1 Samuel 2 34

1 Samuel 2:34 kjv

And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.

1 Samuel 2:34 nkjv

Now this shall be a sign to you that will come upon your two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas: in one day they shall die, both of them.

1 Samuel 2:34 niv

"?'And what happens to your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, will be a sign to you?they will both die on the same day.

1 Samuel 2:34 esv

And this that shall come upon your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall be the sign to you: both of them shall die on the same day.

1 Samuel 2:34 nlt

And to prove that what I have said will come true, I will cause your two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, to die on the same day!

1 Samuel 2 verses

1 Samuel 2 34 Meaning

This verse is a direct and definitive prophecy delivered to Eli, foretelling the simultaneous death of his two corrupt sons, Hophni and Phinehas, on a single day. This specific event is designated as a clear "sign" (אוֹת, ’ot)—a divinely ordained token—to validate the entire preceding judgment pronounced by the unnamed prophet against Eli's household. It underscores the certainty and imminent nature of God's judgment against spiritual corruption.

1 Samuel 2 34 Context

First Samuel chapter 2 chronicles Hannah's prophetic prayer, contrasting God's holiness and faithfulness with human weakness and sin. Immediately following this, the narrative starkly portrays the wickedness of Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who grossly abused their priestly duties, exploiting worshipers and committing immorality at the Tent of Meeting. Eli, their father and High Priest, received rebukes from God due to his failure to restrain his sons, effectively honoring them above God (1 Sam 2:29).

This verse, 1 Samuel 2:34, is part of a larger divine message delivered by an unnamed "man of God" (a prophet) to Eli. This message, starting from verse 27, declares God's severe judgment upon Eli's priestly house: that his family's strength would be cut off, they would die in their prime, and a "faithful priest" would be raised up in their place. Verse 34 specifically provides the verifiable sign that confirms the truth of this dire prophecy—the concurrent deaths of Hophni and Phinehas. Historically, this event took place during the turbulent period of the Judges, before Israel had a king, where moral decay and spiritual compromise were widespread, making the corruption within the very heart of Israel's religious system particularly egregious.

1 Samuel 2 34 Word analysis

• And this shall be a sign to you (וְזֶה־לְּךָ הָאוֹת, ve-zeh ləkā hā-’ôṯ):

  • And this (וְזֶה, ve-zeh): Connects the coming event directly to the preceding divine pronouncement, emphasizing that what follows is the specific evidence for the larger prophecy.
  • shall be (הָאוֹת, hā-’ôṯ, specifically the definite article with ’ôṯ): The definite article makes "sign" specific, pointing to it as THE promised sign.
  • sign (אוֹת, ’ôṯ): A significant word denoting a token, mark, or miracle. It's something that points beyond itself, authenticating a divine message or promise. Here, it functions as a prophetic sign of impending doom, confirming the prophet's words as true words from God. Its fulfillment ensures Eli knew the entire message was from God.
  • to you (לְּךָ, ləkā): Explicitly directs the sign to Eli, making it personal and irrefutable for him.

• which shall come upon your two sons (אֲשֶׁר יִקְּרֶה לִשְׁנֵי בָנֶיךָ, ’ăšer yiqqere lišᵊnê bānɛ̂ḵā):

  • which shall come upon (אֲשֶׁר יִקְּרֶה, ’ăšer yiqqere): The verb yikre means "it will happen" or "it will befall." It indicates an unavoidable, divinely appointed occurrence, stressing the certainty of the judgment.
  • your two sons (לִשְׁנֵי בָנֶיךָ, lišᵊnê bānɛ̂ḵā): Points to the precise individuals on whom the judgment will fall, namely Hophni and Phinehas, emphasizing their culpability and the familial pain this sign would bring to Eli.

• Hophni and Phinehas: Specific names of Eli's sons (חָפְנִי וּפִינְחָס).

  • Their names are reiterated to underscore the directness of the judgment. They were personally accountable for their actions (1 Sam 2:12-17, 22).

• in one day (בְּיוֹם אֶחָד, bᵊyōm ’eḥāḏ):

  • in one day (בְּיוֹם אֶחָד, bᵊyōm ’eḥāḏ): Crucial to the specificity of the sign. It conveys simultaneity, suddenness, and finality. Their deaths would occur unexpectedly and concurrently, leaving no doubt about the precise fulfillment of the prophecy and thus the authenticity of God's word. This particular detail made the sign unambiguous.

• they shall die both of them (יָמֻתוּ שְׁנֵיהֶם, yāmūṯū šᵊnêhem):

  • they shall die (יָמֻתוּ, yāmūṯū): A clear, uncompromising declaration of their ultimate fate as a direct consequence of their sin. The emphasis is on divine execution of judgment.
  • both of them (שְׁנֵיהֶם, šᵊnêhem): Reinforces the concurrent nature of their demise, which is central to the "sign." This precise detail ensured Eli would recognize the fulfillment unmistakably.

1 Samuel 2 34 Bonus section

• The naming of Hophni and Phinehas in this prophecy serves to underscore the personal responsibility for their actions despite Eli's culpability in failing to restrain them. God's judgment directly addressed their sin.
• The significance of this judgment extended beyond the two individuals. The eventual fall of the entire Ithamar line of priesthood, with Abiathar's expulsion (1 Kings 2:27) and the rise of Zadok from the line of Eleazar, confirmed the deeper prophecy (1 Sam 2:35-36) initiated by this sign.
• The fact that the Ark of God was captured by the Philistines during the battle where Hophni and Phinehas died (1 Sam 4:11) adds to the tragedy and underscores the depths of spiritual depravity reached by the Israelite leadership, leading to the temporary removal of God's presence from their midst as a sign of judgment.

1 Samuel 2 34 Commentary

This verse is a sharp declaration of divine judgment and the certainty of God's prophetic word. The "sign" of Hophni and Phinehas dying on the same day was not arbitrary; it served as concrete proof that the entire pronouncement against Eli's corrupt priestly house was indeed from the Lord. Their concurrent death was particularly painful for Eli, connecting their shared wickedness directly to a shared, sudden, and complete judgment. It highlights God's zero-tolerance for desecration of His holy things, especially by those entrusted with sacred office.

The detail "in one day" speaks volumes about the sudden and conclusive nature of God's judgment. It implies a divinely orchestrated event, designed to leave no ambiguity as to its source or purpose. For Eli, this sign would be an agonizing validation that his leniency and his sons' blatant disrespect for God had resulted in irrevocable destruction. Ultimately, this specific prophecy's fulfillment, meticulously recorded in 1 Samuel 4:11, solidified the integrity of God's word and the consequence of dishonoring Him. It serves as a perennial warning to all who occupy positions of spiritual leadership that accountability before God is absolute and certain.