Then Samuel said unto Saul, Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night. And he said unto him, Say on.

1 SAMUEL 15:16KJV
Know the Bible

1 Samuel 15:16 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 15:16 mean?

1 Samuel 15:16 shows the prophet Samuel stopping King Saul and telling him to listen to a message from the LORD that Samuel received the previous night. Saul responds by giving Samuel permission to speak. This verse sets up a serious conversation where Samuel will deliver God’s judgment to Saul.

Samuel is speaking directly to Saul after Saul has disobeyed God’s command regarding the Amalekites. The phrase “Stay, and I will tell thee what the LORD hath said to me this night” signals a turning point, as Samuel is about to reveal God’s response to Saul’s actions. Saul’s answer, “Say on,” shows he is willing to listen, but he does not yet know the weight of what Samuel will say.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 15:16

  • “Stay” (רָפָה, raphah) means to stop, relax, or let go. Samuel is telling Saul to pause and pay careful attention, not just to wait.
  • “Tell” (נָגַד, nagad) means to make known or declare. Samuel is about to openly share what God has revealed to him.
  • “LORD” (יְהוָה, YHWH) is the personal name of God, emphasizing that this message comes with full divine authority.
  • “Night” (לַיְלָה, laylah) points out that Samuel received this message recently and directly from God, underlining its urgency and freshness.

Why 1 Samuel 15:16 matters

  • This verse marks the moment before Samuel delivers God’s judgment, highlighting the seriousness of Saul’s disobedience.
  • The use of “Stay” shows Samuel taking control of the conversation, making it clear that what follows is not casual advice but a message from God.
  • The verse connects to the larger story of Saul’s kingship, as it introduces the announcement that Saul will be rejected as king for not following God’s command.

Where else these words appear

“Stay” Hebrew H7503 · used in 45 verses

  • Exodus 4:26 So he let him go: then she said, A bloody husband thou art, because of the circumcision.
  • 2 Samuel 4:1 And when Saul's son heard that Abner was dead in Hebron, his hands were feeble, and all the Israelites were troubled.
  • Proverbs 4:13 Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

“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.