1 Samuel 3:13 (DRB)

Passage

For I have foretold unto him, that I will judge his house for ever, for iniquity, because he knew that his sons did wickedly, and did not chastise them.

Nearby Context

1 Samuel 3:11 And the Lord said to Samuel: Behold I do a thing in Israel: and whosoever shall hear it, both his ears shall tingle.

1 Samuel 3:12 In that day I will raise up against Heli all the things I have spoken concerning his house: I will begin, and I will make an end.

1 Samuel 3:13 For I have foretold unto him, that I will judge his house for ever, for iniquity, because he knew that his sons did wickedly, and did not chastise them.

1 Samuel 3:14 Therefore have I sworn to the house of Heli, that the iniquity of his house shall not be expiated with victims nor offerings for ever.

1 Samuel 3:15 And Samuel slept till morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord. And Samuel feared to tell the vision to Heli.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "foretold", "judge", "house", "ever", "iniquity", "knew", "sons", and "wickedly". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "foretold" 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 raise up..." into verse 14's "Therefore have I sworn to the house...", so "foretold" 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 "foretold" and "judge" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.