1 Samuel 15:11
New International Version
“I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned away from me and has not carried out my instructions.” Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the LORD all that night.

New Living Translation
“I am sorry that I ever made Saul king, for he has not been loyal to me and has refused to obey my command.” Samuel was so deeply moved when he heard this that he cried out to the LORD all night.

English Standard Version
“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me and has not performed my commandments.” And Samuel was angry, and he cried to the LORD all night.

Berean Standard Bible
“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.

King James Bible
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

New King James Version
“I greatly regret that I have set up Saul as king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not performed My commandments.” And it grieved Samuel, and he cried out to the LORD all night.

New American Standard Bible
“I regret that I have made Saul king, because he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was furious and cried out to the LORD all night.

NASB 1995
“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all night.

NASB 1977
“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me, and has not carried out My commands.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all night.

Legacy Standard Bible
“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned back from following Me and has not established My words.” And Samuel became angry and cried out to Yahweh all night.

Amplified Bible
“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My commands.” Samuel was angry [over Saul’s failure] and he cried out to the LORD all night.

Christian Standard Bible
“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the LORD all night.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” So Samuel became angry and cried out to the LORD all night.

American Standard Version
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And Samuel was wroth; and he cried unto Jehovah all night.

Contemporary English Version
"Saul has stopped obeying me, and I'm sorry that I made him king." Samuel was angry, and he cried out in prayer to the LORD all night.

English Revised Version
It repenteth me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And Samuel was wroth; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
"I regret that I made Saul king. He turned away from me and did not carry out my instructions." Samuel was angry, and he prayed to the LORD all night.

Good News Translation
"I am sorry that I made Saul king; he has turned away from me and disobeyed my commands." Samuel was angry, and all night long he pleaded with the LORD.

International Standard Version
"I regret that I made Saul king, because he has turned away from following me and has not carried out my commands." Samuel was angry, and he cried out to the LORD all night.

Majority Standard Bible
?I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.? And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night.

NET Bible
"I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from me and has not done what I told him to do." Samuel became angry and he cried out to the LORD all that night.

New Heart English Bible
"It grieves me that I have made Saul king; for he has turned back from following me, and has not carried out my commandments." And Samuel was angry; and he cried to the LORD all night.

Webster's Bible Translation
I repent that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and hath not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried to the LORD all night.

World English Bible
“It grieves me that I have set up Saul to be king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments.” Samuel was angry; and he cried to Yahweh all night.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
“I have regretted that I caused Saul to reign for king, for he has turned back from after Me, and he has not performed My words”; and it is displeasing to Samuel, and he cries to YHWH all the night.

Young's Literal Translation
'I have repented that I caused Saul to reign for king, for he hath turned back from after Me, and My words he hath not performed;' and it is displeasing to Samuel, and he crieth unto Jehovah all the night.

Smith's Literal Translation
I lamented that I made Saul for king, for he turned back from after me, and my words he set not up. And it will kindle to Samuel, and he will cry to Jehovah all the night.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
It repenteth me that I have made Saul king: for he hath forsaken me, and hath not executed my commandments. And Samuel was grieved, and he cried unto the Lord all night.

Catholic Public Domain Version
“It displeases me that I have appointed Saul as king. For he has forsaken me, and he has not fulfilled the work of my words.” And Samuel was greatly saddened, and he cried out to the Lord, all night long

New American Bible
I regret having made Saul king, for he has turned from me and has not kept my command. At this Samuel grew angry and cried out to the LORD all night.

