1 Samuel 4 שְׁמוּאֵל א פרק ד׳

Masoretic Text, word by word with transliteration and English glosses, the English verse beneath each. Open 1 Samuel 4 in the interlinear reader for roots and notes, or listen to it read aloud in Hebrew.

1. 1

   וַיְהִיvay/HIand cameדְבַר־שְׁמוּאֵלde/VAR-She/mu/ELthe word of Samuelלְכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵלle/KHOL-yis/ra/ELto all Israelוַיֵּצֵאvay/ye/TSEand went outיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelלִקְרַאתlik/RATagainstפְּלִשְׁתִּיםPe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesלַמִּלְחָמָהlam/mil/cha/MAto battleוַיַּחֲנוּvay/ya/cha/NUand they encampedעַל־הָאֶבֶןal-Ha/E/venbeside Eben-הָעֵזֶרha/E/zerezerוּפְלִשְׁתִּיםu/Fe/lish/TIMand the Philistinesחָנוּcha/NUencampedבַאֲפֵק׃Va/a/FEKat Aphek

   And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Eben-ezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.

2. 2

   וַיַּעַרְכוּvay/ya/ar/KHUand put themselves in arrayפְלִשְׁתִּיםFe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesלִקְרַאתlik/RATagainstיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelוַתִּטֹּשׁvat/tit/TOSHand when spreadהַמִּלְחָמָהham/mil/cha/MAthe battleוַיִּנָּגֶףvay/yin/NA/gefand was struck downיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeפְלִשְׁתִּיםFe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesוַיַּכּוּvay/yak/KUand they killedבַמַּעֲרָכָהvam/ma/a/ra/KHAof the battle lineבַּשָּׂדֶהbas/sa/DEin the fieldכְּאַרְבַּעַתke/ar/BA/atabout fourאֲלָפִיםa/la/FIMthousandאִישׁ׃ishmen

   And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

3. 3

   וַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand cameהָעָםha/AMthe peopleאֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶהel-ham/ma/cha/NEto the campוַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidזִקְנֵיzik/NEthe elders ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelלָמָּהLAM/mawhyנְגָפָנוּne/ga/FA/nuhas struck us downיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDהַיּוֹםhay/YOMtodayלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeפְלִשְׁתִּיםFe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesנִקְחָהnik/CHAlet us takeאֵלֵינוּe/LE/nuto usמִשִּׁלֹהmish/Shi/LOfrom Shilohאֶת־אֲרוֹןet-a/RONthe ark ofבְּרִיתbe/RITthe covenant ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDוְיָבֹאve/ya/VOthat it may comeבְקִרְבֵּנוּve/kir/BE/nuamong usוְיֹשִׁעֵנוּve/yo/shi/E/nuand save usמִכַּףmik/KAFout of the hand ofאֹיְבֵינוּ׃oy/VE/nuour enemies

   And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

4. 4

   וַיִּשְׁלַחvay/yish/LACHand sentהָעָםha/AMthe peopleשִׁלֹהShi/LOto Shilohוַיִּשְׂאוּvay/yis/Uand they carriedמִשָּׁםmish/SHAMfrom thereאֵת־אֲרוֹןet-a/RONthe ark ofבְּרִית־יְהֹוָהbe/RIT-Adonaithe covenant of the LORDצְבָאוֹתtse/va/OTof hostsיֹשֵׁבyo/SHEVwho sits uponהַכְּרֻבִיםhak/ke/ru/VIMthe cherubimוְשָׁםve/SHAMand thereשְׁנֵיshe/NEtwoבְנֵי־עֵלִיve/NE-e/LIthe sons of Eliעִם־אֲרוֹןim-a/RONwith the ark ofבְּרִיתbe/RITthe covenant ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodחׇפְנִיChof/NIHophniוּפִינְחָס׃u/Fi/ne/CHASand Phinehas

   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.

