1 Samuel 15:23 (WEB)

Passage

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.”

Nearby Context

1 Samuel 15:21 But the people took of the plunder, sheep and cattle, the chief of the devoted things, to sacrifice to Yahweh your God in Gilgal.”

1 Samuel 15:22 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.

1 Samuel 15:23 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.”

1 Samuel 15:24 Saul said to Samuel, “I have sinned; for I have transgressed the commandment of Yahweh, and your words, because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.

1 Samuel 15:25 Now therefore, please pardon my sin, and turn again with me, that I may worship Yahweh.”

Study Lenses

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

The nearby context moves from verse 22's "Samuel said Has Yahweh as great delight..." into verse 24's "Saul said to Samuel I have sinned...", so "rebellion" and "witchcraft" 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 "witchcraft" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.