Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version Now go, attack the Amalekites and totally destroy all that belongs to them. Do not spare them; put to death men and women, children and infants, cattle and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” New Living Translation Now go and completely destroy the entire Amalekite nation—men, women, children, babies, cattle, sheep, goats, camels, and donkeys.” English Standard Version Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that they have. Do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” Berean Standard Bible Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” Berean Literal Bible Now go and strike the Amalekite, and utterly destroy all that is unto him, and do not spare him, and kill from man to woman, and from infant to nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” King James Bible Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. New King James Version Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and do not spare them. But kill both man and woman, infant and nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ” New American Standard Bible Now go and strike Amalek and completely destroy everything that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” NASB 1995 ‘Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” NASB 1977 ‘Now go and strike Amalek and utterly destroy all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” Legacy Standard Bible Now go and strike Amalek and devote to destruction all that he has, and do not spare him; but put to death both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” Amplified Bible Now go and strike Amalek and completely destroy everything that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” Berean Annotated Bible Now go and attack the Amalekites (dwellers in a valley) and devote to destruction {cherem} all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys. Christian Standard Bible Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, infants and nursing babies, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’ ” Holman Christian Standard Bible Now go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Do not spare them. Kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” American Standard Version Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. Contemporary English Version "Go and attack the Amalekites! Destroy them and all their possessions. Don't have any pity. Kill their men, women, children, and even their babies. Slaughter their cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys." English Revised Version Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. GOD'S WORD® Translation Now go and attack Amalek. Claim everything they have for God by destroying it. Don't spare them, but kill men and women, infants and children, cows and sheep, camels and donkeys." Good News Translation Go and attack the Amalekites and completely destroy everything they have. Don't leave a thing; kill all the men, women, children, and babies; the cattle, sheep, camels, and donkeys." International Standard Version Now, go and attack Amalek. Completely destroy all that they have. Don't spare them, but put to death both man and woman, child and infant, both ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" NET Bible So go now and strike down the Amalekites. Destroy everything that they have. Don't spare them. Put them to death--man, woman, child, infant, ox, sheep, camel, and donkey alike.'" New Heart English Bible Now go and strike Amalek and put them and everything that belongs to them under the ban. And do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.'" Webster's Bible Translation Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleNow go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” World English Bible Now go and strike Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and don’t spare them; but kill both man and woman, infant and nursing baby, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionNow go, and you have struck Amalek, and devoted all that he has, and you have no pity on him, and have put to death from man to woman, from infant to suckling, from ox to sheep, from camel to donkey.” Berean Literal Bible Now go and strike the Amalekite, and utterly destroy all that is unto him, and do not spare him, and kill from man to woman, and from infant to nursing child, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” Young's Literal Translation Now, go, and thou hast smitten Amalek, and devoted all that it hath, and thou hast no pity on it, and hast put to death from man unto woman, from infant unto suckling, from ox unto sheep, from camel unto ass.' Smith's Literal Translation Now go and strike Amalek, and exterminate all which is to him, and thou shalt not spare to him; and kill from man even to woman, from child even to suckling, from ox and even to sheep, from camel and even to ass. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleNow therefore go, and smite Amalec, and utterly destroy all that he hath: spare him not, nor covet any thing that is his: but slay both man and woman, child and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. Catholic Public Domain Version Now therefore, go and strike Amalek, and demolish all that is his. You shall not spare him, and you shall not covet anything out of the things that are his. Instead, kill from man even to woman, and little ones as well as infants, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’ ” New American Bible Go, now, attack Amalek, and put under the ban everything he has. Do not spare him; kill men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.” New Revised Standard Version Now go and attack Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have; do not spare them, but kill both man and woman, child and infant, ox and sheep, camel and donkey.’” