And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
Therefore I have made a solemn promise about Eli's family: the sin and guilt of Eli's household will never be removed or forgiven through sacrifices and offerings.
God is declaring that Eli's family's sin is so serious that no religious ritual or sacrifice can ever make it right again.
📚 Historical Context
This was part of God's judgment message delivered to young Samuel about the priest Eli's family. Eli had failed to stop his sons Hophni and Phinehas from corrupting the priesthood through greed, sexual immorality, and treating God's sacrifices with contempt. In ancient Israel, sacrifices and offerings were the normal way people sought forgiveness from God, but Eli's family had so thoroughly violated their sacred duties that even these wouldn't help them.
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.