1 Samuel 2:31Behold, the days come, that I will cut off your arm, and the arm of your father's house, that there shall not be an old man in your house.
The setting
Shiloh, Israel, ~1100 BC. Samuel continues God's oracle against Eli's house. The 'arm' represents strength and power—no man in Eli's family will live to old age.
The emotion here: sorrowful determination in pronouncing judgment
The original word
zᵉrôa' (זְרוֹעַ) — arm, representing strength, power, and ability to work
Why it matters
This curse was so complete that 300 years later, Abiathar was the last priest from Eli's line
Read with care
What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 2:31
The 'arm' being cut off means they'll die young—no elderly wisdom-keepers in the family
Common misconceptionPeople think this proves God punishes children for parents' sins, but Hophni and Phinehas were adults making their own evil choices. The family line ended because the corruption was complete.
The thread continues
Verses that echo 1 Samuel 2:31
Bible Genome reading
1 Samuel 2:31 — Bible Genome reading
Emotional genome
1 Samuel 2:31 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the judges period. The setting is the Temple. These words are attributed to God. The dominant emotion in this verse is angry, with a comfort power of 10% and a tone that is commanding. It belongs to the prophecy genre of biblical literature. Key themes include divine judgment, consequences. Notable phrases: I will cut off your arm. This verse contains a promise of God. This verse contains prophecy.
Emotionally similar
Verses that meet the same angry
“Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weak say, 'I am strong.'”
— Joel 3:10
“You blind guides, who strain out a gnat, and swallow a camel!”
— Matthew 23:24
“Listen to this word, you cows of Bashan, who are on the mountain of Samaria, who oppress the poor, who crush the needy, who tell their husba…”
— Amos 4:1
“I hate, I despise your feasts, and I can't stand your solemn assemblies.”
— Amos 5:21
“Your eyes shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.”
— Deuteronomy 19:21
Your reflection
What does 1 Samuel 2:31 mean to you, today?
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