What Does 1 Samuel 3:14 Mean in the King James?
And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli’s house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
The analysis reads the King James wording.
King James Version The King James Version, first published in 1611. Selah Verse shows the standard text.
THE KEY
The word “purged” rests on a Hebrew root meaning “cover,” so the oath says sacrifice cannot cover Eli’s house’s wrongdoing.
THE MEANING
You are brought before an oath concerning Eli’s house: its wrongdoing cannot be covered by sacrifice or offering through the ages. The verse leaves this verdict in force even when a ritual is offered.
WHAT THIS UNDOES
It undoes the belief that sacrifice can automatically cover wrongdoing or buy release from every verdict; here, the oath declares that it cannot.
THE ROOT
יִתְכַּפֵּר
yitkappēr
GROWS FROM
כפר
Kāphar means “to cover”; the root carries the sense of covering.
The verb יִתְכַּפֵּר (yitkappēr, “be covered” or “be purged”) comes from כפר (kāphar, “cover”). The verse’s force is that sacrifice and offering cannot provide that covering for Eli’s house.
ALSO GROWS
kippurim: Coverings; the word in Yom Kippur, commonly rendered “Day of Atonement.”
כִּפֻּרִים
The shared root keeps the sense of covering present in ritual language, sharpening the verse’s claim that sacrifice and offering cannot cover this wrongdoing.
kappōret: The cover of the ark, traditionally called the mercy seat.
כַּפֹּרֶת
This word names a literal cover in the sanctuary; the same root here makes the denied covering concrete.
THE PATTERN
Sacrifice cannot substitute for what the text declares remains beyond its power.
And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins.THE THREAD
But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath.Psalm 78:38 uses the same Hebrew root, כפר (kāphar, “cover”), in the word translated “forgave.” There, the covering of wrongdoing is attributed to compassion; here, the oath declares that sacrifice and offering will not cover Eli’s house.
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