1 Samuel 2:24 kjv
Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress.
1 Samuel 2:24 nkjv
No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the LORD's people transgress.
1 Samuel 2:24 niv
No, my sons; the report I hear spreading among the LORD's people is not good.
1 Samuel 2:24 esv
No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad.
1 Samuel 2:24 nlt
You must stop, my sons! The reports I hear among the LORD's people are not good.
1 Samuel 2 24 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Rom 2:24 | "For, as it is written, 'The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.'" | Israel's conduct dishonoring God's name, mirroring Eli's sons. |
| Eze 36:22-23 | "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am about to act... I will vindicate the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned..." | God's name being profaned by His people's actions. |
| Isa 52:5 | "...at all times My name is blasphemed." | Reflects the ongoing shame brought upon God's name by His people. |
| Prov 22:1 | "A good name is to be chosen rather than great riches, and favor is better than silver or gold." | Emphasizes the value of a good reputation, especially for spiritual leaders. |
| Eccl 7:1 | "A good name is better than precious ointment..." | Echoes the enduring importance of integrity and a good reputation. |
| 1 Tim 3:7 | "Moreover, he must be well thought of by outsiders, so that he may not fall into disgrace..." | The necessity of a good public testimony for those in ministry. |
| Tit 2:5 | "...so that the word of God may not be reviled." | Actions should not bring disrepute upon God's word. |
| Mal 2:8-9 | "But you have turned aside from the way... so I have made you despised and abased before all the people..." | Priests failing their covenant and bringing contempt upon themselves. |
| Neh 13:29 | "Remember them, O my God, because they have defiled the priesthood and the covenant of the priesthood..." | Those who defile the sacred office facing judgment. |
| Jer 7:9-11 | "...you steal, murder, commit adultery... and come and stand before Me in this house... and say, 'We are delivered!' – in order to do all these abominations?" | False sense of security despite sacrilege and abominable practices. |
| Eze 22:26 | "Her priests have done violence to My law and have profaned My holy things. They have made no distinction between the holy and the common..." | Priests failing in their sacred duties and defiling holiness. |
| Mic 3:11 | "Its heads give judgment for a bribe; its priests teach for a price; its prophets practice divination for money..." | Corrupt spiritual leadership driven by gain, causing people to stumble. |
| Lev 10:1-3 | "Now Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it... And fire came out from before the LORD and consumed them..." | God's swift judgment on priests who dishonor Him through improper service. |
| 1 Sam 3:13 | "And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them." | The reason for Eli's house's judgment: he failed to restrain his sons. |
| Prov 29:15 | "The rod and reproof give wisdom, but a child left to himself brings shame to his mother." | The importance of discipline, highlighting Eli's failure as a parent. |
| 1 Kings 13:33-34 | "After this event Jeroboam did not turn from his evil way... For this thing was the sin of the house of Jeroboam, so as to cut it off..." | Leaders persisting in evil despite warnings, leading to downfall. |
| 1 Cor 5:6 | "Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump?" | The spreading, corrupting influence of unaddressed sin. |
| Prov 15:3 | "The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good." | God's omnipresent awareness of all actions, even hidden ones. |
| Gal 6:1 | "Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness..." | Contrast between a spirit of restoration and Eli's weak rebuke. |
| Jas 4:17 | "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." | Eli's knowledge of the evil report and his failure to act decisively. |
| Num 14:15 | "Now if you kill this people as one man, then the nations who have heard your fame will say..." | The significance of a nation's reputation concerning its God among other nations. |
| Matt 18:7 | "Woe to the world for temptations to sin! For it is necessary that temptations come, but woe to the one by whom the temptation comes!" | Those who cause others to stumble bear a severe judgment. |
1 Samuel 2 verses
1 Samuel 2 24 Meaning
Eli's direct words to his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, express his disapproval and grief over the widespread evil report about their behavior as priests. He is correcting their scandalous actions which are not only an affront to God but also widely known and spoken of among the Lord's people, severely damaging the sanctity of the tabernacle and their ministry. The phrase "no good report" underscores the public and dishonorable nature of their deeds, tarnishing the name of the Lord among His covenant community.
1 Samuel 2 24 Context
1 Samuel 2:24 is situated in a pivotal chapter that contrasts the righteous prayer of Hannah with the corrupt and ungodly behavior of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas. Eli, the high priest, is the spiritual leader of Israel and also the father of these notorious sons who are also priests serving at the tabernacle in Shiloh. Verses 12-17 describe their abuses: treating the Lord's offerings with contempt by taking the best portions for themselves before it was properly sacrificed. Verse 22 adds sexual immorality with the women serving at the tabernacle entrance. Eli has already heard of their misdeeds, and in this verse, he directly addresses the public scandal, recognizing that their sin is widely known among "the people of the Lord." His rebuke here, however, is perceived as weak and insufficient, especially given the severity of their transgressions and the high office they held, ultimately leading to the judgment foretold by a man of God and later confirmed by Samuel. This verse highlights the profound corruption within the priesthood, reflecting a decline in Israel's spiritual life, and sets the stage for God's impending judgment upon Eli's house and the subsequent rise of Samuel.
1 Samuel 2 24 Word analysis
- No, my sons:
- `לא` (lo'): Hebrew for "no" or "not," indicating a direct and strong negative.
