1 Samuel 3:13 kjv
For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
1 Samuel 3:13 nkjv
For I have told him that I will judge his house forever for the iniquity which he knows, because his sons made themselves vile, and he did not restrain them.
1 Samuel 3:13 niv
For I told him that I would judge his family forever because of the sin he knew about; his sons blasphemed God, and he failed to restrain them.
1 Samuel 3:13 esv
And I declare to him that I am about to punish his house forever, for the iniquity that he knew, because his sons were blaspheming God, and he did not restrain them.
1 Samuel 3:13 nlt
I have warned him that judgment is coming upon his family forever, because his sons are blaspheming God and he hasn't disciplined them.
1 Samuel 3 13 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 2:29 | Why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering... and honor your sons more than Me? | God's accusation of Eli's misplaced honor. |
| 1 Sam 2:30 | ...those who honor Me I will honor, and those who despise Me shall be lightly esteemed. | Reversal of previous divine promise. |
| 1 Sam 2:34 | ...both your sons, Hophni and Phinehas, shall die... | Specific foretelling of sons' deaths. |
| 1 Sam 4:11 | Also the ark of God was captured; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, died. | Fulfillment of prophecy in battle. |
| 1 Sam 4:17-18 | ...your two sons are dead, and the ark of God is captured.” When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell... and died. | Full judgment unfolds, including Eli's death. |
| Lev 10:1-2 | Nadab and Abihu... offered profane fire before the Lord... and fire went out from the Lord and devoured them... | Priestly profanity results in immediate death. |
| Num 25:6-8 | Phinehas, the son of Eleazar... turned away My wrath from the children of Israel... | Contrast: zealous priest Phinehas vs. lax Eli. |
| Mal 2:8-9 | But you have departed from the way; You have caused many to stumble by instruction... | Priestly corruption brings a curse. |
| Prov 29:15 | The rod and reproof give wisdom, But a child left to himself brings shame to his mother. | Wisdom for parental discipline. |
| Prov 22:6 | Train up a child in the way he should go... and when he is old he will not depart from it. | Call to effective parental guidance. |
| Dt 21:18-21 | If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son... then all the men of his city shall stone him to death. | Law on incorrigible sons and parental authority. |
| Lk 12:47-48 | And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. | Increased culpability for knowing but not acting. |
| Jas 4:17 | Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin. | Direct parallel to Eli's knowing inaction. |
| Amos 3:7 | Surely the Lord God does nothing, Unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. | God's prior revelation of judgment. |
| Jer 7:1-15 | Trust not in deceptive words, saying, "The temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord, the temple of the Lord are these." | Warning against false security in religious office without obedience. |
| Rom 2:2-3 | We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things... | God’s impartial judgment on sin. |
| 1 Tim 3:4-5 | One who rules his own house well, having his children in submission with all reverence... | Prerequisite for spiritual leadership. |
| Tit 1:7-8 | For a bishop must be blameless... not self-willed, not quick-tempered... | Qualities of godly leadership, implying self-control and good order. |
| Heb 10:29 | How much worse punishment, do you think, will he be thought worthy of... who has trampled the Son of God underfoot... | Severer judgment for despising sacred things (New Covenant). |
| Ps 50:21 | These things you have done, and I kept silent; You thought that I was altogether like you; But I will rebuke you... | God's patient observation of sin before judgment. |
| Eze 44:23 | They shall teach My people the difference between the holy and the unholy... | Priestly duty to discern and instruct righteousness. |
| 1 Cor 11:29 | For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself... | Improper treatment of sacred acts brings judgment. |
| Gen 18:19 | For I have known him, in order that he may command his children and his household after him, that they keep the way of the Lord. | Example of righteous patriarchal leadership. |
1 Samuel 3 verses
1 Samuel 3 13 Meaning
1 Samuel 3:13 details God's resolute judgment upon the household of Eli, the high priest. God reiterates that this judgment is due to Eli's deliberate failure to restrain his sons, Hophni and Phinehas, from their egregious acts of wickedness, despite being fully aware of their actions. The phrase "his house forever" signifies a perpetual state of divine disfavor and removal from the prominent priestly role that had been previously promised. Eli’s personal knowledge of his sons' profanity, particularly their despising of the Lord’s offerings and immoral conduct, compounded his culpability, as his insufficient intervention demonstrated a greater honor for his sons than for God.
