idiom] diligently, discern, give ear, (cause to, let, make to) hear(-ken, tell), [idiom] indeed, listen, make (a) n…מִזֶּ֣בַחmizevachfrom sacrificeזֶבַחpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “from sacrifice”, the ordinary formH2077properly, a slaughter, i.e. the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)offer(-ing), sacrifice.ט֔וֹבtovgoodטוֹבadjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “good”, the ordinary formH2896good (as an adjective) in the widest sense; used likewise as a noun, both in the masculine and the feminine, the singular and the plural (good, a good or good thing, a good man or woman; the good, goods or good things, good men or women), also as an adverb (well)beautiful, best, better, bountiful, cheerful, at ease, [idiom] fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness, -s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving, merry, [idiom] most, pleasant,…לְהַקְשִׁ֖יבlehaqshivto attendקָשַׁבpreposition, verb, hiphil, infinitive construct — “to attend”, the to-form of the verbH7181to prick up the ears, i.e. hearkenattend, (cause to) hear(-ken), give heed, incline, mark (well), regard.מֵחֵ֥לֶבmechelevfrom fatחֶלֶבpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “from fat”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2459fat, whether literally or figuratively; hence, the richest or choice part[idiom] best, fat(-ness), [idiom] finest, grease, marrow.אֵילִֽיםeylimoakאַיִלnoun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “oak”, the ordinary formH352properly, strength; hence, anything strong; specifically a chief (politically); also a ram (from his strength); a pilaster (as a strong support); an oak or other strong treemighty (man), lintel, oak, post, ram, tree.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

And Samuel said: 'Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in hearkening to the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

The King James Version remains the text of this page and the canonical URL.

American Standard Version (1901)

And Samuel said, Hath Jehovah as great delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of Jehovah? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

Young’s Literal Translation

And Samuel saith, 'Hath Jehovah had delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as [in] hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? lo, hearkening than sacrifice is better; to give attention than fat of rams;

World English Bible

Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying Yahweh’s voice? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to listen than the fat of rams.

Darby Translation

And Samuel said, Has Jehovah delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices, As in hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice, Attention than the fat of rams.

Douay-Rheims

And Samuel said: Doth the Lord desire holocausts and victims, and not rather that the voice of the Lord should be obeyed? For obedience is better than sacrifices: and to hearken rather than to offer the fat of rams.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And Samuel said, Does the Lord take pleasure in whole-burnt-offerings and sacrifices, as in hearing the words of the Lord? behold, obedience is better than a good sacrifice, and hearkening than the fat of rams.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ εἶπε Σαμουήλ, εἰ θελητὸν τῷ Κυρίῳ ὁλοκαυτώματα καὶ θυσίας, ὡς τὸ ἀκοῦσαι φωνῆς Κυρίου; ἰδοὺ ἀκοὴ ὑπὲρ θυσίαν ἀγαθὴν, καὶ ἡ ἐπακρόασις ὑπὲρ στέαρ κριῶν.

Alluded to in

Mark 12:33 Mark 12:33 · King James VersionAnd to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.Mark 12:33 · King James VersionOpen the Source
And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.