1 Samuel 15:23 (LSB)

Passage

For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, He has also rejected you from being king.”

Nearby Context

1 Samuel 15:21 But the people took some of the spoil, sheep and oxen, the choicest of the things devoted to destruction, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God at Gilgal.”

1 Samuel 15:22 And Samuel said, “Has Yahweh as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of Yahweh? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.

1 Samuel 15:23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, And insubordination is as wickedness and idolatry. Because you have rejected the word of Yahweh, He has also rejected you from being king.”

1 Samuel 15:24 Then Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; I have indeed trespassed against the command of Yahweh and your words because I feared the people and obeyed their voice.

1 Samuel 15:25 So now, please forgive my sin and return with me, that I may worship Yahweh.”

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "rebellion", "divination", "insubordination", "wickedness", "idolatry", "rejected", "word", and "yahweh". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "rebellion" and "divination", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "And Samuel said Has Yahweh as much..." into verse 24's "Then Saul said to Samuel I have...", so "rebellion" and "divination" belong inside that flow. In 1 Samuel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "rebellion" and "divination" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.