1 Samuel 3 12

1 Samuel 3:12 kjv

In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.

1 Samuel 3:12 nkjv

In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

1 Samuel 3:12 niv

At that time I will carry out against Eli everything I spoke against his family?from beginning to end.

1 Samuel 3:12 esv

On that day I will fulfill against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from beginning to end.

1 Samuel 3:12 nlt

I am going to carry out all my threats against Eli and his family, from beginning to end.

1 Samuel 3 verses

1 Samuel 3 12 Meaning

In this solemn declaration, God conveys to young Samuel the unreserved certainty of His intent to fully execute every word He had previously spoken concerning Eli's household. It signifies the complete and irreversible fulfillment of divine judgment against Eli's priestly line due to their profound unfaithfulness and Eli's failure to restrain his wicked sons, leaving no part of the pronouncement unfulfilled from its very inception to its final conclusion.

1 Samuel 3 12 Context

1 Samuel 3 opens with young Samuel serving the Lord under Eli, highlighting a time when the word of the Lord was rare. This chapter recounts Samuel's prophetic call and God's first direct revelation to him. In a dramatic night encounter, God calls Samuel and reveals a devastating judgment against Eli and his household. This verse, 1 Samuel 3:12, is the specific announcement of the inevitability and totality of that judgment, reiterating what had previously been conveyed to Eli by an unnamed "man of God" in 1 Samuel 2:27-36. The judgment stemmed from Eli's failure to discipline his wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who grossly abused their priestly duties and brought contempt upon the Lord's offerings and the Tabernacle. Eli's inaction and honor for his sons above God incurred severe consequences, ultimately leading to the demise of his priestly line and the transfer of God's favor to a "faithful priest" (referring prospectively to Zadok's lineage or Jesus Christ).

1 Samuel 3 12 Word analysis

• On that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - bayyom hahu): This Hebrew phrase refers not to a distant, vague future but to a specific, appointed time, indicating the certainty and definite timing of God's intervention and execution of judgment. It signifies an imminent and decreed day.
• I will carry out (קָמְתִּי - qamti): Derived from the root qum, meaning "to rise," "stand up," "establish," or "confirm." Here, it conveys active, decisive action on God's part. It implies God Himself will rise up and bring to pass the decreed judgment, underscoring His initiative, power, and determination.
• against Eli (אֶל־עֵלִי - el-Eli): Specifies the primary recipient and focal point of the divine action. Although the judgment affects his house, Eli, as the head and the one responsible for the family's conduct, bears the direct weight of God's declared intent.
• everything (אֵת כָּל־הַדָּבָר - et kol-haddavar): This emphasizes the absolute completeness and comprehensiveness of the fulfillment. Not a single part or detail of the previously pronounced judgment will be omitted or altered.
• I spoke (דִּבַּרְתִּי - dibbarti): Reinforces the divine origin and authority of the pronouncement. God is the speaker, making His word infallible, true, and bound to be fulfilled. God's spoken word is effective and performative.
• concerning his house (אֶל־בֵּיתוֹ - el-beto): Denotes that the judgment extends beyond Eli himself to his entire lineage, descendants, and the priestly dynasty associated with his name. In ancient Israel, "house" often encompassed the entire family and its future generations.
• from beginning to end (הָחֵל וְכַלֵּה - hachel wekhalleh): This is an emphatic Hebrew idiom conveying absolute totality and completion. It means "from its very commencement until its ultimate termination," "without exception," or "entirely." It implies that the fulfillment will be thorough and protracted, concluding only when every aspect of the prophecy has come to pass.

Words-group Analysis:

• "I will carry out... everything I spoke": This phrase highlights God's unwavering faithfulness to His declared word, even in judgment. It asserts the performative nature of divine speech – what God declares, He executes. This confirms God's integrity and absolute sovereignty over His own pronouncements.
• "concerning his house, from beginning to end": This emphasizes the expansive scope and uncompromising thoroughness of the impending judgment. It would not be a momentary punitive action but a comprehensive, generational process of decline and demise for Eli's lineage, unfolding over time until the very last aspect of the curse was fulfilled, illustrating the enduring nature of divine consequences for serious sin.

1 Samuel 3 12 Bonus section

• This revelation to Samuel, the child-prophet, marked a significant moment in the spiritual history of Israel, signaling the end of an era marked by Eli's leniency and the beginning of a new one under Samuel's faithful leadership, fulfilling the prophecy of a "faithful priest" raised up by God (1 Sam 2:35).
• The "man of God" who delivered the initial prophecy against Eli (1 Sam 2:27-36) is never named, serving to emphasize that the message was solely from God, not from a human source. God's repetition of the message to Samuel further validates its divine origin and certainty.
• The phrase "from beginning to end" implies not just immediate fulfillment but also a long-term process of decline. The immediate fulfillment came with the death of Eli's sons and Eli himself (1 Sam 4). However, the ultimate cessation of Eli's priestly line was protracted, concluding with the expulsion of Abiathar by King Solomon many years later (1 Kgs 2:26-27), fulfilling the promise that none would remain "old men in his house." This demonstrates God's persistent commitment to His word across generations.
• The tragic downfall of Eli's family serves as a profound biblical warning against a parental failure that tolerates and tacitly approves the sins of their children, especially when those sins profane the things of God. It highlights the heavy responsibility of those in spiritual authority to uphold God's honor above all else.

1 Samuel 3 12 Commentary

1 Samuel 3:12 stands as a potent testament to the unwavering veracity and solemnity of God's word, particularly His word of judgment. This verse confirms to Samuel, and thereby to all of Israel, that the previously announced consequences for Eli's household (1 Sam 2:27-36) are not mere threats but divine decrees that will be executed precisely and comprehensively. God's declaration that He will "carry out... everything" "from beginning to end" underscores His divine determination and omnipotence; His words are not hollow but carry inherent power to bring about their intended effect. It served as a stark warning about the severe repercussions of spiritual complacency and negligence in leadership, especially within the sanctuary of the Lord. For Eli, the warning culminated in profound sorrow, but he recognized the righteousness of God's will. For us, this verse provides a crucial understanding of God's character: He is just, holds individuals accountable, and ensures His promises—both of blessing and judgment—are unfailingly fulfilled.