1 Samuel 2:29
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?
Original Language Analysis
לָ֣מָּה
H4100
לָ֣מָּה
Strong's:
H4100
Word #:
1 of 17
properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and
תִבְעֲט֗וּ
Wherefore kick
H1163
תִבְעֲט֗וּ
Wherefore kick
Strong's:
H1163
Word #:
2 of 17
to trample down, i.e., (figuratively) despise
בְּזִבְחִי֙
ye at my sacrifice
H2077
בְּזִבְחִי֙
ye at my sacrifice
Strong's:
H2077
Word #:
3 of 17
properly, a slaughter, i.e., the flesh of an animal; by implication, a sacrifice (the victim or the act)
מִנְחַ֥ת
and at mine offering
H4503
מִנְחַ֥ת
and at mine offering
Strong's:
H4503
Word #:
4 of 17
a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
H834
אֲשֶׁ֥ר
Strong's:
H834
Word #:
5 of 17
who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc
צִוִּ֖יתִי
which I have commanded
H6680
צִוִּ֖יתִי
which I have commanded
Strong's:
H6680
Word #:
6 of 17
(intensively) to constitute, enjoin
מָע֑וֹן
in my habitation
H4583
מָע֑וֹן
in my habitation
Strong's:
H4583
Word #:
7 of 17
an abode, of god (the tabernacle or the temple), men (their home) or animals (their lair); hence, a retreat (asylum)
וַתְּכַבֵּ֤ד
and honourest
H3513
וַתְּכַבֵּ֤ד
and honourest
Strong's:
H3513
Word #:
8 of 17
to be heavy, i.e., in a bad sense (burdensome, severe, dull) or in a good sense (numerous, rich, honorable); causatively, to make weighty (in the same
אֶת
H853
אֶת
Strong's:
H853
Word #:
9 of 17
properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)
בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙
thy sons
H1121
בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙
thy sons
Strong's:
H1121
Word #:
10 of 17
a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or
מִמֶּ֔נִּי
H4480
מִמֶּ֔נִּי
Strong's:
H4480
Word #:
11 of 17
properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses
לְהַבְרִֽיאֲכֶ֗ם
above me to make yourselves fat
H1254
לְהַבְרִֽיאֲכֶ֗ם
above me to make yourselves fat
Strong's:
H1254
Word #:
12 of 17
(absolutely) to create; (qualified) to cut down (a wood), select, feed (as formative processes)
מֵֽרֵאשִׁ֛ית
with the chiefest
H7225
מֵֽרֵאשִׁ֛ית
with the chiefest
Strong's:
H7225
Word #:
13 of 17
the first, in place, time, order or rank (specifically, a firstfruit)
כָּל
H3605
כָּל
Strong's:
H3605
Word #:
14 of 17
properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)
מִנְחַ֥ת
and at mine offering
H4503
מִנְחַ֥ת
and at mine offering
Strong's:
H4503
Word #:
15 of 17
a donation; euphemistically, tribute; specifically a sacrificial offering (usually bloodless and voluntary)
Cross References
Matthew 10:37He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.Deuteronomy 32:15But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked: thou art waxen fat, thou art grown thick, thou art covered with fatness; then he forsook God which made him, and lightly esteemed the Rock of his salvation.Luke 14:26If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Historical Context
The Hebrew behind 'kick at my sacrifice' suggests disdainful, contemptuous rejection - treating sacred things as worthless. Eli's 'fattening' from corrupt offerings made him complicit in his sons' crimes. Leadership passivity in the face of corruption becomes active evil.
Questions for Reflection
- In what areas might you be honoring human relationships above God's clear commands?
- How does passive tolerance of wrongdoing become active participation?
Related Resources
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Analysis & Commentary
The indictment reaches its core accusation: 'honourest thy sons above me.' Eli's failure was not ignorance but misplaced loyalty. He valued his sons' comfort over God's honor. The verb 'kick' (ba'at) pictures stubborn resistance, like an animal refusing the yoke. The phrase 'to make yourselves fat' indicts both father and sons - Eli shared in the benefits of their corruption. His passive tolerance constituted active participation. The question 'Wherefore?' demands accounting. No acceptable answer exists for prioritizing human relationships over divine commands.