1 Samuel 2 27

1 Samuel 2:27 kjv

And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

1 Samuel 2:27 nkjv

Then a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Did I not clearly reveal Myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?

1 Samuel 2:27 niv

Now a man of God came to Eli and said to him, "This is what the LORD says: 'Did I not clearly reveal myself to your ancestor's family when they were in Egypt under Pharaoh?

1 Samuel 2:27 esv

And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the LORD, 'Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh?

1 Samuel 2:27 nlt

One day a man of God came to Eli and gave him this message from the LORD: "I revealed myself to your ancestors when they were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt.

1 Samuel 2 verses

1 Samuel 2 27 Meaning

1 Samuel 2:27 describes the arrival of an unnamed "man of God" who delivers a direct divine message from the Lord to Eli, the High Priest. This message begins with a potent rhetorical question, reminding Eli of God's initial and clear revelation to his ancestral priestly house while they were enslaved in Egypt under Pharaoh's oppression. It serves as a foundational reference to God's sovereign choice and covenant with the Levites, specifically Aaron's line, underscoring the history of divine favor that Eli and his sons were now jeopardizing through their unfaithfulness and corrupt practices. This moment marks the beginning of the prophetic pronouncement of judgment against Eli's household.

1 Samuel 2 27 Context

1 Samuel 2:27 takes place at a critical juncture in Israel's history, marking a transition from the era of judges to the establishment of the monarchy. The chapter itself provides a stark contrast: it begins with Hannah's joyful prayer of thanksgiving and prophetic praise for God's just character, who exalts the humble and casts down the proud. This sets a theological framework for the ensuing narrative. The core of the chapter then exposes the egregious sins of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who, despite being priests, engaged in corrupt and blasphemous practices at the Tabernacle in Shiloh, stealing from offerings and committing immorality (1 Sam 2:12-17, 22). Eli's feeble attempts at rebuke prove insufficient (1 Sam 2:22-25), leading to divine judgment. Amidst this priestly corruption, the boy Samuel faithfully grows "in favor with the Lord and with man" (1 Sam 2:26), setting him apart as a vessel for God's direct communication. It is within this deteriorating spiritual landscape of a failing priesthood that the "man of God" arrives, signaling God's direct intervention and declaration of the impending demise of Eli's line due to their profound disrespect for God and His holy service. This foreshadows God's choice to raise up a new leadership.

1 Samuel 2 27 Word analysis

• And there came: This conjunctive phrase often introduces a significant new development or divine initiative in the biblical narrative, emphasizing a specific, purposeful action.

• a man of God (Hebrew: ’ish ha-’Elohim - איש האלהים): This is a standard biblical title for a prophet or a divinely appointed messenger, emphasizing that his authority comes not from himself but directly from God. He is anonymous to highlight that the message's source, not the messenger's identity, is paramount. This contrasts with the known human figure of Eli, underlining divine authority confronting human failure.

• unto Eli: Eli holds the high priestly office and judicial authority in Israel, making him the direct representative and recipient of God's confrontation regarding the moral decay of his priestly household and the people.

• and said unto him: Denotes a direct, face-to-face communication, indicating the seriousness and immediate nature of the divine address.

• Thus saith the Lord (Hebrew: koh amar Yahweh - כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה): This is the quintessential prophetic formula, used over 400 times in the Old Testament. It unequivocally establishes the message's divine origin and irrefutable authority, serving as a direct challenge to any human authority, even that of the high priest.

• Did I not plainly appear (Hebrew: hǎnigleh nâglêtî - הֲנִגְלֹה נִגְלֵיתִי): This is a powerful rhetorical question utilizing an emphatic verbal construction ("Did I not surely, truly appear"). It asserts that God's manifestation and election of Eli's ancestors were undeniable and clear, leaving no room for misunderstanding or denial of the covenant terms. It points to God's initiative and grace, now being scorned.

