1 Samuel 2 16

1 Samuel 2:16 kjv

And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

1 Samuel 2:16 nkjv

And if the man said to him, "They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires," he would then answer him, "No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force."

1 Samuel 2:16 niv

If the person said to him, "Let the fat be burned first, and then take whatever you want," the servant would answer, "No, hand it over now; if you don't, I'll take it by force."

1 Samuel 2:16 esv

And if the man said to him, "Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish," he would say, "No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force."

1 Samuel 2:16 nlt

The man offering the sacrifice might reply, "Take as much as you want, but the fat must be burned first." Then the servant would demand, "No, give it to me now, or I'll take it by force."

1 Samuel 2 verses

1 Samuel 2 16 Meaning

First Samuel chapter 2, verse 16 vividly portrays the profound spiritual corruption of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests ministering at Shiloh. When an offerer would politely request to burn the prescribed portion of fat to the Lord first, as commanded by Mosaic Law, before taking their own priestly share, these wicked sons of Eli defiantly refused. Their arrogant response, "Nay; but thou shalt give it me now," demonstrated an impatient, self-serving contempt for God's established sacrificial procedure. Furthermore, their threat, "and if not, I will take it by force," revealed their ruthless, oppressive, and sacrilegious disregard for both God's holy things and the rights of the people. This act was not merely a breach of ritual law but a flagrant disrespect of the Divine and a deep spiritual rebellion that defiled the holy altar and made people despise the offering of the Lord.

1 Samuel 2 16 Context

1 Samuel 2:16 falls within the narrative detailing the utter wickedness of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who were priests serving at the tabernacle in Shiloh. The verses immediately preceding this (1 Sam 2:12-15) establish their general depravity, stating they were "sons of Belial" (worthless men) who did not know the LORD. They regularly violated the Law concerning sacrifices. Specifically, before this verse, they would send their servant with a fleshhook to pull out raw meat from the pot before the fat was offered. Verse 16 highlights a further escalation of their contempt: they were not content even to wait for the proper ritual sequence for the portion belonging to them, and when respectfully reminded by an offerer, they brazenly demanded the meat instantly, threatening violence if not obeyed. This abuse occurred at a time when the Israelites brought their sacrifices to Shiloh, reflecting the spiritual state of the nation through the corruption of its spiritual leaders. Their actions were a direct affront to God, who had consecrated the offerings and stipulated their handling, and they dishonored His covenant. This spiritual decay among the priesthood would eventually lead to divine judgment upon Eli's house and the temporary loss of the Ark of the Covenant.

1 Samuel 2 16 Word analysis

• And if any man said unto him: This phrase establishes a common scenario, indicating the widespread nature of the priests' abuse. It also shows that some people tried to uphold the proper procedure, highlighting the priests' resistance to righteousness.
• Let them not fail to burn the fat presently (חֵלֶב כָּעֵת chelev ka'eth):
  • fat (חֵלֶב - chelev): In Old Testament sacrifices, specifically peace offerings (as implied by the meat-taking), the fat was considered the best and richest part of the animal. It was reserved exclusively for the LORD, burned on the altar as a "sweet savor" (Lev 3:16-17, Lev 7:23-25). By demanding the meat before the fat was offered, Eli's sons directly usurped God's portion. This was a profound act of sacrilege and showed utter contempt for the holiness of God. It demonstrated they prioritized their own desires over God's ordained order.
  • presently (כָּעֵת - ka'eth): Literally "at this time," or "as is customary," referring to the proper, immediate sequence of burning the fat on the altar before the priests took their share. The offerer was correctly adhering to the divine law.
• and then take as much as thy soul desireth (וְאַחַר תִּקַּח כְּנַפְשְׁךָ v'achar tiqqach k'nafshecha): This reflects the politeness and respect for the Law from the worshiper. "Then take" signifies after the prescribed ritual is complete. "As thy soul desireth" indicates a gracious allowance once the sacred duty is fulfilled, yet Hophni and Phinehas ignored this courtesy.
• then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now (לֹא כִּי עַתָּה תִתֵּן - lo ki attah titten):
  • Nay; but (לֹא כִּי - lo ki): A strong, defiant negative response. It's a complete dismissal of the sacred protocol.
  • thou shalt give it me now (עַתָּה תִתֵּן - attah titten): "Now" emphasizes their extreme impatience and a radical shift from the sacred order. They prioritized instant gratification over honoring God and the divine ordinance. This arrogant demand underlined their perceived authority and their contempt for the worshiper's appeal to holiness.
• and if not, I will take it by force (בְחָזְקָה אֶקָּחֶנּוּ - b'chozqah ekkachennu):
  • by force (בְחָזְקָה - b'chozqah): The root chazaq means to be strong, to seize, to coerce. This term underscores their use of physical power and intimidation, turning a religious rite into an act of robbery and oppression. This isn't just about ritual deviation but about violent usurpation of sacred property and violation of a worshiper's rights, exposing the true tyrannical nature of their priesthood. It also implies they were abusing their power as priests, who should have been servants of God and the people, not exploiters.

1 Samuel 2 16 Bonus section

The actions of Eli's sons reveal a crucial theological concept: the direct connection between internal spiritual disposition and external behavior, especially in those in spiritual authority. Their disregard for the law was not an oversight but stemmed from a heart that "did not know the Lord" (1 Sam 2:12), signifying a lack of a true, reverent relationship with God. Their violence and greed directly made people "abhor the offering of the LORD" (1 Sam 2:17), leading many Israelites away from proper worship and toward disillusionment, thereby harming the entire covenant community. This is a severe indictment against religious leaders who, by their unholy practices, cause others to stumble or turn away from God's way. This passage thus serves as a timeless warning against professional religious practice divorced from genuine devotion and integrity, illustrating how corruption in leadership can pollute the sacred and undermine faith.

1 Samuel 2 16 Commentary

1 Samuel 2:16 encapsulates the grievous sin of Eli's sons, extending beyond a mere breach of ritual law to a deep contempt for the divine and oppressive abuse of power. The priestly office was meant to facilitate communion with God, ensuring offerings were made according to His specific instructions. The fat was uniquely designated for the Lord, symbolizing giving the "best" to Him and representing the consuming fire of God's presence. By demanding their share before God's portion was burned, and threatening violence to obtain it, Hophni and Phinehas demonstrated not just greed, but sacrilege. They placed their carnal appetites and personal gain above God's holiness and His rightful claim. Their actions profaned the tabernacle, made the offerings abhorrent to the people, and distorted the very purpose of worship, turning it into a burdensome transaction rather than an act of devotion. This grave disregard for divine law and the sanctity of offerings became a key reason for the coming judgment upon Eli's household, highlighting the serious consequences of spiritual leadership abusing its authority for personal gain and desecrating that which is holy to God.