5. 5

   וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passכְּבוֹאke/VOwhen cameאֲרוֹןa/RONthe ark ofבְּרִית־יְהֹוָהbe/RIT-Adonaithe covenant of the LORDאֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶהel-ham/ma/cha/NEto the campוַיָּרִעוּvay/ya/RI/uand shoutedכׇל־יִשְׂרָאֵלkhol-Yis/ra/ELall Israelתְּרוּעָהte/ru/Aa shoutגְדוֹלָהge/do/LAgreatוַתֵּהֹםvat/te/HOMso that rangהָאָרֶץ׃ha/A/retsthe earth

   And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

6. 6

   וַיִּשְׁמְעוּvay/yish/me/Uand they heardפְלִשְׁתִּיםFe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesאֶת־קוֹלet-kolthe noise ofהַתְּרוּעָהhat/te/ru/Athe shoutוַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidמֶהmewhat isקוֹלkolthe noise ofהַתְּרוּעָהhat/te/ru/Athe shoutהַגְּדוֹלָהhag/ge/do/LAthe greatהַזֹּאתhaz/ZOTthisבְּמַחֲנֵהbe/ma/cha/NEin the camp ofהָעִבְרִיםha/Iv/RIMthe Hebrewsוַיֵּדְעוּvay/yed/Uand they understoodכִּיkithatאֲרוֹןa/RONthe ark ofיְהֹוָהAdonaithe LORDבָּאbahad comeאֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶה׃el-ham/ma/cha/NEto the camp

   And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

7. 7

   וַיִּרְאוּvay/yir/Uand were afraidהַפְּלִשְׁתִּיםhap/Pe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesכִּיkiforאָמְרוּa/me/RUthey saidבָּאbahas comeאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodאֶל־הַמַּחֲנֶהel-ham/ma/cha/NEto the campוַיֹּאמְרוּvay/yo/me/RUand they saidאוֹיoywoeלָנוּLA/nuto usכִּיkiforלֹאlonotהָיְתָהha/ye/TAhas there beenכָּזֹאתka/ZOTsuch a thingאֶתְמוֹלet/MOLyesterdayשִׁלְשֹׁם׃shil/SHOMor the day before

   And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

8. 8

   אוֹיoywoeלָנוּLA/nuto usמִיmiwhoיַצִּילֵנוּyats/tsi/LE/nushall deliver usמִיַּדmiy/YADfrom the hand ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMthe godsהָאַדִּירִיםha/ad/di/RIMthe mightyהָאֵלֶּהha/EL/letheseאֵלֶּהEL/lethese areהֵםhemtheyהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMthe godsהַמַּכִּיםham/mak/KIMwho struckאֶת־מִצְרַיִםet-Mits/RA/yimEgyptבְּכׇל־מַכָּהbe/KHOL-mak/KAwith every plagueבַּמִּדְבָּר׃bam/mid/BARin the wilderness

   Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

9. 9

   הִתְחַזְּקוּhit/chaz/ze/KUbe strongוִהְיוּvih/YUand beלַאֲנָשִׁיםla/a/na/SHIMmenפְּלִשְׁתִּיםPe/lish/TIMO Philistinesפֶּןpenlestתַּעַבְדוּta/av/DUyou serveלָעִבְרִיםla/Iv/RIMthe Hebrewsכַּאֲשֶׁרka/a/SHERasעָבְדוּa/ve/DUthey have servedלָכֶםla/KHEMto youוִהְיִיתֶםvih/yi/TEMand beלַאֲנָשִׁיםla/a/na/SHIMmenוְנִלְחַמְתֶּם׃ve/nil/cham/TEMand fight

   Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

10. 10

    וַיִּלָּחֲמוּvay/yil/la/cha/MUand foughtפְלִשְׁתִּיםFe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesוַיִּנָּגֶףvay/yin/NA/gefand was struck downיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelוַיָּנֻסוּvay/ya/NU/suand they fledאִישׁishevery manלְאֹהָלָיוle/o/ha/LAYVto his tentוַתְּהִיvat/te/HIand wasהַמַּכָּהham/mak/KAthe slaughterגְּדוֹלָהge/do/LAgreatמְאֹדme/ODveryוַיִּפֹּלvay/yip/POLand fellמִיִּשְׂרָאֵלmiy/Yis/ra/ELfrom Israelשְׁלֹשִׁיםshe/lo/SHIMthirtyאֶלֶףE/lefthousandרַגְלִי׃rag/LIfootmen

    And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

11. 11

    וַאֲרוֹןva/a/RONand the ark ofאֱלֹהִיםe/lo/HIMGodנִלְקָחnil/KACHwas takenוּשְׁנֵיu/she/NEand the twoבְנֵי־עֵלִיve/NE-e/LIthe sons of EliמֵתוּME/tudiedחׇפְנִיChof/NIHophniוּפִינְחָס׃u/Fi/ne/CHASand Phinehas

    And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.