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleNow go and smite the Amalekites, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both men and women, young people and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and asses. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated Now go, cut off Amaleq and destroy all that belongs to them, and you shall not have pity upon them, and kill, from the men and unto the women, and from young men and unto infants, and from bulls and unto sheep, and from camels and unto the donkeys!’” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And now go, and thou shalt smite Amalec and Hierim and all that belongs to him, and thou shalt not save anything of him alive, but thou shalt utterly destroy him: and thou shalt devote him and all his to destruction, and thou shalt spare nothing belonging to him; and thou shalt slay both man and woman, and infant and suckling, and calf and sheep, and camel and ass. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context Saul's Disobedience…2This is what the LORD of Hosts says: ‘I witnessed what the Amalekites did to the Israelites when they ambushed them on their way up from Egypt. 3Now go and attack the Amalekites and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” 4So Saul summoned the troops and numbered them at Telaim—200,000 foot soldiers and 10,000 men of Judah.… Cross References Now go and attack the Amalekites Deuteronomy 25:17-19 Remember what the Amalekites did to you along your way from Egypt, / how they met you on your journey when you were tired and weary, and they attacked all your stragglers; they had no fear of God. / When the LORD your God gives you rest from the enemies around you in the land that He is giving you to possess as an inheritance, you are to blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget! Exodus 17:8-16 After this, the Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. / So Moses said to Joshua, “Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on the hilltop with the staff of God in my hand.” / Joshua did as Moses had instructed him and fought against the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill. … 1 Samuel 30:17-18 And David struck them down from twilight until the evening of the next day. Not a man escaped, except four hundred young men who fled, riding off on camels. / So David recovered everything the Amalekites had taken, including his two wives. and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Deuteronomy 7:2 and when the LORD your God has delivered them over to you to defeat them, then you must devote them to complete destruction. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. Deuteronomy 20:16-17 However, in the cities of the nations that the LORD your God is giving you as an inheritance, you must not leave alive anything that breathes. / For you must devote them to complete destruction—the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites—as the LORD your God has commanded you, Joshua 11:12-14 Joshua captured all these kings and their cities and put them to the sword. He devoted them to destruction, as Moses the LORD’s servant had commanded. / Yet Israel did not burn any of the cities built on their mounds, except Hazor, which Joshua burned. / The Israelites took for themselves all the plunder and livestock of these cities, but they put all the people to the sword until they had completely destroyed them, not sparing anyone who breathed. Do not spare them, Deuteronomy 13:8-9 you must not yield to him or listen to him. Show him no pity, and do not spare him or shield him. / Instead, you must surely kill him. Your hand must be the first against him to put him to death, and then the hands of all the people. Ezekiel 5:11 Therefore as surely as I live, declares the Lord GOD, because you have defiled My sanctuary with all your detestable idols and abominations, I Myself will withdraw My favor; I will not look upon you with pity, nor will I spare you. Jeremiah 13:14 I will smash them against one another, fathers and sons alike, declares the LORD. I will allow no mercy or pity or compassion to keep Me from destroying them.’” but put to death men and women, children and infants, 1 Samuel 22:19 He also put to the sword Nob, the city of the priests, with its men and women, children and infants, oxen, donkeys, and sheep. Deuteronomy 2:34 At that time we captured all his cities and devoted to destruction the people of every city, including women and children. We left no survivors. 2 Kings 8:12 “Why is my lord weeping?” asked Hazael. “Because I know the evil you will do to the Israelites,” Elisha replied. “You will set fire to their fortresses, kill their young men with the sword, dash their little ones to pieces, and rip open their pregnant women.” oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys.’” 1 Samuel 27:8-9 Now David and his men went up and raided the Geshurites, the Girzites, and the Amalekites. (From ancient times these people had inhabited the land extending to Shur and Egypt.) / Whenever David attacked a territory, he did not leave a man or woman alive, but he took the flocks and herds, the donkeys, camels, and clothing. Then he would return to Achish, Joshua 6:21 With the edge of the sword they devoted to destruction everything in the city—man and woman, young and old, oxen, sheep, and donkeys. Numbers 31:32-34 and this plunder remained from the spoils the soldiers had taken: 675,000 sheep, / 72,000 cattle, / 61,000 donkeys, Exodus 17:14-16 Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write this on a scroll as a reminder and recite it to Joshua, because I will utterly blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” / And Moses built an altar and named it The LORD Is My Banner. / “Indeed,” he said, “a hand was lifted up toward the throne of the LORD. The LORD will war against Amalek from generation to generation.” Treasury of Scripture Now go and smite Amalek, and utterly destroy all