1 Samuel 2 36

1 Samuel 2:36 kjv

And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

1 Samuel 2:36 nkjv

And it shall come to pass that everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and say, "Please, put me in one of the priestly positions, that I may eat a piece of bread." ' "

1 Samuel 2:36 niv

Then everyone left in your family line will come and bow down before him for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread and plead, "Appoint me to some priestly office so I can have food to eat."?'?"

1 Samuel 2:36 esv

And everyone who is left in your house shall come to implore him for a piece of silver or a loaf of bread and shall say, "Please put me in one of the priests' places, that I may eat a morsel of bread."'"

1 Samuel 2:36 nlt

Then all of your surviving family will bow before him, begging for money and food. 'Please,' they will say, 'give us jobs among the priests so we will have enough to eat.'"

1 Samuel 2 verses

1 Samuel 2 36 Meaning

This verse pronounces a severe judgment against the house of Eli, detailing their future state of extreme poverty and utter humiliation. Once esteemed and affluent, his descendants would be reduced to begging for sustenance from the very priests God would raise in their stead. They would desperately seek any lowly priestly service, even for meager amounts, just to obtain a small piece of bread to survive. It signifies a complete reversal of their privileged status due to their unfaithfulness and profaning God's offerings.

1 Samuel 2 36 Context

First Samuel chapter 2 details a severe prophecy from an anonymous "man of God" against Eli, the high priest, and his unfaithful house. The chapter begins with Hannah's beautiful prayer of thanksgiving, which foreshadows God's judgment on the proud and wicked, and His exaltation of the humble. Eli's sons, Hophni and Phinehas, were committing grave sins: treating the Lord's sacrifices with contempt, exploiting the people, and engaging in immorality within the tabernacle courts. Despite being told by Eli to cease, they disregarded God's will because God intended to put them to death. This judgment pronouncement is a direct response to their spiritual gluttony, disdain for the holy things, and Eli's failure to restrain them sufficiently. Verse 36 describes the utter destitution and spiritual collapse of Eli's descendants, a sharp contrast to the honor and plenty they once enjoyed. Historically, this prophecy sets the stage for the later massacre of the priests at Nob (under Saul), the removal of Abiathar (a descendant of Eli) by Solomon, and the establishment of Zadok's priestly line, thus fulfilling the judgment and raising up a "faithful priest" as mentioned in verse 35.

1 Samuel 2 36 Word analysis

• And everyone who is left: (Heb. וְהָיָה כָּל־הַנּוֹתָר֙, v'haya kol-hannotar) This implies a remnant surviving the initial devastating judgment (e.g., the massacre at Nob or general decline), yet their survival is not to prosperity but abject humiliation. It suggests a future marked by destitution for those who remain of Eli's line.

• in your house: (Heb. בֵּיתֶ֑ךָ, beitheka) Refers to Eli's lineage, his priestly family and descendants. It signifies the lasting generational consequence of the sin.

• will come and bow down: (Heb. יָבוֹא וְהִשְׁתַּחֲוָ֣ה, yavo v'hishtachaveh) "Bow down" (root: שָׁחָה, shachah) signifies an act of deep submission, prostration, or homage. It implies a posture of seeking favor from someone superior, an inversion of their former priestly authority where others bowed to them or came to them for God. Here, it is demeaning, reducing them to supplicants.

• to him: (Heb. לוֹ, lo) This refers to the "faithful priest" whom God promised to raise up (1 Sam 2:35), likely pointing ultimately to the Zadokite line. Eli's descendants would beg from their replacements.

• for a piece of silver: (Heb. שֶׁ֣קֶל כֶּ֔סֶף, sheqel kesef - lit. "a shekel of silver") The Hebrew term implies a small, singular coin, representing a minimal amount of payment or charity. This emphasizes their utter destitution; they are willing to take even the smallest bribe for sustenance.

• and a loaf of bread: (Heb. וְכִכַּר־לָ֑חֶם, v'khikkar-lachēm) "Loaf" or "piece" of bread. Bread was the staple food, signifying the basic necessities of life. To beg for "a loaf of bread" underscores their deep hunger and poverty.

• and say: (Heb. וְאָמַר֙, v'amar) Indicates a plea, an entreaty.

