1 Samuel 2:25

If one man sinne against another, the Iudge shall iudge him: but if a man sinne against the Lord, who shall intreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not vnto the voice of their father, because the Lord would slay them. 1 Samuel 2:25 (KJV)

This verse belongs to the larger narrative concerning Eli, the priest‑judge of Israel, and his corrupt sons Hophni and Phinehas. Eli served as both priest and the chief judicial authority of the nation, yet his sons abused their priestly offices by exploiting the offerings brought to the tabernacle and by committing a series of other sins.

The first clause, “If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him,” underscores the role of the human judge in settling disputes and administering justice among the people of Israel. When an individual offends another, it is the judge’s responsibility to hear the case and render a judgment.

The second clause, “but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall intreat for him?” (also rendered “who shall be his advocate?”), emphasizes the seriousness of sinning against God. It poses a rhetorical question that no one can intercede or mediate on behalf of a person who sins directly against the Lord, highlighting that such sins carry weighty, divine consequences.

The following verses (1 Samuel 2:26‑27) record that Hophni and Phinehas did not heed their father’s warnings and that the LORD had declared judgment against them, even to the point of slaying them. Although this material is not part of 2:25 itself, it provides the immediate context for the warning contained in the verse.

Together, the passage draws a clear distinction between human and divine justice: sins against fellow humans can be addressed through the judicial system, whereas sins against God require God’s own intervention for forgiveness and reconciliation. It serves as a sobering warning about the severity of offending the Lord. The actions of Hophni and Phinehas—violating priestly duties and directly affronting God—led to severe consequences because they refused to repent and ignored Eli’s admonitions.

Overall, 1 Samuel 2:25 calls believers to live in obedience to God, to respect legitimate human authority, and to recognize the grave implications of sinning against the Lord.