12. 12

    וַיָּרׇץvay/YA/rotsand ranאִישׁ־בִּנְיָמִןish-Bin/ya/MINa man of Benjaminמֵהַמַּעֲרָכָהme/ham/ma/a/ra/KHAfrom the battle lineוַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand cameשִׁלֹהShi/LOto Shilohבַּיּוֹםbay/YOMon the dayהַהוּאha/HUthatוּמַדָּיוu/mad/DAYVwith his clothesקְרֻעִיםke/ru/IMtornוַאֲדָמָהva/a/da/MAand with earthעַל־רֹאשׁוֹ׃al-ro/SHOupon his head

    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.

13. 13

    וַיָּבוֹאvay/ya/VOand he cameוְהִנֵּהve/hin/NEand beholdעֵלִיE/LIEliיֹשֵׁבyo/SHEVwas sittingעַל־הַכִּסֵּאal-hak/kis/SEon the seat(יך)yakh[יַד]yadby the side ofדֶּרֶךְDE/rekhthe roadמְצַפֶּהme/tsap/PEwatchingכִּי־הָיָהki-ha/YAfor wasלִבּוֹlib/BOhis heartחָרֵדcha/REDtremblingעַלalforאֲרוֹןa/RONthe ark ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodוְהָאִישׁve/ha/ISHand the manבָּאbacameלְהַגִּידle/hag/GIDto tell itבָּעִירba/IRin the cityוַתִּזְעַקvat/tiz/AKand cried outכׇּל־הָעִיר׃kol-ha/IRall the city

    And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a seat by the wayside watching: for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.

14. 14

    וַיִּשְׁמַעvay/yish/MAand he heardעֵלִיE/LIEliאֶת־קוֹלet-kolthe noise ofהַצְּעָקָהhats/tse/a/KAthe outcryוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidמֶהmewhat isקוֹלkolthe noise ofהֶהָמוֹןhe/ha/MONthe tumultהַזֶּהhaz/ZEthisוְהָאִישׁve/ha/ISHand the manמִהַרmi/HARhurriedוַיָּבֹאvay/ya/VOand cameוַיַּגֵּדvay/yag/GEDand he toldלְעֵלִי׃le/E/LIto Eli

    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.

15. 15

    וְעֵלִיve/E/LIand Eliבֶּן־תִּשְׁעִיםben-tish/IMwas ninetyוּשְׁמֹנֶהu/she/mo/NEand eightשָׁנָהsha/NAyearsוְעֵינָיוve/e/NAYVand his eyesקָמָהKA/mawere setוְלֹאve/LOand notיָכוֹלya/KHOLcould heלִרְאוֹת׃lir/OTto see

    Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.

16. 16

    וַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidהָאִישׁha/ISHthe manאֶל־עֵלִיel-E/LIto Eliאָנֹכִיa/no/KHII amהַבָּאhab/BAhe who cameמִן־הַמַּעֲרָכָהmin-ham/ma/a/ra/KHAfrom the battle lineוַאֲנִיva/a/NIand Iמִן־הַמַּעֲרָכָהmin-ham/ma/a/ra/KHAfrom the battle lineנַסְתִּיNAS/tifledהַיּוֹםhay/YOMtodayוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidמֶה־הָיָהme-HA/yahow wentהַדָּבָרhad/da/VARthe matterבְּנִי׃be/NImy son

    And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to day out of the army. And he said, What is there done, my son?

17. 17

    וַיַּעַןvay/YA/anand he answeredהַמְבַשֵּׂרham/vas/SERwho brought the newsוַיֹּאמֶרvay/YO/merand saidנָסnashas fledיִשְׂרָאֵלYis/ra/ELIsraelלִפְנֵיlif/NEbeforeפְלִשְׁתִּיםFe/lish/TIMthe Philistinesוְגַםve/GAMand alsoמַגֵּפָהmag/ge/FAslaughterגְדוֹלָהge/do/LAgreatהָיְתָהha/ye/TAthere has beenבָעָםva/AMamong the peopleוְגַם־שְׁנֵיve/GAM-she/NEand also twoבָנֶיךָva/NE/khayour sonsמֵתוּME/tuare deadחׇפְנִיChof/NIHophniוּפִינְחָסu/Fi/ne/CHASand Phinehasוַאֲרוֹןva/a/RONand the ark ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodנִלְקָחָה׃nil/KA/chahas been taken

    And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.

