The Meaning of 1 Samuel 4:4 Explained

1 Samuel 4:4

KJV: So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

YLT: And the people sendeth to Shiloh, and they take up thence the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of Hosts, inhabiting the cherubs, and there are two sons of Eli, with the ark of the covenant of God, Hophni and Phinehas.

Darby: So the people sent to Shiloh, and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of hosts, who sitteth between the cherubim; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there by the ark of the covenant of God.

ASV: So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from thence the ark of the covenant of Jehovah of hosts, who sitteth above the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

Discover 1 Samuel 4:4

CONTEXT: What is the Context of 1 Samuel 4:4?

MEANING: What does 1 Samuel 4:4 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 4:4 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in 1 Samuel 4:4?

What is the context of 1 Samuel 4:4?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth [between] the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, [were] there with the ark of the covenant of God.

What does 1 Samuel 4:4 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 4:1-11 - Trusting In The Ark, Not In God

The predictions against Eli's house now begin to be fulfilled. It was fitting for Israel to institute an inquiry into the causes of defeat. This is always the first step toward victory. There was no doubt as to the ancient Covenant with Israel; the one question was to ascertain what had suddenly neutralized that divine assistance which in former days had always been forthcoming. Failure often indicates that something has happened to cut off the supply of God's saving help.

In this instance, however, Israel did not carry the inquiry into God's presence, but endeavored to supply the lapse of divine help by introducing the symbol of the Covenant. "Fetch the Ark!" they cried. They supposed that, in some mysterious way, it would bring God into their camp and ally Him with their arms. In the same manner a brigand might expect an amulet or charm to preserve his life, while violating the laws of God and man. These materialized views of the Israelites' relations with God had to be corrected; and hence defeat ensued. Our only safety lies, not in an outward act or token, but in simple, pure-hearted and unbroken fellowship with God. Then we become invincible. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 4

¹ The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Ebenezer
³ They fetch the ark unto the terror of the Philistines
¹⁰ They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain
¹² Eli at the news, falling backward, breaks his neck
¹⁹ Phinehas's wife, discouraged in her travail with Ichabod, dies

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 4:4 mean?

So sent the people to Shiloh that they might bring from there - the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of hosts who dwells [between] the cherubim and [were] there two the sons of Eli with the ark of the covenant of God Hophni and Phinehas

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח הָעָם֙ שִׁלֹ֔ה וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ מִשָּׁ֗ם אֵ֣ת אֲר֧וֹן בְּרִית־ יְהוָ֛ה צְבָא֖וֹת יֹשֵׁ֣ב הַכְּרֻבִ֑ים וְשָׁ֞ם שְׁנֵ֣י בְנֵֽי־ עֵלִ֗י עִם־ אֲרוֹן֙ בְּרִ֣ית הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים חָפְנִ֖י וּפִֽינְחָֽס

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח	So sent
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular Root: שָׁלַח Sense: to send, send away, let go, stretch out.
הָעָם֙	the people
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: עַם Sense: nation, people.
שִׁלֹ֔ה	to Shiloh
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: שִׁילֹו Sense: a city in Ephraim and temporary home of the Ark of the Covenant and the Tabernacle, the place where Samuel grew up.
וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ	that they might bring
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural Root: נָשָׂא Sense: to lift, bear up, carry, take.
מִשָּׁ֗ם	from there
Parse: Preposition-m, Adverb Root: שָׁם Sense: there, thither.
אֵ֣ת	-
Parse: Direct object marker Root: אֹות Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
אֲר֧וֹן	the ark
Parse: Noun, common singular construct Root: אֲרֹון Sense: chest, ark.
בְּרִית־	of the covenant of
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct Root: בְּרִית Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
יְהוָ֛ה	Yahweh
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: יהוה Sense: Jehovah—used primarily in the combination ‘Lord Jehovah’.
צְבָא֖וֹת	of hosts
Parse: Noun, common plural Root: צָבָא Sense: that which goes forth, army, war, warfare, host.
יֹשֵׁ֣ב	who dwells
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine singular Root: יָשַׁב Sense: to dwell, remain, sit, abide.
הַכְּרֻבִ֑ים	[between] the cherubim
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural Root: כְּרוּב Sense: cherub, cherubim (pl).
וְשָׁ֞ם	and [were] there
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Adverb Root: שָׁם Sense: there, thither.
שְׁנֵ֣י	two
Parse: Number, mdc Root: שְׁנַיִם Sense: two.
בְנֵֽי־	the sons
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct Root: בֵּן Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
עֵלִ֗י	of Eli
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: עֵלִי Sense: descendant of Aaron through Ithamar and high priest and judge of Israel when Samuel entered service as a child.
אֲרוֹן֙	the ark
Parse: Noun, common singular construct Root: אֲרֹון Sense: chest, ark.
בְּרִ֣ית	of the covenant
Parse: Noun, feminine singular construct Root: בְּרִית Sense: covenant, alliance, pledge.
הָאֱלֹהִ֔ים	of God
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural Root: אֱלֹהִים Sense: (plural).
חָפְנִ֖י	Hophni
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: חָפְנִי Sense: one of the two sons of Eli who were priests at Shiloh and were noted for their brutality and lust; their sinfulness provoked a curse against their father’s house and were judged by the Lord when they took the ark into battle; the ark was lost and both brothers were killed and Eli died when he heard the news.
וּפִֽינְחָֽס	and Phinehas
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Proper Noun, masculine singular Root: פִּינְחָס Sense: son of Eleazar and grandson of Aaron; his zealousness for the Lord averted a plague on Israel and gained him the promise of the Lord of an everlasting priesthood in his family.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 4:4?

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