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

16If the man said to the servant, “First let the fat be burned, then take as much as you want,” the servant would say to him, “Give it to me now, or I’ll take it by force.” 17The sin of Eli’s sons was a serious matter to the Lord, because these men were treating the offerings made to the Lord with contempt. Meanwhile, Samuel continued to serve in front of the Lord. As a boy he was ⌞already⌟ wearing a linen ephod. 19His mother would make him a robe and bring it to him every year when she went with her husband to offer the annual sacrifice. 20Eli would bless Elkanah (and his wife) and say, “May the Lord give you children from this woman in place of the one which she has given 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

Words taken from the KJV.

• But Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלshemû'êl · SamuelH8050
• ministeredשָׁרַתshârath · to ministerH8334
• beforeפָּנֶהpânîym · face: beforeH6440
• the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
• a childנַ֫עַרna‛ar · youthH5288
• girdedחָגַרchâgar · to girdH2296
• with 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 ⌞Samuel⌟ served the Lord under the priest Eli.
• 1 Samuel 3:1The boy Samuel was serving the Lord under Eli. In those days a prophecy from the Lord was rare; visions were infrequent.
• 1 Samuel 22:18So the king said to Doeg, “You turn and attack the priests.” Doeg from Edom turned and attacked the priests, and that day he killed 85 men wearing the linen priestly ephod.
• Exodus 28:4These are the clothes they will make: a breastplate, an ephod and the robe that is worn with it, another specially woven linen robe, the chief priest’s turban, and a cloth belt. They will make these holy clothes for your brother Aaron and his sons so that they can serve me as priests.
• Leviticus 8:7He put the linen robe on Aaron and fastened the belt around him. He also dressed him in the robe that is worn with the ephod. He fastened the ephod to it.
• 2 Samuel 6:14Wearing a linen ephod, David danced in the Lord’s presence with all his might.

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