It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

1 SAMUEL 15:11KJV
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1 Samuel 15:11 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 15:11 mean?

1 Samuel 15:11 describes God’s regret over making Saul king because Saul has stopped obeying his commands. The verse also shows how deeply the news affects Samuel, the man who had anointed Saul as king: he spends the whole night crying out to the LORD.

God is speaking to Samuel, as the previous verse makes clear. The phrase “turned back from following me” pictures Saul leaving the path he was meant to follow. The verse shifts from God’s judgment of Saul’s conduct to Samuel’s response.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 15:11

  • “repenteth” — נָחַם (naḥam): Here the word carries the sense of regret or sorrow. In the KJV’s older English, “It repenteth me” means “I regret.”
  • “grieved” — חָרָה (ḥarah): The word can describe anger or strong distress. The KJV’s “grieved” presents Samuel as deeply upset, while the Hebrew wording also carries a sense of burning emotion.
  • “cried” — זָעַק (zaʿaq): The word often means to call out urgently. Samuel’s response is an intense appeal to the LORD, continuing through the night.

Why 1 Samuel 15:11 matters

  • God gives a reason for his regret: Saul “hath not performed my commandments.” Earlier in the chapter, Saul had spared the Amalekite king and the best of the animals despite the command he had received.
  • Samuel’s response prepares the reader for his meeting with Saul. In the following verses, Samuel confronts Saul about the animals that were spared, making the issue of obedience central to their exchange.

Where else these words appear

“cried” Hebrew H2199 · used in 73 verses

  • Exodus 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
  • 2 Samuel 13:19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
  • Isaiah 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

“grieved” Hebrew H2734 · used in 87 verses

  • Genesis 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
  • Deuteronomy 6:15 (For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you) lest the anger of the LORD thy God be kindled against thee, and destroy thee from off the face of the earth.
  • 1 Chronicles 13:10 And the anger of the LORD was kindled against Uzza, and he smote him, because he put his hand to the ark: and there he died before God.

“repenteth” Hebrew H5162 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 5:29 And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the LORD hath cursed.
  • Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.
  • Jeremiah 18:10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.

“Samuel” Hebrew H8050 · used in 120 verses

  • Numbers 34:20 And of the tribe of the children of Simeon, Shemuel the son of Ammihud.
  • 1 Samuel 9:15 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying,
  • 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.