New Revised Standard Version
“I regret that I made Saul king, for he has turned back from following me, and has not carried out my commands.” Samuel was angry; and he cried out to the LORD all night.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
I regret that I have made Saul king; for he has turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he prayed before the LORD all night.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
“I am sorry that I have crowned Shaul King, for he has turned from after me, and my words he has not established.” And it displeased Shemueil, and he prayed before LORD JEHOVAH all night
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
It repenteth Me that I have set up Saul to be king; for he is turned back from following Me, and hath not performed My commandments.' And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the LORD all night.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
I have repented that I have made Saul to be king: for he has turned back from following me, and has not kept my word. And Samuel was grieved, and cried to the Lord all night.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samuel Denounces Saul
10Then the word of the LORD came to Samuel, saying, 11“I regret that I have made Saul king, for he has turned away from following Me and has not carried out My instructions.” And Samuel was distressed and cried out to the LORD all that night. 12Early in the morning Samuel got up to confront Saul, but he was told, “Saul has gone to Carmel, and behold, he has set up a monument for himself and has turned and gone down to Gilgal.”…

Cross References
Genesis 6:6
And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.

Numbers 23:19
God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?

Hosea 13:11
So in My anger I gave you a king, and in My wrath I took him away.

Jeremiah 18:7-10
At any time I might announce that a nation or kingdom will be uprooted, torn down, and destroyed. / But if that nation I warned turns from its evil, then I will relent of the disaster I had planned to bring. / And if at another time I announce that I will build up and establish a nation or kingdom, ...

Jonah 3:10
When God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—He relented from the disaster He had threatened to bring upon them.

Ezekiel 18:24
But if a righteous man turns from his righteousness and practices iniquity, committing the same abominations as the wicked, will he live? None of the righteous acts he did will be remembered. Because of the unfaithfulness and sin he has committed, he will die.

Isaiah 1:2
Listen, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the LORD has spoken: “I have raised children and brought them up, but they have rebelled against Me.

Psalm 78:40-41
How often they disobeyed Him in the wilderness and grieved Him in the desert! / Again and again they tested God and provoked the Holy One of Israel.

Jeremiah 15:6
You have forsaken Me, declares the LORD. You have turned your back. So I will stretch out My hand against you and I will destroy you; I am weary of showing compassion.

2 Kings 17:20
So the LORD rejected all the descendants of Israel. He afflicted them and delivered them into the hands of plunderers, until He had banished them from His presence.

Acts 13:21-22
Then the people asked for a king, and God gave them Saul son of Kish, from the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. / After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’

Romans 11:29
For God’s gifts and His call are irrevocable.

Hebrews 3:10-11
Therefore I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways.’ / So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest.’”

Revelation 2:5
Therefore, keep in mind how far you have fallen. Repent and perform the deeds you did at first. But if you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place.

Matthew 21:43
Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.


Treasury of Scripture

It repents me that I have set up Saul to be king: for he is turned back from following me, and has not performed my commandments. And it grieved Samuel; and he cried to the LORD all night.

repenteth me

1 Samuel 15:35
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

Genesis 6:6
And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.

2 Samuel 24:16
And when the angel stretched out his hand upon Jerusalem to destroy it, the LORD repented him of the evil, and said to the angel that destroyed the people, It is enough: stay now thine hand. And the angel of the LORD was by the threshingplace of Araunah the Jebusite.

turned

Joshua 22:16
Thus saith the whole congregation of the LORD, What trespass is this that ye have committed against the God of Israel, to turn away this day from following the LORD, in that ye have builded you an altar, that ye might rebel this day against the LORD?

1 Kings 9:6
But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:

Psalm 36:3
The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.

hath not performed

1 Samuel 15:3,9
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…

1 Samuel 13:13
And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the LORD thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the LORD have established thy kingdom upon Israel for ever.

it grieved

1 Samuel 15:35
And Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul: and the LORD repented that he had made Saul king over Israel.

1 Samuel 16:1
And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.

Psalm 119:136
Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

he cried

1 Samuel 12:23
Moreover as for me, God forbid that I should sin against the LORD in ceasing to pray for you: but I will teach you the good and the right way:

Psalm 109:4
For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.

