God’s Word Translation
1 Samuel 4:14
14Hearing the cry, Eli asked, “What is this commotion?” So the man went quickly to tell Eli the news.
1 Samuel 4:14 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man came in hastily, and told Eli.
- New International Version (NIV)Eli heard the outcry and asked, “What is the meaning of this uproar?” The man hurried over to Eli,
- English Standard Version (ESV)When Eli heard the sound of the outcry, he said, "What is this uproar?" Then the man hurried and came and told Eli.
- New King James Version (NKJV)When Eli heard the noise of the outcry, he said, “What does the sound of this tumult mean?” And the man came quickly and told Eli.
Context of 1 Samuel 4:14
12A man from the tribe of Benjamin ran from the front line of the battle. He went to Shiloh that day with his clothes torn and dirt on his head. 13When he arrived, Eli was sitting on a chair beside the road, watching. He was worried about the ark of God. The man went into the city to tell the news. The whole city cried out. Hearing the cry, Eli asked, “What is this commotion?” So the man went quickly to tell Eli the news. 15(Eli was 98 years old, and his eyesight had failed so that he couldn’t see.) 16The man told Eli, “I’m the one who came from the battle. I fled from the front line today.” “What happened, son?” Eli asked.
Read all of 1 Samuel 41 Samuel 4:14 word by word
וַיִּשְׁמַ֤ע עֵלִי֙ אֶת־ק֣וֹל הַצְּעָקָ֔ה וַיֹּ֕אמֶר מֶ֛ה ק֥וֹל הֶהָמ֖וֹן הַזֶּ֑ה וְהָאִ֣ישׁ מִהַ֔ר וַיָּבֹ֖א וַיַּגֵּ֥ד לְעֵלִֽי׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- And when Eliעֵלִי‛êlîy · EliH5941
- heardשָׁמַעshâma‛ · to hear: hearH8085
- the noiseקוֹלqôl qôl · voice: soundH6963
- of the cryingצְעָקָהtsa‛ăqâh · cryH6818
- he saidאָמַר'âmar · to sayH559
- of this tumultהָמוֹןhâmôn hâmôn · crowdH1995
- And the manאִישׁ'îysh · manH376
- cameבּוֹאbô' · to come (in): comeH935
- in hastilyמָהַרmâhar · to hastenH4116
- and toldנָגַדnâgad · to tellH5046
Cross-references for 1 Samuel 4:14
Commentaries on 1 Samuel 4:14
- 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. 1-22The crisis with the ark of the covenant showed Israel needed Samuel's leadership. It also fulfilled prophecies about Eli and his sons (1 Samuel 3:11–14).Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 13-1813-18. Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside--The aged priest, as a public magistrate, used, in dispensing justice, to seat himself daily in a spacious recess at the entrance gate of the city. In his intense anxiety to learn the issue of the battle, he took up his usual place as the most convenient for meeting with passers-by. His seat was an official chair, similar to those of the ancient Egyptian judges, richly carved, superbly ornamented, high, and…Read the comment
Topics related to 1 Samuel 4:14
In the dictionaries
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
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