The Meaning of 1 Samuel 2:25 Explained

1 Samuel 2:25

KJV: If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.

YLT: If a man sin against a man, then hath God judged him; but if against Jehovah a man sin, who doth pray for him?' and they hearken not to the voice of their father, though Jehovah hath delighted to put them to death.

Darby: If one man sin against another, God will judge him; but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall intreat for him? But they hearkened not to the voice of their father, for Jehovah was minded to slay them.

ASV: If one man sin against another, God shall judge him; but if a man sin against Jehovah, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding, they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because Jehovah was minded to slay them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

If one man  sin  against another,  the judge  shall judge  him: but if a man  sin  against the LORD,  who shall intreat  for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened  not unto the voice  of their father,  because the LORD  would  slay  them. 

What does 1 Samuel 2:25 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 2:22-36 - The Penalty Of Dishonoring God
Eli was held responsible for the excesses of his sons. He was a mild and gentle old man. But there are times when mildness and gentleness are out of place. We must be stern and strong when the occasion demands. It is always necessary to be on the alert, lest flabbiness and weakness should pass under the designation of Christian graces. Moreover, severer measures might have restrained his sons, 1 Samuel 3:13. Therefore in the message of judgment Eli was included, 1 Samuel 2:27-36. He is classed with his sons and reckoned as an accomplice with them in their sin against God, 1 Samuel 2:29-30.
Notice that prediction of the "faithful priests," 1 Samuel 2:35-36. In its first reference Samuel may be seen, but beyond him rises the figure of Another who ever lives to intercede, and is expressly designated as "faithful." Eli and his sons lived in the Temple, where the burning holiness of God was reflected in every service; but they seem never to have heard the chant of the seraphim, nor to have cried, "Woe is me, for I am undone," nor to have felt the burning coal on their lips. Do not trifle with the sacred privileges of God's house! They will condemn where they do not uplift. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 2

1  Hannah's song in thankfulness
12  The sin of Eli's sons
18  Samuel's ministry
20  by Eli's blessing Hannah is more fruitful
22  Eli reproves his sons
27  A prophecy against Eli's house

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 2:25 mean?

If sins one man against another and will judge him God but if against Yahweh sins a man who will intercede for him and nevertheless not they did heed the voice of their father because desired Yahweh to kill them
אִם־ יֶחֱטָ֨א אִ֤ישׁ לְאִישׁ֙ וּפִֽלְל֣וֹ אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְאִ֤ם לַֽיהוָה֙ יֶֽחֱטָא־ אִ֔ישׁ מִ֖י יִתְפַּלֶּל־ ל֑וֹ וְלֹ֤א יִשְׁמְעוּ֙ לְק֣וֹל אֲבִיהֶ֔ם כִּֽי־ חָפֵ֥ץ יְהוָ֖ה לַהֲמִיתָֽם

יֶחֱטָ֨א  sins 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
אִ֤ישׁ  one  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
לְאִישׁ֙  against  another 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וּפִֽלְל֣וֹ  and  will  judge  him 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Conjunctive perfect, third person masculine singular, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּלַל 
Sense: to intervene, interpose, pray.
אֱלֹהִ֔ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
וְאִ֤ם  but  if 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Conjunction
Root: אִם  
Sense: if.
לַֽיהוָה֙  against  Yahweh 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
יֶֽחֱטָא־  sins 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָטָא 
Sense: to sin, miss, miss the way, go wrong, incur guilt, forfeit, purify from uncleanness.
אִ֔ישׁ  a  man 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
יִתְפַּלֶּל־  will  intercede 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: פָּלַל 
Sense: to intervene, interpose, pray.
ל֑וֹ  for  him 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine singular
וְלֹ֤א  and  nevertheless  not 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb, Negative particle
Root: הֲלֹא 
Sense: not, no.
יִשְׁמְעוּ֙  they  did  heed 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַע 
Sense: to hear, listen to, obey.
לְק֣וֹל  the  voice 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: קֹול 
Sense: voice, sound, noise.
אֲבִיהֶ֔ם  of  their  father 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.
כִּֽי־  because 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: כִּי 
Sense: that, for, because, when, as though, as, because that, but, then, certainly, except, surely, since.
חָפֵ֥ץ  desired 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular
Root: חָפֵץ 
Sense: to delight in, take pleasure in, desire, be pleased with.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לַהֲמִיתָֽם  to  kill  them 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, third person masculine plural
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.