1 Samuel 2:16
New International Version
If the person said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take whatever you want,” the servant would answer, “No, hand it over now; if you don’t, I’ll take it by force.”

New Living Translation
The man offering the sacrifice might reply, “Take as much as you want, but the fat must be burned first.” Then the servant would demand, “No, give it to me now, or I’ll take it by force.”

English Standard Version
And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take as much as you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now, and if not, I will take it by force.”

Berean Standard Bible
And if any man said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you may take whatever you want,” the servant would reply, “No, you must give it to me right now. If you refuse, I will take it by force!”

King James Bible
And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

New King James Version
And if the man said to him, “They should really burn the fat first; then you may take as much as your heart desires,” he would then answer him, “No, but you must give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.”

New American Standard Bible
And if the man said to him, “They must burn the fat first, then take as much as you desire,” then he would say, “No, but you must give it to me now; and if not, I am taking it by force!”

NASB 1995
If the man said to him, “They must surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as you desire,” then he would say, “No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force.”

NASB 1977
And if the man said to him, “They must surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as you desire,” then he would say, “No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the man would say to him, “They must surely offer up the fat in smoke first, and then take as much as your soul desires,” then he would say, “No, you shall give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.”

Amplified Bible
If the man said to him, “Certainly they are to burn (offer) the fat first, and then you may take as much as you want,” then the priest’s servant would say, “No! You shall give it to me now or I will take it by force.”

Christian Standard Bible
If that person said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,” the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force! ”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
If that man said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,” the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!”

American Standard Version
And if the man said unto him, They will surely burn the fat first, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would say, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

Contemporary English Version
Usually the people answered, "Take what you want. But first, let us sacrifice the fat to the LORD." "No," the servant would reply. "If you don't give it to me now, I'll take it by force."

English Revised Version
And if the man said unto him, They will surely burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would say, Nay, but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
If the man said to the servant, "First let the fat be burned, then take as much as you want," the servant would say to him, "Give it to me now, or I'll take it by force."

Good News Translation
If the person answered, "Let us do what is right and burn the fat first; then take what you want," the priest's servant would say, "No! Give it to me now! If you don't, I will have to take it by force!"

International Standard Version
If the man told him , "They must surely burn up the fat first, and then take for yourself whatever you desire," the servant would say, "No, give it now, and if you don't, I'll take it by force!"

Majority Standard Bible
And if any man said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you may take whatever you want,” the servant would reply, “No, you must give it to me right now. If you refuse, I will take it by force!”

NET Bible
If the individual said to him, "First let the fat be burned away, and then take for yourself whatever you wish," he would say, "No! Hand it over right now! If you don't, I will take it forcibly!"

New Heart English Bible
If the man said to him, "Let the fat be burned first, and then take all of it which your soul desires"; then he would say, "No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force."

Webster's Bible Translation
And if any man said to him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, No; but thou shalt give it to me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

World English Bible
If the man said to him, “Let the fat be burned first, and then take as much as your soul desires;” then he would say, “No, but you shall give it to me now; and if not, I will take it by force.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
and the man says to him, “Let them surely make incense with the fat according to the [custom] today, then take to yourself as your soul desires”; and he has said to him, “Surely you give now; and if not—I have taken by strength.”

Young's Literal Translation
and the man saith unto him, 'Let them surely make a perfume (as to-day) with the fat, then take to thee as thy soul desireth;' and he hath said to him, 'Surely now thou dost give; and if not -- I have taken by strength.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And the man will say to him, Burning, they shall burn the fat as the day, and take to thee as thy soul shall desire; and he said to him, But now thou shalt give, and if not I will take by force.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And he that sacrificed said to him: Let the fat first be burnt to day according to the custom, and then take as much as thy soul desireth. But he answered and said to him: Not so: but thou shalt give it me now, or else I will take it by force.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the one who was immolating would say to him, “First, allow the fat to be burned today, according to custom, and then take for yourself whatever your soul desires.” But in response, he would say to him: “By no means. For you will give it to me now, otherwise I will take it by force.”

New American Bible
And if this one protested, “Let the fat be burned first, then take whatever you wish,” he would reply, “No, give it to me now, or else I will take it by force.”

