Question 1

What does 1 Samuel 15:33 mean?

Accepted Answer

1 Samuel 15:33 describes how Samuel tells King Agag that, because Agag’s sword had caused many women to lose their children, Agag’s own mother will now lose her son. Samuel then kills Agag in front of the LORD at Gilgal, carrying out a judgment that Saul had failed to complete. Samuel is speaking directly to Agag, the king of the Amalekites, after Saul spared Agag’s life against God’s command. The verse shows Samuel personally carrying out the sentence of death that Saul should have executed, emphasizing the seriousness of obeying God’s instructions and the consequences of disobedience.

Question 2

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 15:33

Accepted Answer

"Sword" (חֶרֶב, cherev): This word refers to a weapon of war, highlighting that Agag’s violence had real and deadly consequences for others. "Childless" (שָׁכַל, shakal): Used twice in this verse, this word means to be bereaved of children, underlining the loss and grief Agag caused and would now experience through his own death. "Hewed" (שָׁסַף, shasaf): This verb means to cut or chop into pieces, showing the thoroughness and finality of Samuel’s action, which was not just an execution but a complete carrying out of judgment.

Question 3

Why 1 Samuel 15:33 matters

Accepted Answer

This verse clarifies that Samuel, not Saul, ultimately fulfilled God’s command to destroy Agag, highlighting Saul’s failure and Samuel’s obedience. The strong language and actions in the verse emphasize the seriousness of God’s instructions and the real consequences of disobedience, both for leaders and those affected by their choices. The verse connects back to the larger story of Saul’s rejection as king, showing that partial obedience is not enough when God gives a command.

1 Samuel 15:33 (KJV)