And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
Any of your family members that I don't remove from serving at my altar will only bring you sorrow and heartbreak. All your descendants will die young, in the prime of their lives.
God is telling Eli that his remaining family members will cause him grief and that his descendants will die young as part of his judgment.
📚 Historical Context
In the book of 1 Samuel, this verse is part of a divine prophecy delivered to Eli, the high priest, as a warning for his sons' corruption and abuse of their sacred duties in the tabernacle. Eli's failure to discipline his sons, who were stealing offerings and engaging in immorality, provoked God's judgment on his family line. This reflects the ancient Israelite culture where priests were expected to maintain strict holiness, and any breach could lead to severe consequences for their household.
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