Texts in Conversation
In 1 Samuel 2:30 God promises to honor those who honor him. Rabbinic tradition in Pirkei Avot draws on this to define the truly honored person as the one who gives honor to others.
Share:
2500 BCE
1000+ CE
1 Samuel 2:30
Hebrew Bible
29 Why are you scorning my sacrifice and my offering that I commanded for my dwelling place? You have honored your sons more than you have me by having made yourselves fat from the best parts of all the offerings of my people Israel.’ 30 “Therefore the Lord, the God of Israel, says, ‘I really did say that your house and your ancestor’s house would serve me forever.’ But now the Lord says, ‘May it never be! For I will honor those who honor me, but those who despise me will be cursed! 31 In fact, days are coming when I will remove your strength and the strength of your father’s house. There will not be an old man in your house!
Pirkei Avot 4:1
Mishnah
Rabbinic
1 Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” (Psalms 119:99). Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination, as it is said: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as it is said: “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy and you shall prosper” (Psalms 128:2) “You shall be happy” in this world, “and you shall prosper” in the world to come. Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings as it is said: “For I honor those that honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30). 2 Ben Azzai said: Be quick in performing a minor commandment as in the case of a major one, and flee from transgression; For one commandment leads to another commandment, and transgression leads to another transgression; For the reward for performing a commandment is another commandment and the reward for committing a transgression is a transgression.
Date: 190-230 C.E. (based on scholarly estimates)
Search:
Notes and References
"... Ben Zoma’s final teaching concerning honor causes commentators to point out that, on the one hand, this saying illustrates the way in which giving and receiving honor works in human affairs. It costs one nothing to give honor and in turn the one who receives honor returns it to the one who offered it. This dynamic also speaks to human-divine relations. Rabbeinu Yonah explains that God created all living things so they might honor him even though God gains nothing from this. By giving honor to God, including the honoring of others, God also honors people. Honoring others is praiseworthy because it also involves honoring the One in whose image they were made. This reinforces the teaching from Akiva in Avot 3:14 that humans have an intimate relationship with God based on this shared image, rooted in the intellect, that must be honored in order to truly advance in wisdom and virtue. ..."
Joslyn-Siemiatkoski, Daniel
The More Torah, The More Life: A Christian Commentary on Mishnah Avot
(p. 197) Peeters, 2018
* The use of references are not endorsements of their contents. Please read the entirety of the provided reference(s) to understand the author's full intentions regarding the use of these texts.
Your Feedback:
Leave a Comment
Anonymous comments are welcome. All comments are subject to moderation.