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.
1 SAMUEL 2:25KJVWhat does 1 Samuel 2:25 mean?
1 Samuel 2:25 says that if someone sins against another person, a human judge can settle the matter, but if someone sins against the LORD, there is no one who can plead for them. The verse ends by noting that Eli’s sons did not listen to their father’s warning, because the LORD intended to bring judgment on them.
In this verse, Eli, the high priest, is speaking to his sons, who have been behaving wickedly in their roles as priests. Eli warns them that while human disputes can be judged by people, offenses against God are much more serious, with no one able to intercede. The verse highlights the seriousness of their actions and shows that their refusal to listen was a sign that God’s judgment was certain.
The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 2:25
- אֱלֹהִים (’elohim, transliterated "elohim") is translated here as "the judge." While often used for "God," in this context it refers to a human judge or authority who settles disputes between people.
- יֶחֱטָא (yecheta’, from חָטָא, "chata’") means "to sin" or "miss the mark." The word is used both for sinning against people and against the LORD, but the verse draws a sharp distinction between the two.
- יִפְלַל (yiflal, from פָּלַל, "palal") is translated "shall judge" or "intreat." The same root is used for both judging and interceding, showing a play on words about who can stand between the offender and the one wronged.
- שָׁמַע (shama’, "hearkened") means "to listen" or "obey." The verse notes that Eli’s sons did not listen to their father’s warning, signaling their stubbornness and sealing their fate.
Why 1 Samuel 2:25 matters
- This verse clarifies that some wrongs can be settled by human means, but sin against God is in a different category, with no human able to mediate.
- The verse shows the seriousness of Eli’s sons’ actions and why their refusal to listen is portrayed as a sign that God’s judgment is already decided.
- It connects to the wider story by explaining why Eli’s sons are ultimately judged so harshly, setting up the coming events in the narrative.