1 Samuel 3:13 (ASV)

Passage

For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he restrained them not.

Nearby Context

1 Samuel 3:11 And Jehovah said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.

1 Samuel 3:12 In that day I will perform against Eli all that I have spoken concerning his house, from the beginning even unto the end.

1 Samuel 3:13 For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever, for the iniquity which he knew, because his sons did bring a curse upon themselves, and he restrained them not.

1 Samuel 3:14 And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli`s house shall not be expiated with sacrifice nor offering for ever.

1 Samuel 3:15 And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of Jehovah. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "told", "judge", "house", "ever", "iniquity", "knew", "sons", and "bring". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "told" and "judge", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 12's "In that day I will perform against..." into verse 14's "And therefore I have sworn unto the...", so "told" and "judge" belong inside that flow. In 1 Samuel context, the local focus is covenant, worship, and faithfulness.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "told" and "judge" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.