New Revised Standard Version
And if the man said to him, “Let them burn the fat first, and then take whatever you wish,” he would say, “No, you must give it now; if not, I will take it by force.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And if the man said to him, They will surely offer sacrifices today, and then take for yourself as much as you wish; then he would say, No; you shall give it now; and if not, I will take it by force.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the man said to him: “They will surely offer today and take for yourself whatever your soul desires, and he said to him: “No! Give it now, and if not, I will take it by force!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And if the man said unto him: 'Let the fat be made to smoke first of all, and then take as much as thy soul desireth'; then he would say: 'Nay, but thou shalt give it me now; and if not, I will take it by force.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And if the man that sacrificed said, First let the fat be burned, as it is fit, and take for thyself of all things which thy soul desires: then he would say, Nay, for thou shalt give it me now; and if not I will take it by force.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Eli's Wicked Sons
15Even before the fat was burned, the servant of the priest would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, “Give the priest some meat to roast, because he will not accept boiled meat from you, but only raw.” 16And if any man said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you may take whatever you want,” the servant would reply, “No, you must give it to me right now. If you refuse, I will take it by force!” 17Thus the sin of these young men was severe in the sight of the LORD, for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt.…

Cross References
Leviticus 7:29-34
“Speak to the Israelites and say, ‘Anyone who presents a peace offering to the LORD must bring it as his sacrifice to the LORD. / With his own hands he is to bring the food offerings to the LORD; he shall bring the fat, together with the breast, and wave the breast as a wave offering before the LORD. / The priest is to burn the fat on the altar, but the breast belongs to Aaron and his sons. ...

Deuteronomy 18:3
This shall be the priests’ share from the people who offer a sacrifice, whether a bull or a sheep: the priests are to be given the shoulder, the jowls, and the stomach.

Malachi 1:8
When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.

Malachi 1:13-14
You also say: ‘Oh, what a nuisance!’ And you turn up your nose at it,” says the LORD of Hosts. “You bring offerings that are stolen, lame, or sick! Should I accept these from your hands?” asks the LORD. / “But cursed is the deceiver who has an acceptable male in his flock and vows to give it, but sacrifices a defective animal to the Lord. For I am a great King,” says the LORD of Hosts, “and My name is to be feared among the nations.

Ezekiel 34:2-3
“Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel. Prophesy and tell them that this is what the Lord GOD says: ‘Woe to the shepherds of Israel, who only feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed their flock? / You eat the fat, wear the wool, and butcher the fattened sheep, but you do not feed the flock.

Isaiah 56:11
Like ravenous dogs, they are never satisfied. They are shepherds with no discernment; they all turn to their own way, each one seeking his own gain:

Jeremiah 6:13
“For from the least of them to the greatest, all are greedy for gain; from prophet to priest, all practice deceit.

Micah 3:5
This is what the LORD says: “As for the prophets who lead My people astray, who proclaim peace while they chew with their teeth, but declare war against one who puts nothing in their mouths:

Hosea 4:8
They feed on the sins of My people and set their hearts on iniquity.

Amos 2:8
They lie down beside every altar on garments taken in pledge. And in the house of their God, they drink wine obtained through fines.

Matthew 23:25
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

Mark 12:40
They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

Luke 11:39
Then the Lord said, “Now you Pharisees clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside you are full of greed and wickedness.

Luke 20:47
They defraud widows of their houses, and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will receive greater condemnation.”

2 Peter 2:3
In their greed, these false teachers will exploit you with deceptive words. The longstanding verdict against them remains in force, and their destruction does not sleep.


Treasury of Scripture

And if any man said to him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as your soul desires; then he would answer him, No; but you shall give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.

presently [heb] as on the day

Leviticus 3:16
And the priest shall burn them upon the altar: it is the food of the offering made by fire for a sweet savour: all the fat is the LORD'S.

Leviticus 7:23-25
Speak unto the children of Israel, saying, Ye shall eat no manner of fat, of ox, or of sheep, or of goat…

I will take

Judges 18:25
And the children of Dan said unto him, Let not thy voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows run upon thee, and thou lose thy life, with the lives of thy household.

Nehemiah 5:15
But the former governors that had been before me were chargeable unto the people, and had taken of them bread and wine, beside forty shekels of silver; yea, even their servants bare rule over the people: but so did not I, because of the fear of God.

