And Samuel said, When thou wast little in thine own sight, wast thou not made the head of the tribes of Israel, and the LORD anointed thee king over Israel?

1 SAMUEL 15:17KJV
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1 Samuel 15:17 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 15:17 mean?

1 Samuel 15:17 describes how the prophet Samuel reminds Saul that when Saul saw himself as unimportant, God still chose him to become the leader of Israel and anointed him as king. The verse highlights that Saul’s rise to power was not because of his own greatness, but because the LORD appointed him despite his humble view of himself.

Samuel is speaking directly to King Saul after Saul has disobeyed God’s command regarding the Amalekites. Samuel points out that Saul once considered himself “little” in his own eyes, yet God made him the “head” of all the tribes of Israel and gave him the role of king. This sets up a contrast between Saul’s humble beginnings and his current actions, emphasizing that Saul’s authority came from God, not from his own merit.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 15:17

  • “little” (קָטֹן, qaton): This word means small or insignificant. Samuel reminds Saul that he once saw himself as unimportant, which makes Saul’s later pride and disobedience stand out even more.
  • “head” (רֹאשׁ, rosh): This word means chief or leader. Samuel uses it to stress that God made Saul the leader over all the tribes, a position of great responsibility and honor.
  • “anointed” (מָשַׁח, mashach): This verb means to pour oil on someone as a sign of being chosen for a special role, especially as king. Samuel points out that it was the LORD (יהוה, YHWH) who anointed Saul, underlining that Saul’s kingship was a divine appointment.

Why 1 Samuel 15:17 matters

  • The verse clarifies that Saul’s authority as king was a gift from God, not something Saul earned or deserved by his own status or ability.
  • It highlights the theme of humility versus pride, showing that God often chooses those who seem insignificant by human standards.
  • This verse sets the stage for Samuel’s rebuke of Saul, making clear that Saul’s failure was not just a personal mistake, but a rejection of the responsibility and calling God had given him.

Where else these words appear

“anointed” Hebrew H4886 · used in 66 verses

  • Genesis 31:13 I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
  • Numbers 6:15 And a basket of unleavened bread, cakes of fine flour mingled with oil, and wafers of unleavened bread anointed with oil, and their meat offering, and their drink offerings.
  • 1 Kings 1:39 And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.

“little” Hebrew H6996 · used in 100 verses

  • Genesis 1:16 And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: he made the stars also.
  • 1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
  • 2 Chronicles 34:30 And the king went up into the house of the LORD, and all the men of Judah, and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and the priests, and the Levites, and all the people, great and small: and he read in their ears all the words of the book of the covenant that was found in the house of the LORD.

“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.