• unto the house of thy father: Refers to the lineage of Aaron, from whom Eli was descended (Exod 28:1-3; 29:9). This highlights that the priesthood was a divine gift and an eternal covenant with Aaron, implying that the current generation (Eli's sons) had broken the conditions attached to this ancestral privilege.

• when they were in Egypt: Points to a pivotal moment in Israel's history – the state of their humble and oppressed beginnings. God's act of "appearing" here refers to His direct engagement with Moses and Aaron to initiate the deliverance (Exod 3:7-10). It reminds Eli of God's power and faithfulness even in the darkest circumstances.

• in Pharaoh's house?: This detail specifies the exact location where God's manifestation and covenant choice began – not in glory, but amidst the seat of oppressive power. It underscores God's sovereignty over earthly rulers and His intimate involvement with His chosen people even before their liberation and formal establishment at Sinai.

• Words-group by words-group analysis:

  • "a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord": This phrase introduces the confrontational nature of God's communication. It highlights that God is directly addressing the spiritual leader who has failed, emphasizing His supreme authority over His chosen office.
  • "Did I not plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?": This comprehensive rhetorical question is a deep theological probe. It recalls God's covenant loyalty and active intervention from the very genesis of the Aaronic priesthood, established not by human merit but by divine initiative amidst servitude. It serves as a stark reminder of the immense privilege and sacred trust that Eli's family has been given and are now dishonoring. The contrast between God's magnificent intervention for their deliverance and election and their current shameful conduct is central to the coming judgment.

1 Samuel 2 27 Bonus section

• The Unnamed Messenger: The deliberate anonymity of the "man of God" here adds weight to the divine message itself rather than the messenger's persona. This contrasts with later identified prophets like Samuel. It signals God's immediate and unmediated challenge to the spiritual leadership.
• God's Remembering and Israel's Forgetting: This verse underscores a recurring theme in the Old Testament: God always remembers His covenant and promises, even when His people forget their call, His past mercies, and their responsibilities. The "Did I not plainly appear?" serves as both a reminder and a strong rebuke for their neglect of God's glory.
• Shift from Priesthood to Prophecy: This prophecy from the unnamed "man of God" signifies a growing prominence of the prophetic office as a corrective and authoritative voice from God, particularly as the high priesthood had become compromised. It prepares the reader for the significant role Samuel, a prophet-judge, will play in restoring God's order in Israel.
• Polemics against Canaanite Cults: In the broader context of God addressing priestly corruption, there's an implicit polemic against the religious practices of surrounding Canaanite peoples, where cultic prostitutes and defiled sacrifices were common. The priestly practices of Eli's sons, resembling such idolatrous rituals, further highlights their departure from Yahweh's holiness.

1 Samuel 2 27 Commentary

1 Samuel 2:27 serves as the opening salvo in God's formal pronouncement of judgment against the house of Eli. It’s a moment where divine justice intervenes directly into a corrupt religious system. The unnamed "man of God" emphasizes the absolute divine source of the message, elevating it above any human agenda. God's use of a powerful rhetorical question regarding His prior manifestation in Egypt to Eli's "father's house" (Aaron's line) is highly significant. It harks back to the foundational act of deliverance and election that predates the Law and the temple, stressing that the priesthood was a pure gift from God, initiated out of His unmerited grace. This remembrance of Egypt highlights not only God's faithfulness in delivering them from bondage but also His original, unconditional choice of the priestly family, long before they could achieve any merit or honor.

This historical reference implicitly underscores the profound contrast between God's consistent loyalty and the profound disloyalty of Eli’s sons. God's initial choice of this family, pulling them out of the servitude of "Pharaoh's house" to serve Him, serves as a stark rebuke: how could they, who were so miraculously chosen and delivered for sacred service, now dishonor Him so greatly through their greed and moral depravity in "My house"? The verse establishes that the judgment to follow is not arbitrary but is rooted in God's eternal character of holiness and justice, and His unwavering covenant, which demands obedience from those who are called to represent Him. This act of judgment foreshadows a radical shift in leadership, as God will replace the corrupt priestly lineage with a faithful line, eventually culminating in a more righteous order.