King James Version

1 Samuel 15:9

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

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Hebrew

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וַיַּחְמֹל֩vayachmoland spareחָמַלconjunction, verb, qal, sequential imperfect, 3rd person, masculine, singular — “and spare”, the next action in the storyH2550to commiserate; by implication, to sparehave compassion, (have) pity, spare.שָׁא֨וּלshaulShaulשָׁאוּלnoun, proper name — “Shaul”H7586Shaul, the name of an Edomite and two IsraelitesSaul, Shaul.וְהָעָ֜םvehaamand the peopleעַםconjunction, definite article, noun, common, masculine, singular, absolute — “and the people”, the ordinary formH5971a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flockfolk, men, nation, people.עַלalaboveעַלpreposition — “above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…אֲגָ֗גagagAgagאֲגַגnoun, proper name — “Agag”H90Agag, a title of Amalekitish kingsAgag.וְעַלvealand aboveעַלconjunction, preposition — “and above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…מֵיטַ֣בmeytavbestמֵיטָבnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “best”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH4315the best partbest.הַצֹּאן֩hatsonthe flockצֹאןdefinite article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “the flock”, the ordinary formH6629a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)(small) cattle, flock ([phrase] -s), lamb ([phrase] -s), sheep(-cote, -fold, -shearer, -herds).וְהַבָּקָ֨רvehabaqarand the herdבָּקָרconjunction, definite article, noun, common, both genders, singular, absolute — “and the herd”, the ordinary formH1241beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herdbeeve, bull ([phrase] -ock), [phrase] calf, [phrase] cow, great (cattle), [phrase] heifer, herd, kine, ox.וְהַמִּשְׁנִ֤יםvehamishnimand the copyמִשְׁנֶהconjunction, definite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “and the copy”, the ordinary formH4932properly, a repetition, i.e. a duplicate (copy of a document), or a double (in amount); by implication, a second (in order, rank, age, quality or location)college, copy, double, fatlings, next, second (order), twice as much.וְעַלvealand aboveעַלconjunction, preposition — “and above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…הַכָּרִים֙hakarimthe ram. See also Hכַּרdefinite article, noun, common, masculine, plural, absolute — “the ram. See also H”, the ordinary formH3733a ram (as full-grown and fat), including a battering-ram (as butting); hence, a meadow (as for sheep); also a pad or camel's saddle (as puffed out)captain, furniture, lamb, (large) pasture, ram. See also H1033 (בֵּית כַּר), H3746 (כָּרִי).וְעַלvealand aboveעַלconjunction, preposition — “and above”H5921above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applicationsabove, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, [idiom] as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, [idiom] both and, by (reason of), [idiom] had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of,…כָּלkalallכֹּלnoun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “all”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3605properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).הַטּ֔וֹבhatovthe goodטוֹבdefinite article, adjective, adjective, masculine, singular, absolute — “the 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,…וְלֹ֥אveloand no , -r,לֹאconjunction, particle, negative — “and no , -r,”H3808not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles[idiom] before, [phrase] or else, ere, [phrase] except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), ([idiom] as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, [phrase] surely, [phrase] as trul…אָב֖וּavvbe willingאָבָהverb, qal, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “be willing”, a completed actionH14to breathe after, i.e. (figuratively) to be acquiescentconsent, rest content will, be willing.הַחֲרִימָ֑םhacharimamdevoteחָרַםverb, hiphil, infinitive construct, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, masculine, plural — “devote”, the to-form of the verbH2763to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nosemake accursed, consecrate, (utterly) destroy, devote, forfeit, have a flat nose, utterly (slay, make away).וְכָלvekhaland allכֹּלconjunction, noun, common, masculine, singular, construct — “and all”, the of-form, joined to the next wordH3605properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)(in) all (manner, (ye)), altogether, any (manner), enough, every (one, place, thing), howsoever, as many as, (no-) thing, ought, whatsoever, (the) whole, whoso(-ever).הַמְּלָאכָ֛הhamlakhahthe work , -manshipמְלָאכָהdefinite article, noun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “the work , -manship”, the ordinary formH4399properly, deputyship, i.e. ministry; generally, employment (never servile) or work (abstractly or concretely); also property (as the result of labor)business, [phrase] cattle, [phrase] industrious, occupation, ([phrase] -pied), [phrase] officer, thing (made), use, (manner of) work((-man), -manship).נְמִבְזָ֥הnemivzahvileנְמִבְזֶהnoun, common, feminine, singular, absolute — “vile”, the ordinary formH5240despisedvile.וְנָמֵ֖סvenamesand faintמָסַסconjunction, verb, niphal, participle, absolute — “and faint”, a verb used as a describing wordH4549to liquefy; figuratively, to waste (with disease), to faint (with fatigue, fear or grief)discourage, faint, be loosed, melt (away), refuse, [idiom] utterly.אֹתָ֥הּotahobject markerאֵתparticle, direct object marker, suffix, pronominal, 3rd person, feminine, singular — “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).הֶחֱרִֽימוּhecherimvdevoteחָרַםverb, hiphil, perfect, 3rd person, common, plural — “devote”, a completed actionH2763to seclude; specifically (by a ban) to devote to religious uses (especially destruction); physical and reflexive, to be blunt as to the nosemake accursed, consecrate, (utterly) destroy, devote, forfeit, have a flat nose, utterly (slay, make away).

Jewish translation (JPS 1917)

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, even the young of the second birth, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them; but every thing that was of no account and feeble, that they destroyed utterly.

Compare Public-Domain Translations

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

American Standard Version (1901)

But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

Young’s Literal Translation

and Saul hath pity — also the people — on Agag, and on the best of the flock, and of the herd, and of the seconds, and on the lambs, and on all that [is] good, and have not been willing to devote them; and all the work, despised and wasted — it they devoted.

World English Bible

But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, of the cattle, of the fat calves, of the lambs, and all that was good, and were not willing to utterly destroy them; but everything that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

Darby Translation

And Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep and oxen, and beasts of the second bearing, and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not devote them to destruction; but everything that was mean and weak, that they destroyed utterly.

Douay-Rheims

And Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the flocks of sheep and of the herds, and the garments and the rams, and all that was beautiful, and would not destroy them: but every thing that was vile and good for nothing, that they destroyed.

Jewish Publication Society (1917)

Brenton’s Septuagint (1851), English

And Saul and all the people saved Agag alive, and the best of the flocks, and of the herds, and of the fruits, of the vineyards, and of all the good things; and they would not destroy them: but every worthless and refuse thing they destroyed.

Septuagint (Brenton’s Greek, 1851)

Καὶ περιεποιήσατο Σαοὺλ καὶ πᾶς ὁ λαὸς τὸν ʼΑγὰγ ζῶντα, καὶ τὰ ἀγαθὰ τῶν ποιμνίων, καὶ τῶν βουκολίων, καὶ τῶν ἐδεσμάτων καὶ τῶν ἀμπελώνων, καὶ πάντων τῶν ἀγαθῶν, καὶ οὐκ ἐβούλοντο ἐξολοθρεῦσαι αὐτά· καὶ πᾶν ἔργον ἠτιμωμένον καὶ ἐξουδενωμένον ἐξωλόθρευσαν.