• 'Please put me in one of the priestly positions': (Heb. סַפְּחֵ֣נִי נָא֙ אֶל־אַחַ֣ת הַכְּהֻנֹּ֔ת, sappeḥēnī nā' el-achaṯ ha-kehunot) The verb sappeḥēnī means "attach me," "assign me," "join me," often with a connotation of clinging to someone for support. "One of the priestly positions" (plural הַכְּהֻנֹּ֔ת) refers not necessarily to a high, honorable office, but to any priestly function or task, no matter how lowly, just to get by. It illustrates their desperation to simply be associated with the priesthood, even at its lowest rung, for survival.

• that I may eat a piece of bread: (Heb. לֶֽאֱכֹ֥ל פַּת־לָֽחֶם, le'echol paṯ-lachēm - lit. "to eat a slice of bread") Reiteration of "piece of bread" emphasizes that their sole motivation is mere subsistence, a shocking fall from the priestly role that involved abundance from offerings.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "And everyone who is left in your house will come and bow down to him": This phrase captures the generational degradation. Survival is granted, but it's a survival of humiliation, contrasting sharply with the divine promise of blessing and multiplication often associated with God's covenant with Abraham. It highlights the reversal of roles – those who once received honor from Israel will now seek it from their successors.
  • "for a piece of silver and a loaf of bread": This specifies the paltry wages they will accept. It underscores extreme destitution and the low value placed upon their person, emphasizing their economic downfall as a direct result of their spiritual decline and exploitation. Their prior actions of taking the choicest parts of the sacrifice for themselves (1 Sam 2:13-17) stand in stark opposition to this future.
  • "Please put me in one of the priestly positions, that I may eat a piece of bread": This desperate plea illustrates the complete collapse of dignity and spiritual purpose. The original intention of the priesthood was dedicated service to God, leading worship, and mediating between God and man, not merely securing a livelihood. The focus shifts entirely from God's glory to personal survival, showcasing how the corruption of their office leads to its degradation and their own abasement.

1 Samuel 2 36 Bonus section

The judgment on Eli's house is a critical theological pivot in Samuel, illustrating several core biblical principles:

• God's Holiness Demands Accountability: God is not mocked, and those who treat His sacred things lightly or defile them will face consequences. The priesthood was a covenantal privilege, but it also carried immense responsibility.
• Parental Responsibility: Eli's failure to effectively restrain his sons played a significant role in their downfall and the judgment against his house (1 Sam 3:13). While God holds individuals accountable, there is also a communal and familial aspect to spiritual leadership.
• Reversal of Fortune: This verse embodies a key biblical theme articulated in Hannah's song and throughout Scripture: God pulls down the proud and exalts the humble. The rich and full are sent away hungry, and the hungry are filled (1 Sam 2:5-8). This principle is echoed in many prophetic judgments against unfaithful leadership.
• The Rise of a "Faithful Priest": Implicit in the humiliation of Eli's house is the promise of God raising up a "faithful priest" (1 Sam 2:35) who would minister before Him always. This foreshadows Zadok's line, and ultimately points to the ultimate and true faithful Priest, Jesus Christ, who perfectly fulfills all priestly duties without blemish, and whose priesthood is eternal and provides ultimate spiritual sustenance.

1 Samuel 2 36 Commentary

1 Samuel 2:36 is a stark culmination of the divine judgment against the house of Eli, emphasizing the full extent of their fall from grace and privilege. It depicts a future marked not just by loss of life and power, but by profound destitution and humiliation for the survivors. This imagery is highly potent, as it vividly contrasts their previous abundance and honor (derived from the sacred temple offerings which they misused) with a future of begging and abasement. The request for a "piece of silver" and "a loaf of bread" speaks volumes about their extreme poverty, reducing their aspirations to mere subsistence. The most striking element is their desire for "one of the priestly positions" - not out of genuine piety or calling, but solely "that I may eat a piece of bread." This highlights the ultimate consequence of their forefathers' sin: the sacred office of priesthood, meant for God's glory and service, became a means of self-enrichment, and their descendants would later beg for it merely as a means of survival. This complete reversal serves as a potent warning against defiling sacred callings and privileges, showing how God brings the proud low and honors those who honor Him. The prophecy emphasizes divine justice—those who previously devoured God's portion illicitly will now starve and beg for mere scraps.