1 Samuel 2 15

1 Samuel 2:15 kjv

Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.

1 Samuel 2:15 nkjv

Also, before they burned the fat, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who sacrificed, "Give meat for roasting to the priest, for he will not take boiled meat from you, but raw."

1 Samuel 2:15 niv

But even before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the person who was sacrificing, "Give the priest some meat to roast; he won't accept boiled meat from you, but only raw."

1 Samuel 2:15 esv

Moreover, before the fat was burned, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give meat for the priest to roast, for he will not accept boiled meat from you but only raw."

1 Samuel 2:15 nlt

Sometimes the servant would come even before the animal's fat had been burned on the altar. He would demand raw meat before it had been boiled so that it could be used for roasting.

1 Samuel 2 verses

1 Samuel 2 15 Meaning

1 Samuel 2:15 reveals a profound spiritual corruption among the priests, specifically Eli's sons Hophni and Phinehas, through the actions of their servants at the tabernacle in Shiloh. This verse exposes their arrogant contempt for God's prescribed sacrificial laws by detailing two primary transgressions: taking portions of the sacrifice before the fat (which was exclusively the Lord's) was offered on the altar, and demanding raw meat for roasting rather than accepting the priests' legally appointed boiled share, thus seizing the best part for themselves ahead of God. Their actions dishonored both God and the sacred ritual, turning a holy act into an opportunity for personal gain and immediate gratification.

1 Samuel 2 15 Context

This verse is part of the somber narrative in 1 Samuel concerning the moral decay within Eli's household and the priesthood at Shiloh. Chapters 1 and 2 introduce Samuel's miraculous birth and early devotion to the Lord, sharply contrasting him with Eli's corrupt sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Verses 12-17 of chapter 2 specifically detail the grievous sins of these priests. They were described as "worthless men" (Hebrew: Beliya‘al, meaning wicked, lawless) who "did not know the Lord," indicating not a lack of intellectual knowledge but a lack of genuine relationship and reverential obedience.

According to Mosaic Law (primarily in Leviticus, especially chapters 3 and 7), specific procedures were mandated for sacrifices. For a peace offering (shelem), which involved communion between God, the worshiper, and the priest, the fat (chelev) covering the internal organs, kidneys, and portions of the liver, was strictly reserved for the Lord to be burned on the altar. This burning symbolized an offering of the best to God, ascending to Him as a pleasing aroma (Lev 3:16). After this, specific parts like the wave breast and heave thigh were allotted to the priests as their sustenance, typically boiled. Eli's sons flagrantly violated these laws, demonstrating their contempt for God's holy requirements, their avarice, and their disdain for the sacred. They usurped God's portion and their own legal share, prioritizing their gluttony and preference for roasted meat. This corruption at the highest religious level severely undermined the faith of the people and desecrated the very institution designed to mediate between God and Israel.

1 Samuel 2 15 Word analysis

• Also (וְגַם - vəḡam): A connective, emphasizing an addition to the priests' wicked practices mentioned in the preceding verses.

• before (בְּטֶ֙רֶם֙ - bəṭerem): Crucial. This Hebrew adverb indicates a priority in time. The transgression lies precisely in acting prior to the prescribed sequence of offering to God, thereby disrespecting God's right to the first and best.

• they burned (יַקְטִרֻ֖ן - yaqṭirūn): From qāṭar (קָטַר), meaning to send up in smoke, to offer by burning incense or fat. This refers to the act of sacrificing the fat to the Lord on the altar. The implication is that before this holy act was completed, the sacrilege occurred.

• the fat (הַחֵלֶב֙ - haḥélev): Ḥélev (חֵלֶב) refers specifically to the rich, internal fat of sacrificial animals. It was considered the best part, sacred, and reserved exclusively for the Lord (Lev 3:16, 7:25). Taking it or any other portion before it was burned to God was a grave desecration.

• the priest's servant (נַעַר הַכֹּהֵן - na‘ar hakohēn): Na‘ar (נַעַר) typically means a youth, servant, or attendant. That the na‘ar performed this duty shows Eli's sons were not merely passive beneficiaries but actively orchestrated this unrighteous practice through their representatives, indicating a systemic, top-down corruption in the priestly family.

• would come (וּבָ֤א - ūvā’): From bô’ (בּוֹא), to come, approach. This implies a regular, routine action, not a one-off mistake.

• and say (וְאָמַר֙ - və’āmar): From ’āmar (אָמַר), to say, speak. The command was authoritative, reflecting the priests' direct instructions.