that they have, and spare them not; but slay both man and woman, infant and suckling, ox and sheep, camel and ass. utterly destroy Leviticus 27:28,29 Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD… Numbers 24:20 And when he looked on Amalek, he took up his parable, and said, Amalek was the first of the nations; but his latter end shall be that he perish for ever. Deuteronomy 13:15,16 Thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein, and the cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword… slay Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; Numbers 31:17 Now therefore kill every male among the little ones, and kill every woman that hath known man by lying with him. Isaiah 14:21,22 Prepare slaughter for his children for the iniquity of their fathers; that they do not rise, nor possess the land, nor fill the face of the world with cities… ox and sheep Genesis 3:17,18 And unto Adam he said, Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee, saying, Thou shalt not eat of it: cursed is the ground for thy sake; in sorrow shalt thou eat of it all the days of thy life; … Romans 8:20-22 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope, … Jump to Previous Amalek Am'alek Amalekites Ass Attack Baby Belongs Camel Camels Cattle Child Children Curse Death Destroy Donkey Infant Infants Kill Ox Putting Sheep Slay Smite Spare Strike Suckling Sword Totally Utterly WomenJump to Next Amalek Am'alek Amalekites Ass Attack Baby Belongs Camel Camels Cattle Child Children Curse Death Destroy Donkey Infant Infants Kill Ox Putting Sheep Slay Smite Spare Strike Suckling Sword Totally Utterly Women1 Samuel 15 1. Samuel sends Saul to destroy Amalek6. Saul favors the Kenites 7. He spares Agag and the best of the spoil 10. Samuel denounces unto Saul God's rejection of him for his disobedience 24. Saul's humiliation 32. Samuel kills Agag 34. Samuel and Saul part Now go and attack the Amalekites The Amalekites were a nomadic tribe descended from Esau's grandson Amalek. They were long-standing enemies of Israel, first attacking them at Rephidim shortly after the Exodus (Exodus 17:8-16). This command to attack is a continuation of God's judgment against them for their opposition to Israel. The Amalekites symbolize persistent sin and opposition to God's people, representing spiritual battles believers face. and devote to destruction all that belongs to them. Do not spare them, but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys. Persons / Places / Events 1. SaulThe first king of Israel, anointed by the prophet Samuel, tasked with executing God's command against the Amalekites. 2. Samuel The prophet who conveys God's message to Saul, representing God's authority and guidance. 3. Amalekites A nomadic tribe and long-standing enemies of Israel, known for their opposition to God's people. 4. Amalek The region or people group that Saul is commanded to destroy completely as an act of divine judgment. 5. God's Command The divine directive given to Saul to utterly destroy the Amalekites as a form of judgment for their past sins against Israel. Teaching Points The Seriousness of SinThe command to destroy the Amalekites underscores the severity of sin and God's judgment against persistent rebellion. Obedience to God Saul's failure to fully obey God's command serves as a warning about the consequences of partial obedience. Divine Justice God's command reflects His justice and sovereignty, reminding us that His ways and thoughts are higher than ours. Historical Context Understanding the historical enmity between Israel and Amalek provides insight into the gravity of God's command. Spiritual Warfare The Amalekites can be seen as a symbol of spiritual enemies that believers must confront and overcome through obedience to God. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 15:3?2. How does 1 Samuel 15:3 demonstrate God's judgment on the Amalekites' sin? 3. What lessons on obedience can we learn from 1 Samuel 15:3? 4. How does 1 Samuel 15:3 connect with God's justice throughout the Old Testament? 5. In what ways can we apply the principle of obedience in our lives? 6. How does this verse challenge our understanding of God's commands and their importance? 7. How can a loving God command the destruction of an entire people in 1 Samuel 15:3? 8. What historical evidence supports the events described in 1 Samuel 15:3? 9. How should Christians reconcile 1 Samuel 15:3 with the New Testament message of love and forgiveness? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 15? 11. Who was Agag in the Bible's narrative? 12. In 1 Samuel 15:3, why would a just and loving God command the complete destruction of an entire population, including children? 13. Who was Agag in the Bible's narrative? 14. If Saul reportedly destroyed the Amalekites earlier (1 Samuel 15), why do they reappear here in 1 Samuel 30? What Does 1 Samuel 15:3 Mean Now go and attack the AmalekitesGod’s directive to Saul is urgent and specific. The Amalekites had been Israel’s relentless enemy since the wilderness wanderings (Exodus 17:8-16; Deuteronomy 25:17-19). This command fulfills the promise that the LORD would “blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven.” • The instruction is personal—Saul himself is responsible for leading the charge (1 Samuel 15:1). • It is national—Israel is God’s instrument of judgment (Judges 6:14). • It is covenantal—obedience to this word demonstrates loyalty to the LORD (1 Samuel 12:14-15). and devote to destruction all that belongs to them “To devote to destruction” means everything is placed under God’s ban (herem). Nothing is to be kept for spoil, profit, or reuse (Joshua 6:17-19). • The ban highlights God’s holiness (Deuteronomy 7:2). • It prevents idolatrous contamination of Israel (Deuteronomy 20:16-18). • It is an act of worship—what is destroyed is offered wholly to the LORD (Numbers 21:2-3). Do not spare them Partial mercy here would be