King James Version
1 Samuel 15:14 in the King James Version says “And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 15 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.
“And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?”
1 Samuel 15:14 · KJV
And when Samuel rose early to meet Saul in the morning, it was told Samuel, saying, Saul came to Carmel, and, behold, he set him up a place, and is gone about, and passed on, and gone down to Gilgal.
And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the LORD: I have performed the commandment of the LORD.
And Samuel said, What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears, and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?
And Saul said, They have brought them from the Amalekites: for the people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen, to sacrifice unto the LORD thy God; and the rest we have utterly destroyed.
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.
KJV Study — Public Domain
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
“of the sheep”
H6629a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
“of the oxen”
H1241a beeve or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
“which I hear”
H8085to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)
This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.
1 Samuel 15:14 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.
Verses related to 1 Samuel 15:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge