1. 1 Samuel 2:12 (ESV)
  2. Exposition

What does it mean for Eli’s sons to be worthless men?

1 Samuel 2:12 (ESV)

12 Now the sons of Eli were worthless men. They did not know the LORD.

The Hebrew phrase actually translates as sons of Belial. It is also used in Judges 19:22 in reference to the sexually immoral men of Gibeah, and in Deuteronomy 13:13 of those who seek to incite idolatry.1 Hannah also used this phrase when she defended her actions before Eli (1 Samuel 1:16), who was a poor judge of what is evil.2 In essence, sons of Belial refers to persons that are desperately wicked—people opposed to God in the same way as the devil. For the sons of Eli, it means that they do not care about the Lord or his commandments.3