• Give meat (תְּנָ֨ה בָשָׂ֜ר - tənnāh vāśār): Tənnāh (תְּנָה) is an imperative, "give!" Bāśār (בָּשָׂר) means meat, flesh. This demand shows forceful coercion from those meant to serve God and the people humbly.

• for the priest to roast (לַכֹּהֵן֙ לִצְל֣וֹת - lakohēn liṣlōt): Liṣlōt (לִצְלוֹת) means "to roast" or "to broil." Priests were entitled to their portion, but for peace offerings, these portions were typically boiled (Lev 7:31-34). Their demand for raw meat to roast implies a desire for a quicker, perhaps tastier, method of preparation that also signified immediately taking meat not yet released to them by God's ritual. Roasting was common for other offerings, but not the general method for the priest's portion from a peace offering, from which they sought the "best."

• for he will not accept boiled meat (לֹא־יִקַּ֨ח מִמְּךָ֥ בָשָׂ֛ל - lō’-yiqqaḥ mimməḵā bāšāl): Yiqqah (יִקַּח) from lāqaḥ (לָקַח) "to take/receive." Bāšāl (בָּשָׁל) means "cooked, boiled." This is a stark rejection of the lawfully designated and prepared share. It expresses absolute disdain for prescribed custom and entitlement, replacing it with their selfish preference.

• but raw (כִּי֩ אִם־חַ֖י - kî ’im-ḥay): Kî ’im (כִּי אִם) means "but only," "except." Ḥay (חַי) literally means "living" or "raw." The demand for "raw" meat means they wanted meat ready for their own roasting, ensuring freshness and the ability to control the preparation to their liking, directly before God's portion was processed, which was a sacrilege.

• "before they burned the fat": This phrase pinpoints the precise violation of God's law. The fat was sacred, designated as God's portion. Taking any meat before this ultimate act of dedication meant seizing what belonged to God Himself. This showed complete disregard for God's prior claim and the sanctity of the ritual.

• "the priest's servant would come": The involvement of a "servant" demonstrates that the priests (Eli's sons) were actively commanding and implementing this corruption. It wasn't an accidental lapse; it was a deliberate, institutionalized perversion of temple service.

• "he will not accept boiled meat from you, but raw": This exposes a preference for selfish desire over lawful reception. The legitimate priestly portion from peace offerings was typically boiled. Their refusal indicates an arrogant demanding of special, superior treatment—meat that they could roast, thereby usurping a higher-quality share for themselves. It implies impatience and a desire for immediate, self-serving gratification rather than waiting for and receiving God's blessed provision through His ordained means.

1 Samuel 2 15 Bonus section

The demanding of "raw" meat (Hebrew ḥay) was particularly brazen. It meant they intended to cook it quickly and to their personal preference by roasting (liṣlōt), a method perhaps associated with immediate gratification, as opposed to the more communal, process-oriented boiling (bāšāl) which facilitated shared meals after the sacrifice. The timing of their demand was crucial: before God had received His designated portion of fat. This specific order of operations highlights their covetousness and spiritual blindness; they prioritized their stomach over God's worship, reducing sacred rituals to mere opportunities for gluttony. Their sin directly challenged the sanctity of the altar and implied a belief that they were above God's law. This attitude mirrors the deeper issue mentioned in 1 Sam 2:12: "they did not know the Lord," indicating a profound lack of reverence and relationship. This passage therefore serves as a perpetual warning against those in religious leadership who exploit sacred offices for personal gain and desecrate God's worship through self-serving practices.

1 Samuel 2 15 Commentary

1 Samuel 2:15 provides a stark example of egregious priestly corruption, characteristic of Eli's sons. Their sin was multifaceted and profoundly blasphemous. First, they transgressed the clear Levitical command that the fat of sacrifices, representing the Lord's best, must be burned to Him before any other part was consumed or distributed. By having their servants demand meat before this ritual, they explicitly denied God His preeminent right and honor. Second, their refusal of the legally designated "boiled" portion for "raw" meat, specifically for roasting, speaks to their greed and desire for personal preference over holy adherence. Boiled meat was part of the common portion shared by the priests and the offerers in a peace offering, whereas their demand for roasted meat reflected an insatiable appetite for the most palatable cuts, even if it meant seizing what belonged to God or forcing the offerers to relinquish portions that were not theirs to give to the priests. This behavior effectively turned the holy sanctuary into a marketplace for their personal desires and convenience, leading people to "despise the offering of the Lord" (1 Sam 2:17). The implications were severe: it broke the covenant, dishonored God, misled the people, and foreshadowed God's judgment on Eli's house for not upholding righteousness. Their sin was not merely ritualistic error but a deep-seated contempt for God Himself and His holy things.