Christian Standard Bible
1 Samuel 2:18
18Samuel served in the Lord’s presence—this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod.
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
16If that person said to him, “The fat must be burned first; then you can take whatever you want for yourself,” the servant would reply, “No, I insist that you hand it over right now. If you don’t, I’ll take it by force!” 17So the servants’ sin was very severe in the presence of the Lord, because the men treated the Lord’s offering with contempt. Samuel served in the Lord’s presence—this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod. 19Each year his mother made him a little robe and took it to him when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife: “May the Lord give you children by this woman in place of the one she has given to the Lord.” Then they would go home.
Read all of 1 Samuel 21 Samuel 2:18 word by word
וּשְׁמוּאֵ֕ל מְשָׁרֵ֖ת אֶת־פְּנֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה נַ֕עַר חָג֖וּר אֵפ֥וֹד בָּֽד׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 2:18
- 1 Samuel 2:11Elkanah went home to Ramah, but the boy served the Lord in the presence of the priest Eli.
- 1 Samuel 3:1The boy Samuel served the Lord in Eli’s presence. In those days the word of the Lord was rare and prophetic visions were not widespread.
- 1 Samuel 22:18So the king said to Doeg, “Go and execute the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite went and executed the priests himself. On that day, he killed eighty-five men who wore linen ephods.
- Exodus 28:4These are the garments that they must make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a specially woven tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make 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, wrapped the sash around him, clothed him with the robe, and put the ephod on him. He put the woven band of the ephod around him and fastened it to him.
- 2 Samuel 6:14David was dancing with all his might before the Lord wearing a linen ephod.
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
In the dictionaries
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
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