disobedience. Sparing even a few would undermine the integrity of God’s judgment (1 Samuel 15:8-11). • Saul’s later failure to obey fully leads to his rejection as king (1 Samuel 15:22-23). • By contrast, complete obedience brings blessing (Genesis 22:12-17; 1 Kings 17:13-16). but put to death men and women, children and infants, oxen and sheep, camels and donkeys The totality of the list underscores the severity of Amalek’s corporate guilt (1 Samuel 15:33). • God, as Creator, has authority over life (Deuteronomy 32:39). • Corporate judgment is seen elsewhere—e.g., the Flood (Genesis 6-7) and Sodom (Genesis 19:24-25). • Eliminating livestock removes economic benefit, ensuring the motive is obedience, not gain (Joshua 7:1, 21). • The failure to carry this out allowed Amalekite survivors who later threatened God’s people (1 Samuel 30:1-2; Esther 3:1). summary 1 Samuel 15:3 is a divine command of judgment against a persistently wicked nation. God calls Saul to act swiftly, completely, and without compromise, dedicating every person and possession to destruction as an act of holy justice. The passage teaches the seriousness of sin, the necessity of full obedience, and the certainty that God’s purposes will prevail—even when His people falter. (3) Smite Amalek, and utterly destroy . . .--For "utterly destroy" the Hebrew has the far stronger expression, "put under the ban" (cherem). Whatever was "put under the ban" in Israel was devoted to God, and whatever was so devoted could not be redeemed, but must be slain. Amalek was to be looked upon as accursed; human beings and cattle must be killed; whatever was capable of being destroyed by fire must be burnt. The cup of iniquity in this people was filled up. Its national existence, if prolonged, would simply have worked mischief to the commonwealth of nations. Israel here was simply the instrument of destruction used by the Almighty. It is vain to attempt in this and similar transactions to find materials for the blame or the praise of Israel. We must never forget that Israel stood in a peculiar relation to the unseen King, and that this nation was not unfrequently used as the visible scourge by which the All-Wise punished hopelessly hardened sinners, and deprived them of the power of working mischief. We might as well find fault with pestilence and famine, or the sword--those awful instruments of Divine justice and--though we often fail to see it now--of Divine mercy.Verse 3. - Utterly destroy. Hebrew, "put under the ban." The word herem, ban, properly signifies a thing set apart, especially one devoted to God; and whatever was so devoted could not be redeemed, but must be slain. When a country was put under the ban, all living things, men and cattle, were to be killed; no spoil might be taken, but it was to be burnt, and things indestructible by fire, as silver and gold, were to be brought into the treasury. Everything, in short, belonging to such a nation was looked upon as accursed (see Numbers 21:2, 3).Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Nowעַתָּה֩ (‘at·tāh) Adverb Strong's 6258: At this time go לֵ֨ךְ (lêḵ) Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular Strong's 1980: To go, come, walk and attack וְהִכִּֽיתָ֜ה (wə·hik·kî·ṯāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 5221: To strike the Amalekites עֲמָלֵ֗ק (‘ă·mā·lêq) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 6002: Amalek -- a descendant of Esau, also his posterity and completely destroy וְהַֽחֲרַמְתֶּם֙ (wə·ha·ḥă·ram·tem) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 2763: To seclude, to devote to religious uses, to be blunt as to the nose all כָּל־ (kāl-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every that אֲשֶׁר־ (’ă·šer-) Pronoun - relative Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that belongs to them. ל֔וֹ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew Do not וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no spare תַחְמֹ֖ל (ṯaḥ·mōl) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 2550: To commiserate, to spare them, עָלָ֑יו (‘ā·lāw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's 5921: Above, over, upon, against but put to death וְהֵמַתָּ֞ה (wə·hê·mat·tāh) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine singular Strong's 4191: To die, to kill men מֵאִ֣ישׁ (mê·’îš) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person and עַד־ (‘aḏ-) Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while women, אִשָּׁ֗ה (’iš·šāh) Noun - feminine singular Strong's 802: Woman, wife, female children מֵֽעֹלֵל֙ (mê·‘ō·lêl) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 5768: A suckling and וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while infants, יוֹנֵ֔ק (yō·w·nêq) Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular Strong's 3243: To suck, to give milk oxen מִשּׁ֣וֹר (miš·šō·wr) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7794: A head of cattle (bullock, ox, etcetera) and וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while sheep, שֶׂ֔ה (śeh) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 7716: A member of a, flock, a sheep, goat camels מִגָּמָ֖ל (mig·gā·māl) Preposition-m | Noun - masculine singular Strong's 1581: A camel and וְעַד־ (wə·‘aḏ-) Conjunctive waw | Preposition Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while donkeys.’” חֲמֽוֹר׃ (ḥă·mō·wr) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 2543: A male ass Links 1 Samuel 15:3 NIV1 Samuel 15:3 NLT 1 Samuel 15:3 ESV 1 Samuel 15:3 NASB 1 Samuel 15:3 KJV 1 Samuel 15:3 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 15:3 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 15:3 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 15:3 French Bible 1 Samuel 15:3 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 15:3 Now go and strike Amalek and utterly (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |
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