1 Samuel 2:25If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Yahweh, who shall entreat for him?" Notwithstanding, they didn't listen to the voice of their father, because Yahweh was minded to kill them.
The setting
Shiloh, Israel, ~1100 BC. Eli realizes his sons have crossed a line — they're not just sinning against people, but against God Himself...
The emotion here: desperate realization that he's losing them
The original word
palal (פָּלַל) — to intercede, mediate, but also implies there must be someone qualified to stand between
Why it matters
This is one of the first recorded questions about who can mediate between God and man
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 2:25
Eli asks a rhetorical question that won't be answered until Jesus — 'who shall entreat for him?'
Common misconceptionPeople think God hardened their hearts unfairly, but the text shows they first refused to listen to their father's godly correction. God confirmed the choice they kept making.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 2:25
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 2:25 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 2:25 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the judges period. These words are attributed to Eli. The dominant emotion in this verse is anxious, with a comfort power of 20% and a tone that is urgent. It belongs to the dialogue genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine judgment, intercession, sin. Notable phrases: sin against Yahweh; who shall entreat.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same anxious
“And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.”
— 2 Corinthians 11:14
“Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.”
— 2 Timothy 3:12
“The evil spirit answered, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?"”
— Acts 19:15
“I fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to me, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'”
— Acts 22:7
“When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is har…”
— Acts 26:14
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 2:25 mean to you, today?
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