King James Version

1 Samuel 15:23

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.

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Hebrew

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כִּ֤יkiassuredכִּיconjunction — “assured”H3588(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexedand, + (forasmuch, inasmuch, where-) as, assured(-ly), + but, certainly, doubtless, + else, even, + except, for, how, (because, in, so, than) that, + nevertheless, now, rightly, seeing, since, surely, then, therefore, + (al-) though, + til…חַטַּאתchatatpunishmentחַטָּאָהnoun, common, feminine, singular, construct — “punishment”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH2403an offence (sometimes habitual sinfulness), and its penalty, occasion, sacrifice, or expiation; also (concretely) an offenderpunishment (of sin), purifying(-fication for sin), sin(-ner, offering).קֶ֨סֶם֙qesemdivinationקֶסֶםnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “divination”, the ordinary formH7081a lot; also divination (including its fee), oracle(reward of) divination, divine sentence, witchcraft.מֶ֔רִיmeribitterמְרִיnoun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “bitter”, the ordinary formH4805bitterness, i.e. (figuratively) rebellion; concretely, bitter, or rebelliousbitter, (most) rebel(-lion, -lious).וְאָ֥וֶןveavenand idolאָוֶןconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and idol”, the ordinary formH205strictly nothingness; also trouble. vanity, wickedness; specifically an idolaffliction, evil, false, idol, iniquity, mischief, mourners(-ing), naught, sorrow, unjust, unrighteous, vain, vanity, wicked(-ness). Compare H369 (אַיִן).וּתְרָפִ֖יםuterafimand teraphimתְּרָפִיםconjunction, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “and teraphim”, the ordinary formH8655Teraphim (singular or plural) a family idolidols(-atry), images, teraphim.הַפְצַ֑רhaftsarpressפָּצַרverb, hiphil, infinitive absolute — “press”, the verb used for emphasisH6484to peck at, i.e. (figuratively) stun or dullpress, urge, stubbornness.יַ֗עַןyaanbecauseיַעַןconjunction — “because”H3282properly, heed; by implication, purpose (sake or account); used adverbially to indicate the reason or causebecause (that), forasmuch ([phrase] as), seeing then, [phrase] that, [phrase] wheras, [phrase] why.מָאַ֨סְתָּ֙maastaabhorמָאַסverb, qal, perfect, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “abhor”, a completed actionH3988to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappearabhor, cast away (off), contemn, despise, disdain, (become) loathe(some), melt away, refuse, reject, reprobate, [idiom] utterly, vile person.אֶתetobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker — “object marker”H853properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)(as such unrepresented in English).דְּבַ֣רdevarcauseדָּבָרnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “cause”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH1697a word; by implication, a matter (as spoken of) or thing; adverbially, a causeact, advice, affair, answer, [idiom] any such (thing), because of, book, business, care, case, cause, certain rate, [phrase] chronicles, commandment, [idiom] commune(-ication), [phrase] concern(-ing), [phrase] confer, counsel, [phrase] dea…יְהוָ֔הyehvahJehovahיְהֹוָהnoun, proper name — “Jehovah”H3068Jehovah, Jewish national name of GodJehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050 (יָהּ), H3069 (יְהֹוִה).וַיִּמְאָסְךָ֖vayimasekhaand abhorמָאַסconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular, suffix, pronominal, 2nd person, masculine, singular — “and abhor”, the next action in the storyH3988to spurn; also (intransitively) to disappearabhor, cast away (off), contemn, despise, disdain, (become) loathe(some), melt away, refuse, reject, reprobate, [idiom] utterly, vile person.מִמֶּֽלֶךְmimelekhfrom kingמֶלֶךְpreposition, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “from king”, the ordinary formH4428a kingking, royal.

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king.'

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

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.

Young’s Literal Translation

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.'

World English Bible

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.”

Darby Translation

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.

Douay-Rheims

Because it is like the sin of witchcraft, to rebel: and like the crime of idolatry, to refuse to obey. Forasmuch therefore as thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord hath also rejected thee from being king.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as idolatry and teraphim. Because thou hast rejected the word of the LORD, He hath also rejected thee from being king.'

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

For sin is as divination; idols bring on pain and grief. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, the Lord also shall reject thee from being king over Israel.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Ὅτι ἁμαρτία οἰώνισμά ἐστιν, ὀδύνην καὶ πόνονς θεραφὶν ἐπάγουσιν· ὅτι ἐξουδένωσας τὸ ῥῆμα Κυρίου, καὶ ἐξουδενώσει σε Κύριος μὴ εἶναι βασιλέα ἐπὶ Ἰσραήλ.