Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
1 SAMUEL 2:29KJVWhat does 1 Samuel 2:29 mean?
1 Samuel 2:29 describes God confronting Eli for allowing his sons to disrespect the sacrifices and offerings that God commanded, and for honoring his sons more than God by letting them benefit from the best parts of the offerings. God accuses Eli of putting his family’s interests above obedience to God’s instructions for worship.
In this verse, God is speaking through a prophet to Eli, the high priest, about the corrupt behavior of Eli’s sons, who were priests themselves. Eli’s sons were taking the best portions of the sacrifices for themselves, which was against what God had commanded. God holds Eli responsible, not just for his sons’ actions, but for failing to stop them and for letting their desires take priority over God’s honor.
The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 2:29
- "kick" (בָּעַט, ba‘at): This word means to treat with contempt or to trample on. Here, it paints a picture of Eli’s family disrespecting God’s sacrifices, not just neglecting them but actively dishonoring them.
- "honourest" (כָּבֵד, kavēd): This word means to give weight or importance. God says Eli is giving more importance to his sons than to God, highlighting a reversal of proper priorities.
- "fat" (בָּרָא, bara’): This word means to make fat or to enrich. The verse points out that Eli’s family was enriching themselves with the best parts of the offerings, which were meant for God.
- "chiefest" (רֵאשִׁית, rē’shīt): This word refers to the first or best portion. Eli’s sons were taking the choicest parts of the offerings, which were supposed to be reserved for God.
Why 1 Samuel 2:29 matters
- This verse clarifies that spiritual leaders are responsible not only for their own actions but also for what they allow in those under their care, especially when it comes to honoring God’s commands.
- The verse highlights the seriousness of treating God’s instructions with contempt, showing that even family loyalty must not come before faithfulness to God.
- 1 Samuel 2:29 sets up the reason for the judgment that follows in the story, explaining why Eli’s family would lose their priestly role and why God’s standards for worship and leadership matter so much in Israel’s history.