New English Translation
1 Samuel 2:18
18Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord. The boy was dressed in a 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 the individual said to him, “First let the fat be burned away, and then take for yourself whatever you wish,” he would say, “No! Hand it over right now! If you don’t, I will take it forcibly!” 17The sin of these young men was very great in the Lord’s sight, for they treated the Lord’s offering with contempt. Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord. The boy was dressed in a linen ephod. 19His mother used to make him a small robe and bring it up to him at regular intervals when she would go up with her husband to make the annual sacrifice. 20Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife saying, “May the Lord raise up for you descendants from this woman to replace the one that she dedicated to the Lord.” Then they would go to their 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 2:11Then Elkanah went back home to Ramah. But the boy was serving the Lord under the supervision of Eli the priest.
- 1 Samuel 3:1Now the boy Samuel continued serving the Lord under Eli’s supervision. Word from the Lord was rare in those days; revelatory visions were infrequent.
- 1 Samuel 22:18Then the king said to Doeg, “You turn and strike down the priests!” So Doeg the Edomite turned and struck down the priests. He killed on that day eighty-five men who wore the linen ephod.
- Exodus 28:4Now these are the garments that they are to make: a breastpiece, an ephod, a robe, a fitted tunic, a turban, and a sash. They are to make holy garments for your brother Aaron and for his sons, that they may minister as my priests.
- Leviticus 8:7Then he put the tunic on Aaron, wrapped the sash around him, and clothed him with the robe. Next he put the ephod on him and placed on him the decorated band of the ephod, and fastened the ephod closely to him with the band.
- 2 Samuel 6:14Now David, wearing a linen ephod, was dancing with all his strength 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
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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