Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageSo Saul died in his unfaithfulness—the unfaithfulness he had committed against Yahweh. He had failed to keep Yahweh's word, and he had consulted a spirit-medium to seek guidance.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GSo Sha'ul died in his treachery—the treachery he had committed against YHWH: he had not kept the word of YHWH, and he had also sought an 'ob to inquire.
KJV
King James VersionSo Saul died for his transgression which he committed against the LORD, even against the word of the LORD, which he kept not, and also for asking counsel of one that had a familiar spirit, to enquire of it;
BSB
Berean Standard BibleSo Saul died for his unfaithfulness to the LORD, because he did not keep the word of the LORD and even consulted a medium for guidance,
Footnotes
*Ma'al* (מַעַל) is a weighty covenant-law term denoting treacherous breach of faith against something sacred—typically YHWH, holy objects, or covenantal vows (cf. Lev. 5:15; Josh. 7:1; Ezek. 17:20). It is not merely "sin" in the general sense but a specific act of covert violation against one to whom absolute loyalty is owed—a betrayal from within the covenant. *'Ob* (אוֹב) is the word for a ghost, ancestral spirit, or the medium who channels one—the practice explicitly forbidden in Lev. 19:31 and Deut. 18:11. FOG renders *ma'al* as "treachery" to preserve its hard legal-covenantal edge; FOG Message uses "unfaithfulness" to draw out the relational and spiritual dimension of the breach.