Matthew 5:44
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

Jump to Previous
Angry Carried Caused Commandments Commands Cried Crieth Crying Displeasing Distressed Longer Night Orders Performed Pleasure Prayer Regret Reign Repent Repented Repenteth Sad Samuel Saul Turned Ways Words
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Angry Carried Caused Commandments Commands Cried Crieth Crying Displeasing Distressed Longer Night Orders Performed Pleasure Prayer Regret Reign Repent Repented Repenteth Sad Samuel Saul Turned Ways Words
1 Samuel 15
1. Samuel sends Saul to destroy Amalek
6. 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














I regret
The Hebrew word used here is "נָחַם" (nacham), which can mean to be sorry, to console oneself, or to repent. In this context, it reflects God's sorrow over Saul's failure to obey His commands. This expression of divine regret does not imply a change in God's nature or His omniscience but rather communicates the depth of God's relational engagement with humanity. It highlights the seriousness of disobedience and the impact it has on God's heart.

that I have made Saul king
This phrase underscores the divine appointment of Saul as king, which was initially a response to the people's demand for a monarch to lead them like other nations (1 Samuel 8:5). Saul's kingship was part of God's permissive will, allowing Israel to experience the consequences of their choices. It serves as a reminder that while God grants human desires, He also holds individuals accountable for their actions within His sovereign plan.

for he has turned away from following Me
The phrase indicates a deliberate departure from God's path. The Hebrew root "סוּר" (sur) means to turn aside or depart. Saul's turning away signifies a willful rejection of God's authority and guidance. This departure is not merely a physical act but a spiritual rebellion, illustrating the importance of steadfastness in faith and obedience to God's commands.

and has not carried out My instructions
The Hebrew word for "instructions" is "דָּבָר" (dabar), which can mean word, matter, or thing. In this context, it refers to God's specific commands given to Saul, particularly the command to completely destroy the Amalekites (1 Samuel 15:3). Saul's failure to fully execute God's command demonstrates partial obedience, which is tantamount to disobedience in God's eyes. This highlights the necessity of complete adherence to God's word.

And Samuel was distressed
The Hebrew word "חָרָה" (charah) conveys a sense of anger or grief. Samuel's distress reflects his deep concern for Saul and the nation of Israel. As a prophet, Samuel is intimately connected to God's will and feels the weight of Saul's disobedience. This emotional response underscores the role of spiritual leaders in interceding for their people and the burden they carry when God's commands are not followed.

and cried out to the LORD all that night
The act of crying out, "זָעַק" (za'aq), indicates a fervent plea or prayer. Samuel's all-night intercession reveals his dedication and the seriousness of the situation. It serves as a model for believers to earnestly seek God's intervention and guidance in times of crisis. This persistent prayer reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty and a desire for His will to be accomplished despite human failure.

(11) It repenteth me . . . --"God does not feel the pain of remorse (says St. Augustine in Psalms 131), nor is He ever deceived, so as to desire to correct anything in which He has erred. But as a man desires to make a change when he repents, so when God is said in Scripture to repent, we may expect a change from Him. He changed Saul's kingdom when it is said He repented of making him king."--Bishop Wordsworth.

And it grieved Samuel--"Many grave thoughts seem to have presented themselves at once to Samuel, and to have disturbed his mind when he reflected on the dishonour which would be inflicted upon the name of God, and the occasion which the rejection and deposition of Saul would furnish to wicked men for blaspheming the invisible King of Israel . . . For Saul had been chosen by God Himself from all the people, and called by Him to the throne; if, therefore, he was deposed, it seemed likely that the worship of God would be overturned, and the greatest disturbance ensue."--Calvin, quoted by Keil. Abarbanel tells us respecting Samuel's grief that he was angry and displeased, because he loved Saul for his beauty and heroism, and as his own creature whom he had made king; and that he prayed all night because God had not revealed to him Saul's sin, and he wished to know why sentence was pronounced against him.

