1 Samuel 2:18

1 Samuel 2:18 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
• New International Version (NIV)But Samuel was ministering before the Lord—a boy wearing a linen ephod.
• English Standard Version (ESV)Samuel was ministering before the Lord, a boy clothed with a linen ephod.
• New King James Version (NKJV)But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.

Context of 1 Samuel 2:18

16And if any man said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you may take whatever you want,” the servant would reply, “No, you must give it to me right now. If you refuse, I will take it by force!” 17Thus the sin of these young men was severe in the sight of the LORD, for they were treating the LORD’s offering with contempt. Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod. 19Each year his mother would make him a little robe and bring it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20And Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, “May the LORD give you children by this woman in place of the one she dedicated to the LORD.” Then they would go home.

1 Samuel 2:18 word by word

וּשְׁמוּאֵ֕ל מְשָׁרֵ֖ת אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה נַ֕עַר חָג֖וּר אֵפ֥וֹד בָּֽד׃Read the interlinear

• Now Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלshemû'êl · SamuelH8050
• was ministeringשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
• ·אֵת'êth · withH854
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the LORDיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• a boyנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• wearingחָגַרchâgar · to girdH2296
• a linenבַּדbad · linenH906
• ephodאֵפוֹד'êphôd 'êphôd · ephodH646

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 2:18

• 1 Samuel 2:11Then Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy began ministering to the LORD before Eli the priest.
• 1 Samuel 3:1And the boy Samuel ministered to the LORD before Eli. Now in those days the word of the LORD was rare, and visions were scarce.
• 1 Samuel 22:18So the king ordered Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” And Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests himself. On that day he killed eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.
• Exodus 28:4These are the garments that they shall make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make these holy garments for your brother Aaron and his sons, so that they may serve Me as priests.
• Leviticus 8:7He put the tunic on Aaron, tied the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He tied the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him.
• 2 Samuel 6:14And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD,

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 2:18

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 18Girded with a linen ephod - This the Targum translates דבוץ כרדוט אסיר asir cardut debuts, "Girded with a cardit of byssus, or fine linen." The word cardut they seem to have borrowed from the Greek , a tunic, having , i.e., sleeves that came down to, or covered, the hands. This was esteemed an effeminate garment among the Romans. See Buxtorf's Talmudic Lexicon.Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 18Girded with a linen ephod - This was the usual dress of the priests. It does not appear whether Levites wore an ephod properly. Possibly it was a mark of Samuel‘s special dedication to the Lord‘s service that he wore one. (See the marginal reference). The ephod was sometimes used as an idolatrous implement Judges 8:27.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 11-26Verses 11-26 Samuel, being devoted to the Lord in a special manner, was from a child employed about the sanctuary in the services he was capable of. As he did this with a pious disposition of mind, it was called ministering unto the Lord. He received a blessing from the Lord. Those young people who serve God as well as they can, he will enable to improve, that they may serve him better. Eli shunned trouble and exertion. This led him to indulge his…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 18The phrase Samuel served the Lord refers to the religious duties of Levites and priests (see, for example, Numbers 3:4; 8:19, 24; Deuteronomy 18:7). Samuel, like Eli's sons, was a Levite (see study note on 1 Samuel 1:1). However, unlike Eli's sons, Samuel performed his duties well. He wore a linen garment similar to what priests wore when serving in the sanctuary (see study note on 1 Samuel 22:18).Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1818. But Samuel ministered before the Lord, being a child--This notice of his early services in the outer courts of the tabernacle was made to pave the way for the remarkable prophecy regarding the high priest's family. girded with a linen ephod--A small shoulder-garment or apron, used in the sacred service by the inferior priests and Levites; sometimes also by judges or eminent persons, and hence allowed to Samuel, who, though not a Levite, was devoted to…Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 2:18

• Children
• Ephod
• Hannah
• Hophni
• Samuel

In the dictionaries

• Samuel
• Crouch
• Custom
• Dunghill
• Dust
• Ephod
• Esteem
• Fleshhook
• Hannah
• Hire

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 2

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
• Tyndale Open Study Notes
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
• Rashi on Tanakh
• Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
• John Wesley’s Notes
• Darby Translation Notes
• Geneva Bible Translation Notes
• Kingcomments
• Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
• Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
• Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings