English Standard Version
1 Samuel 2:25
25If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death.
1 Samuel 2:25 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them.
- New International Version (NIV)If one person sins against another, God may mediate for the offender; but if anyone sins against the Lord, who will intercede for them?” His sons, however, did not listen to their father’s rebuke, for it was the Lord’s will to put them to death.
- New King James Version (NKJV)If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?” Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to kill them.
- New Living Translation (NLT)If someone sins against another person, God can mediate for the guilty party. But if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede?” But Eli’s sons wouldn’t listen to their father, for the Lord was already planning to put them to death.
Context of 1 Samuel 2:25
23And he said to them, "Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all these people. 24No, my sons; it is no good report that I hear the people of the Lord spreading abroad. If someone sins against a man, God will mediate for him, but if someone sins against the Lord, who can intercede for him?" But they would not listen to the voice of their father, for it was the will of the Lord to put them to death. 26Now the boy Samuel continued to grow both in stature and in favor with the Lord and also with man. 27And there came a man of God to Eli and said to him, "Thus says the Lord, 'Did I indeed reveal myself to the house of your father when they were in Egypt subject to the house of Pharaoh?
Read all of 1 Samuel 21 Samuel 2:25 word by word
אִם־יֶחֱטָ֨א אִ֤ישׁ לְאִישׁ֙ וּפִֽלְל֣וֹ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְאִ֤ם לַֽיהוָה֙ יֶֽחֱטָא־אִ֔ישׁ מִ֖י יִתְפַּלֶּל־ל֑וֹ וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ לְק֣וֹל אֲבִיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־חָפֵ֥ץ יְהוָ֖ה לַהֲמִיתָֽם׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- If one manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- sinחָטָאchâţâ' · to sinH2398
- the judgeאֱלֹהִים'ĕlôhîym · GodH430
- shall judgeפָּלַלpâlal · to prayH6419
- against the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- for him? Notwithstanding they hearkenedשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- not unto the voiceקוֹלqôl qôl · voiceH6963
- of their fatherאָב'âb · fatherH1
- wouldחָפֵץchâphêts · to delight inH2654
- slayמוּתmûth · to dieH4191
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 2:25
- Deuteronomy 17:8"If any case arises requiring decision between one kind of homicide and another, one kind of legal right and another, or one kind of assault and another, any case within your towns that is too difficult for you, then you shall arise and go up to the place that the Lord your God will choose.
- Deuteronomy 25:1"If there is a dispute between men and they come into court and the judges decide between them, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty,
- 1 Samuel 3:14Therefore I swear to the house of Eli that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be atoned for by sacrifice or offering forever."
- Numbers 15:30But the person who does anything with a high hand, whether he is native or a sojourner, reviles the Lord, and that person shall be cut off from among his people.
- Psalms 51:4Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment.
- Hebrews 10:26For if we go on sinning deliberately after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins,
- 1 Timothy 2:5For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,
- Hebrews 7:25Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.
- Deuteronomy 2:30But Sihon the king of Heshbon would not let us pass by him, for the Lord your God hardened his spirit and made his heart obstinate, that he might give him into your hand, as he is this day.
- Joshua 11:20For it was the Lord's doing to harden their hearts that they should come against Israel in battle, in order that they should be devoted to destruction and should receive no mercy but be destroyed, just as the Lord commanded Moses.
- 2 Chronicles 25:16But as he was speaking, the king said to him, "Have we made you a royal counselor? Stop! Why should you be struck down?" So the prophet stopped, but said, "I know that God has determined to destroy you, because you have done this and have not listened to my counsel."
- Proverbs 15:10There is severe discipline for him who forsakes the way; whoever hates reproof will die.
- John 12:39Therefore they could not believe. For again Isaiah said,
- Psalms 116:10I believed, even when I spoke: "I am greatly afflicted";
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 2:25
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 25If one man sin against another - All differences between man and man may be settled by the proper judge; but if a man sin against the Supreme Judge, God himself, who shall reconcile him to his Maker? Your sin is immediately against God himself, and is the highest insult that can be offered, because it is in the matter of his own worship, therefore ye may expect his heaviest judgments. But if a man sin against the Lord, who shall entreat for him? - This…Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 25The sense seems to be, If one man sin against another, the judge shall amerce him in the due penalty, and then he shall be free; but if he sin against the Lord, who shall act the part of judge and arbiter for him? His guilt must remain to the great day of judgment. Because the Lord would slay them - There is a sense in which whatever comes to pass is the accomplishment of God‘s sovereign will and pleasure, and all the previous steps, even when they…Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-26Verses 11-26 Samuel, being devoted to the Lord in a special manner, was from a child employed about the sanctuary in the services he was capable of. As he did this with a pious disposition of mind, it was called ministering unto the Lord. He received a blessing from the Lord. Those young people who serve God as well as they can, he will enable to improve, that they may serve him better. Eli shunned trouble and exertion. This led him to indulge his…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 25God (or the judges; Hebrew ’elohim): The Hebrew word translated intercede is plural here. When ’elohim means "God" it often takes a singular verb. Some ancient translations interpret ’elohim as “judges” in this context. If so, the judges would mediate for the guilty in a human court. Yet, many Hebrew scholars argue that ’elohim should not be translated as “judges.” If so, how could God intercede for the man who sinned? Eli might have believed that court…Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 2525. they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because--it should be therefore. the Lord would slay them--It was not God's preordination, but their own wilful and impenitent disobedience which was the cause of their destruction. 1Sa 2:27-35. A Prophecy against Eli's House.Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 2:25
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 2
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- John Wesley’s Notes
- Darby Translation Notes
- Geneva Bible Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
- EGW Writings
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
Commentaries