New English Translation
1 Samuel 2:25
25If a man sins against a man, one may appeal to God on his behalf. But if a man sins against the Lord, who then will intercede for him?” But Eli’s sons would not listen to their father, for the Lord had decided to kill them.
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.
- English Standard Version (ESV)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.
- 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.
Context of 1 Samuel 2:25
23He said to them, “Why do you behave in this way? For I hear about these evil things from all these people. 24This ought not to be, my sons! For the report that I hear circulating among the Lord’s people is not good. If a man sins against a man, one may appeal to God on his behalf. But if a man sins against the Lord, who then will intercede for him?” But Eli’s sons would not listen to their father, for the Lord had decided to kill them. 26Now the boy Samuel was growing up and finding favor both with the Lord and with people. 27A man of God came to Eli and said to him, “This is what the Lord says: ‘Did I not plainly reveal myself to your ancestor’s house when they were in Egypt in 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 17:8If a matter is too difficult for you to judge – bloodshed, legal claim, or assault – matters of controversy in your villages – you must leave there and go up to the place the Lord your God chooses.
- Deuteronomy 25:1If controversy arises between people, they should go to court for judgment. When the judges hear the case, they shall exonerate the innocent but condemn the guilty.
- 1 Samuel 3:14Therefore I swore an oath to the house of Eli, ‘The sin of the house of Eli can never be forgiven by sacrifice or by grain offering.’”
- Numbers 15:30“‘But the person who acts defiantly, whether native-born or a resident foreigner, insults the Lord. That person must be cut off from among his people.
- Psalms 51:4Against you – you above all – I have sinned; I have done what is evil in your sight. So you are just when you confront me; you are right when you condemn me.
- Hebrews 10:26For if we deliberately keep on sinning after receiving the knowledge of the truth, no further sacrifice for sins is left for us,
- 1 Timothy 2:5For there is one God and one intermediary between God and humanity, Christ Jesus, himself human,
- Hebrews 7:25So he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them.
- Deuteronomy 2:30But King Sihon of Heshbon was unwilling to allow us to pass near him because the Lord our God had made him obstinate and stubborn so that he might deliver him over to you this very day.
- Joshua 11:20for the Lord determined to make them obstinate so they would attack Israel. He wanted Israel to annihilate them without mercy, as he had instructed Moses.
- 2 Chronicles 25:16While he was speaking, Amaziah said to him, “Did we appoint you to be a royal counselor? Stop prophesying or else you will be killed!” So the prophet stopped, but added, “I know that the Lord has decided to destroy you, because you have done this thing and refused to listen to my advice.”
- Proverbs 15:10Severe discipline is for the one who abandons the way; the one who hates reproof will die.
- John 12:39For this reason they could not believe, because again Isaiah said,
- Psalms 116:10I had faith when I said, “I am severely oppressed.”
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
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