And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.

1 SAMUEL 2:14KJV
Know the Bible

1 Samuel 2:14 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 2:14 mean?

1 Samuel 2:14 describes how the priests at Shiloh would use a special tool to take meat from the offerings brought by the Israelites. Whatever the fleshhook pulled out of the cooking pot, the priest would keep for himself, and this was the common practice for all Israelites who came to worship there.

This verse is set during the time when Eli was high priest, and his sons were serving as priests at the sanctuary in Shiloh. The passage explains a specific custom about how priests received their portion from the sacrifices. It sets the scene for later criticism of Eli’s sons, who abused their priestly privileges and did not follow the proper way of handling offerings.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 2:14

  • פַּרְזֶל (parzel, "fleshhook"): This word refers to a metal hook or fork used to pull out meat from the cooking vessel. The detail shows the practical, physical process of taking the priest’s share.
  • שִׁלֹה (Shiloh, "Shiloh"): Naming Shiloh grounds the story in a real place, reminding the reader this was the main worship center before Jerusalem.
  • כֹּהֵן (kohen, "priest"): This word makes clear that the action is about the priest’s rights and responsibilities, not just any person taking food.

Why 1 Samuel 2:14 matters

  • This verse clarifies the normal, accepted way priests were supposed to receive their portion from sacrifices, which helps the reader understand the seriousness of the later abuses by Eli’s sons.
  • By describing the process in detail, the verse shows that the priests’ share was meant to be left to chance or fairness, not greed or force.
  • The mention of Shiloh connects this event to Israel’s early worship practices and highlights the importance of proper conduct in sacred duties.

Where else these words appear

“caldron” Hebrew H7037 · used in 2 verses

  • Micah 3:3 Who also eat the flesh of my people, and flay their skin from off them; and they break their bones, and chop them in pieces, as for the pot, and as flesh within the caldron.

“pot” Hebrew H6517 · used in 3 verses

  • Numbers 11:8 And the people went about, and gathered it, and ground it in mills, or beat it in a mortar, and baked it in pans, and made cakes of it: and the taste of it was as the taste of fresh oil.
  • Judges 6:19 And Gideon went in, and made ready a kid, and unleavened cakes of an ephah of flour: the flesh he put in a basket, and he put the broth in a pot, and brought it out unto him under the oak, and presented it.

“kettle” Hebrew H1731 · used in 6 verses

  • 2 Kings 10:7 And it came to pass, when the letter came to them, that they took the king's sons, and slew seventy persons, and put their heads in baskets, and sent him them to Jezreel.
  • 2 Chronicles 35:13 And they roasted the passover with fire according to the ordinance: but the other holy offerings sod they in pots, and in caldrons, and in pans, and divided them speedily among all the people.
  • Psalms 81:6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots.

“fleshhook” Hebrew H4207 · used in 7 verses

  • Exodus 27:3 And thou shalt make his pans to receive his ashes, and his shovels, and his basons, and his fleshhooks, and his firepans: all the vessels thereof thou shalt make of brass.
  • Numbers 4:14 And they shall put upon it all the vessels thereof, wherewith they minister about it, even the censers, the fleshhooks, and the shovels, and the basons, all the vessels of the altar; and they shall spread upon it a covering of badgers' skins, and put to the staves of it.
  • 1 Chronicles 28:17 Also pure gold for the fleshhooks, and the bowls, and the cups: and for the golden basons he gave gold by weight for every bason; and likewise silver by weight for every bason of silver: