1 Samuel 3:14

14 So I have made an oath to the family of Eli that no offering of meat or of meal which they may make will ever take away the sin of his family.

1 Samuel 3:14 Meaning and Commentary

1 Samuel 3:14

And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli
Either had done this before, which was signified to him by the man of God, or did swear now for the confirmation of his threatenings, and to assure the certain performance of them:

that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice
nor offering for ever:
not even typically, which was all that legal sacrifice could do; and not so that the priesthood should ever return to the family again, as the office of high priesthood never did; or, as Abarbinel interprets it, because of sacrifice and offering, that the iniquity Eli's sons were guilty of in taking the flesh of the sacrifices and offerings, which did not belong to them, and before the Lord had his part, should never be expiated.

(There are some sins that are not covered in the atonement of Jesus Christ. This is one of them and the sin against the Holy Ghost is another. ( Matthew 12:31 ) . Editor.)

1 Samuel 3:14 In-Context

12 In that day I will do to Eli everything which I have said about his family, from first to last.

13 And you are to say to him that I will send punishment on his family for ever, for the sin which he had knowledge of; because his sons have been cursing God and he had no control over them.

14 So I have made an oath to the family of Eli that no offering of meat or of meal which they may make will ever take away the sin of his family.

15 And Samuel kept where he was, not moving till the time came for opening the doors of the house of God in the morning. And fear kept him from giving Eli an account of his vision.

16 Then Eli said, Samuel, my son. And Samuel answering said, Here am I.