1 Samuel 3 13 Context
1 Samuel chapter 3 chronicles a pivotal moment in Israelite history, marking the transition from the old, corrupt priestly order exemplified by Eli, to the new, faithful leadership embodied by Samuel. Prior to this verse, the reader learns of the severe wickedness of Eli's sons (1 Sam 2:12-17, 22-25) – their abusing sacred offerings and immoral conduct at the Tabernacle. God had already sent a "man of God" to Eli with a strong prophecy of judgment against his house for their iniquity and Eli's failure to curb it (1 Sam 2:27-36). The specific setting of chapter 3 is Samuel’s humble service to God under Eli, experiencing his first prophetic vision in the midst of spiritual dimness ("the word of the Lord was rare in those days, and there was no widespread vision," 1 Sam 3:1). Eli had explicitly asked Samuel to tell him everything the Lord revealed. Thus, 1 Samuel 3:13 is God’s direct declaration through young Samuel, affirming the unchangeable judgment previously proclaimed, solidifying its certainty and imminent fulfillment, specifically emphasizing Eli's conscious inaction as a primary cause.
1 Samuel 3 13 Word analysis
- For I have told him: This signifies God's justice, emphasizing that the judgment is not arbitrary but previously declared (1 Sam 2:27-36), providing ample warning. It underscores God's faithfulness in communicating His will and consequences.
- that I will judge: The Hebrew word is shaphat (שָׁפַט), meaning "to judge, to govern, to punish." Here, it directly points to a judicial verdict and its impending execution by God Himself.
- his house forever: "House" refers to Eli’s lineage, his priestly family line and legacy. "Forever" (‘olam, עוֹלָם) denotes a lasting, perpetual judgment that permanently alters their standing and privilege, stripping them of the perpetual high priesthood initially promised (Ex 29:9). It means a definitive and long-term disruption, not necessarily immediate physical annihilation of every descendant, but the loss of their position and prosperity as a priestly house.
- for the iniquity: The Hebrew term ‘avon (עָוֹן) signifies deep moral perversion, guilt, and the punishment due to that guilt. It is not a trivial sin but profound spiritual depravity, particularly offensive in priestly service.
- which he knows: This phrase is crucial, indicating Eli's full awareness of his sons' heinous actions. His knowledge heightens his culpability, as inaction despite knowledge is itself a serious transgression against God's standards for a leader. He possessed clear discernment between right and wrong.
- because his sons made themselves vile: The Hebrew verb is qalal (קָלַל) in the Hiphil reflexive, meaning "they made themselves despised," "treated themselves lightly," or even "blasphemed." Their actions were a direct desecration of sacred worship and a profound dishonor to God. They were not merely being disrespectful; they were bringing a curse upon themselves and the sanctuary by their irreverent conduct and abusing their sacred office for personal gain and lust. This refers to their corrupt handling of sacrifices and sexual immorality at the tabernacle.
- and he restrained them not: The Hebrew kāhā (כָּהָה) in the Hiphil, often implies "to dim," "to restrain," or "to rebuke effectively." Eli's failure was not merely a lack of mild verbal disapproval (which he did offer in 1 Sam 2:23-25) but a complete absence of authoritative action, strong discipline, or decisive intervention to prevent their sin and remove them from office. He neglected his sacred duty as a father and as high priest to protect the sanctity of God's worship and honor.
1 Samuel 3 13 Bonus section
The phrase "made themselves vile" is interpreted by some scholars and ancient versions (like the Septuagint) as "cursed God" or "blasphemed God." This interpretation intensifies the gravity of Hophni and Phinehas' sin, shifting it from mere "vile conduct" to a direct affront against the Lord, reinforcing why Eli’s passive response was so offensive to God. Furthermore, Eli’s judgment is linked not just to his parental failure but also to his priestly office; as high priest, he bore a unique responsibility for the sanctity of the sanctuary and the moral conduct of its ministers. His failure compromised the very worship of Israel, blurring the lines between the holy and the common, which was a fundamental breach of covenant responsibilities for the priesthood. This highlights that negligence in spiritual leadership has far-reaching consequences beyond the immediate family, affecting the entire community's relationship with God.
1 Samuel 3 13 Commentary
1 Samuel 3:13 serves as a sobering declaration of God's unyielding justice and the severe consequences of negligent leadership. It underscores that God judges based on both overt sin and the failure to act against known iniquity, especially when entrusted with spiritual authority. Eli's primary sin was not personal participation in his sons' evil, but his passive enablement. He knew, yet he prioritized his familial comfort or reputation over God's honor. The "forever" judgment on his house signifies the removal of divine favor and priestly office, illustrating that covenant blessings are conditional on faithfulness. This verse also establishes God's pattern of prior warning before judgment, ensuring His justice is always clear and without excuse. It stands as a timeless warning for all those in positions of spiritual authority or parenthood: inaction in the face of known sin makes one complicit and liable before God.