1 Samuel 2:30
Wherefore the Lord God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the Lord saith, Be it far from me; for them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
Study Note
Study Note
'For them that honour me I will honour, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.' God's word to Eli through the man of God declares that priestly privilege is not hereditary entitlement but covenantal responsibility — Eli's failure to honor God by restraining his sons forfeits the promise made to his house. The principle of honor-for-honor and contempt-for-contempt appears as a moral axiom throughout Scripture: Proverbs 3:9-10, John 12:26 ('if any man serve me, him will my Father honour'), and 1 Samuel 2:30's own narrative fulfillment in Eli's death and the priesthood's transfer to Zadok illustrate the same divine consistency.
Other Translations
Therefore Jehovah, the God of Israel, saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now Jehovah saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
`Therefore--the affirmation of Jehovah, God of Israel--I certainly said, Thy house and the house of thy father, do walk up and down before Me to the age; and now--the affirmation of Jehovah--Far be it from Me! for he who is honouring Me, I honour, and those despising Me, are lightly esteemed.
For this reason the Lord God of Israel has said, Truly I did say that your family and your father's people would have their place before me for ever: but now the Lord says, Let it not be so; I will give honour to those by whom I am honoured, and those who have no respect for me will be of small value in my eyes.
Cross References
And thou shalt gird them with girdles, Aaron and his sons, and put the bonnets on them: and the priest’s …
And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, …
Defile not therefore the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children …
And he shall have it, and his seed after him, even the covenant of an everlasting priesthood; because he was …
Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, hath turned my wrath away from the children of …
But even a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you: because that …
And the trees said to the fig tree, Come thou, and reign over us.
And he went out to meet Asa, and said unto him, Hear ye me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin; …
So shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new wine.
Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase: