1 Samuel 15:9

⁹ But Saul and the people spared Agag, and the best of the sheep, and of the oxen, and of the fatlings, [1] and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them: but every thing that was vile and refuse, that they destroyed utterly.

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1 Samuel 15

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Other Translations of 1 Samuel 15:9

New International Version

⁹ But Saul and the army spared Agag and the best of the sheep and cattle, the fat calvesOr "the grown bulls" ; the meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain. and lambs-everything that was good. These they were unwilling to destroy completely, but everything that was despised and weak they totally destroyed.

English Standard Version

⁹ But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep and of the oxen and of the fattened calvesThe meaning of the Hebrew term is uncertain and the lambs, and all that was good, and would not utterly destroy them. All that was despised and worthless they devoted to destruction.

The Message

⁹ Saul and the army made an exception for Agag, and for the choice sheep and cattle. They didn't include them under the terms of the holy ban. But all the rest, which nobody wanted anyway, they destroyed as decreed by the holy ban.

New King James Version

⁹ But Saul and the people spared Agag and the best of the sheep, the oxen, the fatlings, the lambs, and all that was good, and were unwilling to utterly destroy them. But everything despised and worthless, that they utterly destroyed.

New Living Translation

⁹ Saul and his men spared Agag's life and kept the best of the sheep and goats, the cattle, the fat calves, and the lambs-everything, in fact, that appealed to them. They destroyed only what was worthless or of poor quality.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:9

Commentary on 1 Samuel 15:1-9

(Read 1 Samuel 15:1-9)

The sentence of condemnation against the Amalekites had gone forth long before, Revelation 18:4. As the commandment had been express, and a test of Saul's obedience, his conduct evidently was the effect of a proud, rebellious spirit. He destroyed only the refuse, that was good for little. That which was now destroyed was sacrificed to the justice of God.