Micah 2:1,2
Woe to them that devise iniquity, and work evil upon their beds! when the morning is light, they practise it, because it is in the power of their hand…

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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














And if any man said to him
This phrase introduces a hypothetical situation, indicating that the actions described were not isolated incidents but rather a pattern of behavior. The Hebrew word for "man" here is "ish," which can refer to any individual, emphasizing that this was a common occurrence. The context suggests a widespread awareness of the improper practices of Eli's sons, highlighting the communal nature of worship and sacrifice in Israelite society.

The fat must be burned first
The fat of the sacrificial animal was considered the Lord's portion, as outlined in Levitical law (Leviticus 3:16). The Hebrew word for "fat" is "cheleb," which signifies the best or choicest part. This command underscores the principle of giving God the first and best, a practice rooted in the covenant relationship between God and Israel. The burning of the fat symbolized the offering of the best to God, an act of reverence and obedience.

then you can take whatever you want
This phrase reflects the proper order of sacrificial proceedings, where the priests were entitled to a portion only after God's portion had been offered. The Hebrew verb "laqach" (to take) here implies a rightful taking, contingent upon the fulfillment of divine requirements. It highlights the balance between divine command and human provision, where the needs of the priests were met within the framework of obedience to God.

the servant would reply
The "servant" here refers to the attendants of Eli's sons, who acted on their behalf. The Hebrew word "na'ar" (servant) can also mean a young man or attendant, indicating that these individuals were likely under the authority of the priests. This reflects a systemic corruption, where even those serving the priests were complicit in their wrongdoing, illustrating the pervasive nature of sin when left unchecked.

No, you must give it to me right now
This response reveals a blatant disregard for God's law and the established sacrificial order. The insistence on immediate gratification, as indicated by the Hebrew word "attah" (now), underscores a heart attitude of rebellion and impatience. It reflects a deeper spiritual malaise, where the desires of the flesh override the commands of God, a theme recurrent in the narrative of Israel's history.

If you refuse, I will take it by force
The threat of force, implied by the Hebrew verb "laqach" (to take), which can also mean to seize or capture, highlights the coercive and violent nature of the priests' actions. This phrase underscores the abuse of power and authority, a stark contrast to the servant leadership exemplified by godly leaders. It serves as a warning against the corruption that arises when leaders prioritize personal gain over divine mandate, a timeless lesson for the Church today.

(16) And if not, I will take it by force.--The solemn ritual of the sacrifice was not only transgressed by these covetous, greedy, ministering priests, but the worshippers were compelled by force to yield to these new lawless customs, probably introduced by these sons of the high priest Eli.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
And [if] any man
הָאִ֗ישׁ (hā·’îš)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 376: A man as an individual, a male person

said
וַיֹּ֨אמֶר (way·yō·mer)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

to him,
אֵלָ֜יו (’ê·lāw)
Preposition | third person masculine singular
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

“The fat
הַחֵ֔לֶב (ha·ḥê·leḇ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 2459: Fat, richest, choice part

must be burned
קַטֵּ֨ר (qaṭ·ṭêr)
Verb - Piel - Infinitive absolute
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

first;
יַקְטִיר֤וּן (yaq·ṭî·rūn)
Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - third person masculine plural | Paragogic nun
Strong's 6999: To smoke, turn into fragrance by fire

then you can take
וְקַ֨ח־ (wə·qaḥ-)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

whatever
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר (ka·’ă·šer)
Preposition-k | Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

you
נַפְשֶׁ֑ךָ (nap̄·še·ḵā)
Noun - feminine singular construct | second person masculine singular
Strong's 5315: A soul, living being, life, self, person, desire, passion, appetite, emotion

want,”
תְּאַוֶּ֖ה (tə·’aw·weh)
Verb - Piel - Imperfect - third person feminine singular
Strong's 8378: A longing, a delight

the servant would reply,
וְאָמַ֥ר ׀ (wə·’ā·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“No,
לֹ֖א (lō)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

for
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

you must give [it to me]
תִתֵּ֔ן (ṯit·tên)
Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine singular
Strong's 5414: To give, put, set

right now.
עַתָּ֣ה (‘at·tāh)
Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

If you refuse,
וְאִם־ (wə·’im-)
Conjunctive waw | Conjunction
Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not

I will take
לָקַ֥חְתִּי (lā·qaḥ·tî)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - first person common singular
Strong's 3947: To take

it by force!”
בְחָזְקָֽה׃ (ḇə·ḥā·zə·qāh)
Preposition-b | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 2394: Strength, force, violence


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OT History: 1 Samuel 2:16 If the man said to him They (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
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