1 Samuel 2 32

1 Samuel 2:32 kjv

And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.

1 Samuel 2:32 nkjv

And you will see an enemy in My dwelling place, despite all the good which God does for Israel. And there shall not be an old man in your house forever.

1 Samuel 2:32 niv

and you will see distress in my dwelling. Although good will be done to Israel, no one in your family line will ever reach old age.

1 Samuel 2:32 esv

Then in distress you will look with envious eye on all the prosperity that shall be bestowed on Israel, and there shall not be an old man in your house forever.

1 Samuel 2:32 nlt

You will watch with envy as I pour out prosperity on the people of Israel. But no members of your family will ever live out their days.

1 Samuel 2 verses

1 Samuel 2 32 Meaning

This verse declares a severe prophetic judgment against Eli's priestly household from God. It foretells that Eli will personally witness significant trouble or distress within God's dwelling place (the Tabernacle), despite the general prosperity and blessings God intends for the nation of Israel. Crucially, it pronounces that no male descendant of Eli's house will live to old age, indicating a curse of premature death and the end of his family's enduring legacy, particularly concerning the high priesthood. This is a direct consequence of Eli's failure to honor God above his own sons, who had defiled the sanctuary and sacrifices.

1 Samuel 2 32 Context

This verse is part of a severe judgment proclaimed by an unnamed "man of God" to Eli the High Priest in Shiloh. Chapters 2:12-17 describe the wicked behavior of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who grossly abused their priestly duties, stole sacrificial portions, and engaged in immoral acts at the Tabernacle entrance. Though Eli rebuked them, he did not restrain them effectively, thereby honoring his sons more than God (1 Sam 2:29). Consequently, God declared that He would cut off Eli's strength and line (1 Sam 2:31), and verse 32 specifies part of this severe judgment: seeing affliction at the very seat of worship and premature death for his male descendants. This sets the stage for God's raising of a faithful priest (prophetically fulfilled through Samuel and eventually Zadok's lineage) and the subsequent end of Eli's house's preeminence in the high priesthood. Historically, this period was characterized by moral decay and spiritual compromise, even among the religious leaders, preceding the establishment of the monarchy.

1 Samuel 2 32 Word analysis

• And thou shalt see: Hebrew: וְרָאִ֙יתָ֙ (ve-ra'ita). This emphasizes Eli's direct personal witnessing of the coming judgment. It is not just something that will happen, but something he will experience with his own eyes. It conveys certainty and inevitability.
• an adversary: Hebrew: צַר (tsar). This term means "adversary," "foe," "enemy," or more broadly, "distress," "tribulation," or "anguish." In this context, it could refer to either the Philistines who captured the Ark (an enemy inflicting distress) or the distressing condition and profanation itself within God's sanctuary. The ambiguity underscores a deep trouble linked to God's dwelling.
• in my habitation: Hebrew: בְּנָוֶ֞ה (be-nāweh). "My dwelling place" or "my pasture/fold." Here, it unequivocally refers to the Tabernacle at Shiloh, where God's presence symbolically resided. The significance lies in the judgment falling directly upon, or being witnessed within, the very sacred space meant for God's glory and honorable worship, where Eli's sons had committed their sins. This shows that the heart of the sacred life would experience affliction.
• in all the wealth: Hebrew: בְּכֹ֤ל אֲשֶׁר־יֵיטִיב֙ (be-kōl asher-yêṭîḇ). More accurately translated as "in all the good" or "in all that He will do well/bestow good things." The KJV's "wealth" reflects a valid nuance of "good" (טוֹב ṭôḇ) which often implied prosperity.
  • which God shall give Israel: Hebrew: אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (et-Yiśrāʾēl). This phrase creates a stark contrast. While God is committed to blessing Israel as a nation and bestowing good things upon them, Eli's household will experience distress and judgment specifically within the sanctuary. It implies that God's general favor towards His people does not override His specific judgment on those who profane His holiness, even within their leadership. The nation may prosper, but the individual house of disobedience will be judged.
• and there shall not be an old man: Hebrew: אֵין זָקֵן (ʾên zāqēn). "There is no elder" or "no old person." This signifies premature death for male members of Eli's lineage. Longevity was a highly valued blessing in ancient Israel, often linked to obedience to God (e.g., Exod 20:12, Prov 3:2, 16). The curse of "no old man" denotes a cut-off, a perpetual shortening of life for Eli's descendants, signifying the family line's diminishment and eventual spiritual demise concerning the priesthood.
• in thine house for ever: Hebrew: בְּבֵיתְךָ֖ כָּל־הַיָּמִֽים (be-vêṯ-kā kōl-ha-yāmîm). "In your house all the days" or "throughout all the days." This indicates the permanence and perpetuity of the curse. The lack of an old man would not be a one-time occurrence but a lasting condition on Eli's priestly lineage, until their full removal from office.

1 Samuel 2 32 Bonus section

• The "adversary in my habitation" likely has a primary fulfillment in the Philistine capture of the Ark of God (1 Sam 4:11), which represented God's presence, leading to its removal from Shiloh and ultimately Shiloh's desolation (Jer 7:12-14, 26:6). This meant God's glory had truly departed ("Ichabod").
• The emphasis on "no old man" in Eli's house is a clear sign of the curse of Yahweh. In the Israelite worldview, longevity was a direct sign of divine blessing and righteousness, whereas a shortened lifespan or premature death was often indicative of God's displeasure and judgment against wickedness (Psa 55:23).
• The promise of a "faithful priest" later in 1 Samuel 2:35, though not named here, eventually points to Zadok's lineage replacing Eli's through Abiathar (from Eli's Ithamar line) under King Solomon (1 Kgs 2:27, 35), marking a complete fulfillment of this prophecy centuries later. God's faithfulness to His promises of blessing to His people also extends to His judgments upon disobedience.

1 Samuel 2 32 Commentary

This verse articulates a severe divine judgment upon Eli's priestly household, highlighting God's absolute intolerance for dishonor, especially within the sacred realm. The prophecy is two-fold: Eli will personally witness "an adversary" or deep distress within God's Tabernacle, and his descendants will suffer premature death, effectively ending his line's prominence and ultimately its high priestly succession. This profound punishment underscores that a father's failure to discipline his children, particularly when it leads to the dishonoring of God and sacred duties, incurs severe consequences that can extend across generations. While God plans to do good for Israel as a whole, His justice meticulously addresses the specific corruption within His own appointed leadership. This passage serves as a powerful warning that privilege in serving God brings greater responsibility, and compromise with holiness will not go unpunished. It reveals God's unwavering commitment to His own honor and the purity of worship, regardless of human office or lineage.