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.
Study Note
Study Note
'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' — Samuel's prophetic rebuke of Saul's partial obedience becomes one of the Hebrew Bible's definitive statements on the priority of ethical obedience over ritual performance. The verse stands in the tradition of Amos 5:21–24, Isaiah 1:11–17, Hosea 6:6, and Micah 6:6–8, all of which challenge the assumption that cultic activity can substitute for moral obedience. Jesus's citation of Hosea 6:6 in Matthew 9:13 and 12:7 and the prophetic trajectory of worship-as-justice all root in this foundational prophetic conviction most sharply stated in Samuel's reply to Saul.
Other Translations
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.
And Samuel saith, `Hath Jehovah had delight in burnt-offerings and sacrifices as <FI>in<Fi> hearkening to the voice of Jehovah? lo, hearkening than sacrifice is better; to give attention than fat of rams;
And Samuel said, Has the Lord as much delight in offerings and burned offerings as in the doing of his orders? Truly, to do his pleasure is better than to make offerings, and to give ear to him than the fat of sheep.
Cross References
Now therefore, if ye will obey my voice indeed, and keep my covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure …
Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not …
I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart.
I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices or thy burnt offerings, to have been continually before me.
I will take no bullock out of thy house, nor he goats out of thy folds.
For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
To do justice and judgment is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice.
Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give …
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto me? saith the Lord: I am full of the burnt …