And he cried unto the Lord all night.--This was, no doubt, that "piercing shrill cry" peculiar to Samuel. With this strange cry he seems to have on many a solemn occasion spoken with his God. He is often in this book represented as thus "crying unto God." (See Stanley's Lectures on the Jewish Church, Vol. I., 1 Samuel 18)

Verse 11. - It repenteth me. By the law of man's free will his concurrence is necessary in carrying out the Divine purpose, and consequently every man called to the execution of any such purpose undergoes a probation. God's purpose will be finally carried out, but each special instrument, if it prove unworthy, will be laid aside. This change of administration is always described in Scriptural language as God's repentance, possibly because the phrase contains also the idea of the Divine grief over the rebellious sinner. But though Saul and his dynasty were thus put aside, and no longer represented Jehovah, still Saul remained the actual king, because God works slowly by the natural sequence of cause and effect. Saul's ill-governed temper, and his hatred and malice towards David, were the means of bringing about his ruin. It grieved Samuel. Hebrew, "it burned to Samuel," i.e. he was angry and displeased. The same phrase occurs in Jonah 4:1, where it is rendered "he was very angry." But with whom was Samuel vexed? Generally at the whole course of events, but especially with Saul. In choosing him he had hoped that, in addition to high military qualities, he would possess a religious and obedient heart. He had now obtained for him a second trial, and if, warned by his earlier failure, he had proved trustworthy all might have been well. Saul had too many noble gifts for Samuel to feel indifferent at the perversion of so great an intellect and so heroic a heart. But he was of a despotic temperament, and would bend to no will but his own; and so he had saved the best of the plunder to enrich the people, and Agag possibly as a proof of his personal triumph. And he cried unto Jehovah all night. I.e. he offered an earnest prayer for forgiveness for Saul, and for a change in his heart. As Abravanel says, Samuel no doubt loved Saul for his beauty and heroism, and therefore prayed for him; but no change came in answer to his prayer, and as forgiveness is conditional upon man's repentance, Saul was not forgiven. It is remarkable how often Samuel is represented as "crying" unto God (see 1 Samuel 7:8, 9; 1 Samuel 12:18).

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
“I regret
נִחַ֗מְתִּי (ni·ḥam·tî)
Verb - Nifal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 5162: To sigh, breathe strongly, to be sorry, to pity, console, rue, to avenge

that
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

I have made Saul
שָׁאוּל֙ (šā·’ūl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 7586: Saul -- first king of Israel, also an Edomite and two Israelites

king,
הִמְלַ֤כְתִּי (him·laḵ·tî)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 4427: To reign, inceptively, to ascend the throne, to induct into royalty, to take counsel

for
כִּֽי־ (kî-)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

he has turned away
שָׁב֙ (šāḇ)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

from following Me
מֵאַֽחֲרַ֔י (mê·’a·ḥă·ray)
Preposition-m | first person common singular
Strong's 310: The hind or following part

and
וְאֶת־ (wə·’eṯ-)
Conjunctive waw | Direct object marker
Strong's 853: Untranslatable mark of the accusative case

has not
לֹ֣א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

carried out
הֵקִ֑ים (hê·qîm)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand

My instructions.”
דְּבָרַ֖י (də·ḇā·ray)
Noun - masculine plural construct | first person common singular
Strong's 1697: A word, a matter, thing, a cause

And Samuel
לִשְׁמוּאֵ֔ל (liš·mū·’êl)
Preposition-l | Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

was distressed
וַיִּ֙חַר֙ (way·yi·ḥar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2734: To glow, grow warm, to blaze up, of anger, zeal, jealousy

and cried out
וַיִּזְעַ֥ק (way·yiz·‘aq)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 2199: To shriek, to announce, convene publicly

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the LORD
יְהוָ֖ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

all
כָּל־ (kāl-)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 3605: The whole, all, any, every

that night.
הַלָּֽיְלָה׃ (hal·lā·yə·lāh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 3915: A twist, night, adversity


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OT History: 1 Samuel 15:11 It grieves me that I have set (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 15:10
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