1 Samuel 4:12

1 Samuel 4:12 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
• New International Version (NIV)That same day a Benjamite ran from the battle line and went to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dust on his head.
• English Standard Version (ESV)A man of Benjamin ran from the battle line and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes torn and with dirt on his head.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then a man of Benjamin ran from the battle line the same day, and came to Shiloh with his clothes torn and dirt on his head.

Context of 1 Samuel 4:12

10So the Philistines did fight strongly and they won again. They killed 30,000 Israelite soldiers in the battle. The other Israelite soldiers all ran home. 11The Philistines took God's Covenant Box for themselves. Eli's two sons, Hophni and Phinehas, also died. That same day, a soldier from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the battle. He ran to Shiloh. He had torn his clothes and he had put dirt on his head. 13Eli was sitting on his chair by the side of the road in Shiloh. He was waiting for news of the battle. He wanted to know if God's Covenant Box was safe. When the soldier arrived in the city, he told the people what had happened in the battle. All the people started to cry loudly. 14Eli heard the people's loud voices. He asked, ‘What is causing all the noise?’ The soldier quickly went to tell Eli the news.

1 Samuel 4:12 word by word

וַיָּ֤רָץ אִישׁ־בִּנְיָמִן֙ מֵהַמַּ֣עֲרָכָ֔ה וַיָּבֹ֥א שִׁלֹ֖ה בַּיּ֣וֹם הַה֑וּא וּמַדָּ֣יו קְרֻעִ֔ים וַאֲדָמָ֖ה עַל־רֹאשֽׁוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And there ranרוּץrûts · to run: runH7323
• a manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
• of Benjaminבִּנְיָמִיןbinyâmîyn · BenjaminH1144
• out of the armyמַעֲרָכָהma‛ărâkâh · rankH4634
• and cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
• to Shilohשִׁלוֹshîylôh shilôh shîylô shilô · ShilohH7887
• the same dayיוֹםyôm · dayH3117
• with his clothesמַדmad mêd · garmentH4055
• rentקָרַעqâra‛ · to tearH7167
• and with earthאֲדָמָה'ădâmâh · land: soilH127
• upon his headרֹאשׁrô'sh · headH7218

Cross-references for 1 Samuel 4:12

• 2 Samuel 1:2The next day, a man arrived from the camp of Saul's army. He had dirt on his head and he had torn his clothes. When the man met David, he threw himself down on the ground to give honour to David.
• Joshua 7:6Joshua was so upset that he tore his clothes. He fell with his face to the ground in front of the Lord's Covenant Box. He stayed there until evening time, together with the Israelite leaders. They all put dirt on their heads.
• 2 Samuel 13:19Now Tamar put ashes on her head. She tore the beautiful dress that she was wearing. She covered her head with her hands. She wept loudly as she went home.
• 2 Samuel 15:32David arrived at the top of the hill. It was a place where people worshipped God. Hushai, who was an Arkite, met him there. He had torn his clothes and he had dirt on his head.
• Nehemiah 9:1On the 24th day of the same month, the Israelite people met together. They did not eat or drink. They wore sackcloth and they put dust on their heads.
• Job 2:12When they could see Job from far away, they did not easily recognize him. They began to weep very loudly. They were so upset that they tore their clothes. They threw dust into the air and on their heads.

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 4:12

• Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 12Came to Shiloh the same day - The field of battle could not have been at any great distance, for this young man reached Shiloh the same evening after the defeat. With his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head - These were signs of sorrow and distress among all nations. The clothes rent, signified the rending, dividing, and scattering, of the people; the earth, or ashes on the head, signified their humiliation: "We are brought down to the dust of the…Read the comment
• Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 12Runners who were swift of foot, and could go long distances were important and well-known persons (compare 2 Samuel 18:19-31). There seem to have been always professional runners to act as messengers with armies in the field (2 Kings 11:4, 2Kings 11:6,2 Kings 11:19, the King James Version “guards”). Earth upon his head - In token of bitter grief. Compare the marginal references.Read the comment
• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-18Verses 12-18 The defeat of the army was very grievous to Eli as a judge; the tidings of the death of his two sons, to whom he had been so indulgent, and who, as he had reason to fear, died impenitent, touched him as a father; yet there was a greater concern on his spirit. And when the messenger concluded his story with, "The ark of God is taken," he is struck to the heart, and died immediately. A man may die miserably, yet not die eternally; may come to…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 12his clothes torn and dirt on his head: This shows grief and loss (for example, Joshua 7:6; 2 Samuel 1:2; 15:32; Job 2:12).Read the comment

Topics related to 1 Samuel 4:12

• Ark
• Dust
• Eli
• Judgments
• Parents
• Shiloh

In the dictionaries

• Benjamin
• Shiloh
• Benjamin, Benjaminite
• Eli
• Glory
• Mean
• Pain
• Philistines
• Tabernacle
• Tumult

Commentaries on 1 Samuel 4

• 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
• Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
• EGW Writings