The Meaning of 1 Samuel 2:29 Explained

1 Samuel 2:29

KJV: Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

YLT: Why do ye kick at My sacrifice, and at Mine offering which I commanded in My habitation, and dost honour thy sons above Me, to make yourselves fat from the first part of every offering of Israel, of My people?

Darby: Wherefore do ye trample upon my sacrifice and upon mine oblation which I have commanded in my habitation? And thou honourest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the primest of all the oblations of Israel my people.

ASV: Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation, and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Wherefore kick  ye at my sacrifice  and at mine offering,  which I have commanded  [in my] habitation;  and honourest  thy sons  above me, to make yourselves fat  with the chiefest  of all the offerings  of Israel  my people? 

What does 1 Samuel 2:29 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 2:29 mean?

why do you kick at My sacrifice and My offering which I have commanded [in My] dwelling place and honor - your sons more than Me to make yourselves fat with the best of all the offerings of Israel My people
לָ֣מָּה תִבְעֲט֗וּ בְּזִבְחִי֙ וּבְמִנְחָתִ֔י אֲשֶׁ֥ר צִוִּ֖יתִי מָע֑וֹן וַתְּכַבֵּ֤ד אֶת־ בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙ מִמֶּ֔נִּי לְהַבְרִֽיאֲכֶ֗ם מֵרֵאשִׁ֛ית כָּל־ מִנְחַ֥ת יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל ؟ לְעַמִּֽי

לָ֣מָּה  why 
Parse: Interrogative
Root: לָמָּה 
Sense: what, how, of what kind.
תִבְעֲט֗וּ  do  you  kick 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: בָּעַט  
Sense: to kick, kick at.
בְּזִבְחִי֙  at  My  sacrifice 
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: זֶבַח  
Sense: sacrifice.
וּבְמִנְחָתִ֔י  and  My  offering 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Preposition-b, Noun, feminine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
צִוִּ֖יתִי  I  have  commanded 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Perfect, first person common singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
מָע֑וֹן  [in  My]  dwelling  place 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: מָעֹון 
Sense: dwelling, habitation, refuge.
וַתְּכַבֵּ֤ד  and  honor 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: כָּבֵד  
Sense: to be heavy, be weighty, be grievous, be hard, be rich, be honourable, be glorious, be burdensome, be honoured.
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
בָּנֶ֙יךָ֙  your  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, second person masculine singular
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
מִמֶּ֔נִּי  more  than  Me 
Parse: Preposition, first person common singular
Root: מִן 
Sense: from, out of, on account of, off, on the side of, since, above, than, so that not, more than.
לְהַבְרִֽיאֲכֶ֗ם  to  make  yourselves  fat 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Hifil, Infinitive construct, second person masculine plural
Root: בָּרָא 
Sense: to create, shape, form.
מֵרֵאשִׁ֛ית  with  the  best 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: רֵאשִׁית  
Sense: first, beginning, best, chief.
כָּל־  of  all 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
מִנְחַ֥ת  the  offerings 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: מִנְחָה  
Sense: gift, tribute, offering, present, oblation, sacrifice, meat offering.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
؟ לְעַמִּֽי  My  people 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, first person common singular
Root: עַם 
Sense: nation, people.