- `כי` (ki): Often "for" or "because," here strengthening the negation, like "Indeed, not so" or "By no means!"
- `בְּנָֽי` (benay): "My sons." Eli uses a term of endearment, yet it underscores the tragic disconnect between paternal love and the spiritual reality of their egregious sin. His address is paternal and gentle, in sharp contrast to the gravity of the accusations.
- for it is no good report:
- `לֹֽא־טוֹבָ֤ה הַשְּׁמֻעָה֙` (lo-tovah hashmu'ah): Literally "not good the report."
- `טוֹבָה` (tovah): "Good," in the feminine form agreeing with `הַשְּׁמֻעָה` (hashmu'ah). Eli negates the expected positive "good."
- `הַשְּׁמֻעָה֙` (hashmu'ah): "The report," "the rumor," "the news." It refers to public talk, reputation, or tidings. The definite article (`הַ`) signifies this is the widely known and specific report that is causing damage. It implies a reputation, not just a casual rumor, one that directly stains the sanctity of their office and the worship of the Lord.
- that I hear:
- `אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָנֹכִ֤י שֹׁמֵ֙עַ֙` (asher anokhi shome'a): "Which I myself hear."
- `אָנֹכִ֤י` (anokhi): "I myself," the strong form of the first-person pronoun. Eli explicitly acknowledges that he is personally aware of the widespread scandal, not just rumors. This emphasizes his responsibility and, implicitly, his failure to decisively intervene sooner and more forcefully.
- the people of the LORD spreading abroad:
- `מַעֲבִירִ֔ים עַם־יְהוָֽה` (ma'avirim 'am-Yehovah): This phrase is critical and can be translated various ways.
- `מַעֲבִירִ֔ים` (ma'avirim): "spreading abroad," "passing on," or "making to transgress." Derived from the root `עָבַר` (avar), meaning "to pass over," "pass through," "cross," or "transgress." In this context, it generally implies "passing along" or "spreading" the news. However, given their priestly sins, some interpret it as Eli stating his sons are "making the people of the Lord transgress" (i.e., causing the people to despise the Lord's offerings or act wrongly due to their priests' example). The prevailing interpretation remains that the bad report is "what I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad" – indicating the people are talking about their sons' transgressions. The active voice highlights that the people themselves are vocal witnesses.
- `עַם־יְהוָֽה` ('am-Yehovah): "People of the Lord." This refers to God's covenant community, those who are bringing sacrifices and worshiping at the tabernacle. It highlights the gravity of the situation: it's not outsiders but God's own worshipping people who are experiencing, witnessing, and spreading word of the priests' egregious corruption. Their behavior causes stumbling and disrespect among the very people they are meant to serve, who are entrusted to them by God.
- "No, my sons, for it is no good report": Eli's opening, expressing the public disgrace. His initial direct negation signals his distress. The gravity is not merely that they are sinning, but that their sin is openly scandalous and widely known to be corrupting. The lack of a "good report" contrasts sharply with the expectation for religious leaders, whose lives should inspire honor for God.
- "that I hear the people of the LORD spreading abroad": This entire phrase underlines the deep offense. Eli is not acting on mere suspicion; the reports are coming from the very congregation entrusted to their spiritual care, who witness their profanity. This emphasizes that the people are bearing witness to the defilement of the sacred office, turning private misconduct into a public affront that disgraces Yahweh Himself and the tabernacle. The fact that "the people of the LORD" are spreading the report means it has credibility and widespread acknowledgement within the sacred community.
1 Samuel 2 24 Bonus section
- The emphasis on
hashmu'ah(the report) underscores the social dimension of the priests' sin. In ancient Israelite culture, reputation held immense weight, especially for those occupying sacred roles. A bad report not only shamed the individual but also dishonored the deity they represented and eroded trust within the community. Eli’s failure to prevent such a scandalous public perception reflects poorly on his own leadership and dedication to the Lord's honor. - This verse stands as a powerful testament to the principle that leaders' actions have wide-ranging repercussions, not just privately but publicly. The profanation of holy things and the abuse of authority lead to God's name being blasphemed among His own people, setting a dangerous precedent and creating a stumbling block for worshippers.
- While not a direct polemic against other ancient Near Eastern beliefs, this narrative, especially in its contrast with Hannah's piety and the coming of Samuel, indirectly highlights the purity and holiness God demands from His worship and His ministers, in stark contrast to potentially more lenient or corrupt practices found in other religious systems.
1 Samuel 2 24 Commentary
Eli's lament in 1 Samuel 2:24 encapsulates the tragic state of affairs within the Israelite priesthood at the time. His statement reveals a passive recognition of his sons' depravity rather than a proactive stance against it. The "no good report" signifies that the Hophni and Phinehas' corruption was a public scandal, tainting the divine worship and undermining the very foundations of Israel's covenant relationship with God. It was not mere gossip, but legitimate outcry from "the people of the LORD," the faithful who were firsthand witnesses to the profanation of sacrifices and sacred space. Eli's acknowledgment that he "hears" these widespread accusations points to his parental and priestly failure: he possessed knowledge of the sin, yet his rebuke remained weak and lacked the necessary action to restrain or remove his sons. This passive oversight directly contributed to God's severe judgment upon his house, serving as a powerful warning about the high standards of accountability for those in spiritual authority and the devastating impact of compromised leadership on God's people and His holy name.