Bible Strands
1 Samuel 2:3
Do not boast so proudly, or let arrogance come from your mouth, for the LORD is a God who knows, and by Him actions are weighed.
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — This declaration follows the immediate proclamation of God’s unique holiness in 1 Samuel 2:2 and functions as a direct warning against human pride within a liturgical context.
The words — תַּרְבּוּ (tar.Bu) means "you multiply" and עָתָק ('a.Tak) denotes "arrogance," both describing the excessive, boastful speech the verse explicitly forbids.
The thread — The motif of divine scrutiny and weighing of human conduct reappears in Proverbs 24:12 and 1 Kings 8:39, where God’s knowledge directly informs His judgment and response.
Why it lands — The text commands restraint from proud speech and grounds that command in God’s omniscience and impartial evaluation of deeds, requiring readers to align their conduct with divine standards rather than human self-exaltation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the Lord is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
Cross-references
- 1 Kings 8:39 be heard by You from heaven, Your dwelling place. And may You forgive and act, and repay each man according to all his ways, since You know his heart—for You alone know the hearts of all men—
- Proverbs 8:13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate arrogant pride, evil conduct, and perverse speech.
- Proverbs 24:12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know about this,” does not He who weighs hearts consider it? Does not the One who guards your life know? Will He not repay a man according to his deeds?
- Jude 1:15 to execute judgment on everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of every ungodly act of wickedness and every harsh word spoken against Him by ungodly sinners.”
- Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Psalms 94:4 They pour out arrogant words; all workers of iniquity boast.
- Proverbs 16:2 All a man’s ways are pure in his own eyes, but his motives are weighed out by the LORD.
- 1 Samuel 16:7 But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or height, for I have rejected him; the LORD does not see as man does. For man sees the outward appearance, but the LORD sees the heart.”
- Job 31:6 let God weigh me with honest scales, that He may know my integrity.
- Psalms 44:21 would not God have discovered, since He knows the secrets of the heart?