18. 18

    וַיְהִיvay/HIand it came to passכְּהַזְכִּירוֹke/haz/ki/ROwhen he mentionedאֶת־אֲרוֹןet-a/RONthe ark ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodוַיִּפֹּלvay/yip/POLthat he fellמֵעַל־הַכִּסֵּאme/AL-hak/kis/SEfrom off the seatאֲחֹרַנִּיתa/cho/ran/NITbackwardsבְּעַדbe/ADbyיַדyadthe side ofהַשַּׁעַרhash/SHA/arthe gateוַתִּשָּׁבֵרvat/tish/sha/VERand was brokenמַפְרַקְתּוֹmaf/rak/TOhis neckוַיָּמֹתvay/ya/MOTand he diedכִּי־זָקֵןki-za/KENfor was oldהָאִישׁha/ISHthe manוְכָבֵדve/kha/VEDand heavyוְהוּאve/HUand heשָׁפַטsha/FAThad judgedאֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵלet-Yis/ra/ELIsraelאַרְבָּעִיםar/ba/IMfortyשָׁנָה׃sha/NAyears

    And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the seat backward by the side of the gate, and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.

19. 19

    וְכַלָּתוֹve/khal/la/TOand his daughter-in-lawאֵשֶׁת־פִּינְחָסE/shet-Pi/ne/CHASthe wife of Phinehasהָרָהha/RAwas pregnantלָלַתla/LATto give birthוַתִּשְׁמַעvat/tish/MAand she heardאֶת־הַשְּׁמוּעָהet-hash/she/mu/Athe tidingsאֶל־הִלָּקַחel-hil/la/KACHthat was takenאֲרוֹןa/RONthe ark ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodוּמֵתu/METand that was deadחָמִיהָcha/MI/haher father-in-lawוְאִישָׁהּve/i/SHAand her husbandוַתִּכְרַעvat/tikh/RAshe bowedוַתֵּלֶדvat/TE/ledand gave birthכִּי־נֶהֶפְכוּki-ne/hef/KHUfor turnedעָלֶיהָa/LE/haupon herצִרֶיהָ׃tsi/RE/haher pains

    And his daughter in law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, near to be delivered: and when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father in law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed; for her pains came upon her.

20. 20

    וּכְעֵתu/khe/ETand about the time ofמוּתָהּmu/TAher dyingוַתְּדַבֵּרְנָהvat/te/dab/BER/nasaidהַנִּצָּבוֹתhan/nits/tsa/VOTthe women standingעָלֶיהָa/LE/haby herאַל־תִּירְאִיal-ti/re/Ido not fearכִּיkiforבֵןvena sonיָלָדְתְּya/LADTyou have borneוְלֹאve/LObut notעָנְתָהAN/tashe answeredוְלֹא־שָׁתָהve/LO-SHA/tanor did she setלִבָּהּ׃lib/BAher heart

    And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

21. 21

    וַתִּקְרָאvat/tik/RAand she calledלַנַּעַרlan/NA/arthe childאִיכָבוֹדI/kha/VODIchabodלֵאמֹרle/MORsayingגָּלָהga/LAhas departedכָבוֹדkha/VODthe gloryמִיִּשְׂרָאֵלmiy/Yis/ra/ELfrom Israelאֶל־הִלָּקַחel-hil/la/KACHbecause was takenאֲרוֹןa/RONthe ark ofהָאֱלֹהִיםha/e/lo/HIMGodוְאֶל־חָמִיהָve/EL-cha/MI/haand because of her father-in-lawוְאִישָׁהּ׃ve/i/SHAand her husband

    And she named the child I-chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

22. 22

    וַתֹּאמֶרvat/TO/merand saidגָּלָהga/LAhas departedכָבוֹדkha/VODthe gloryמִיִּשְׂרָאֵלmiy/Yis/ra/ELfrom Israelכִּיkiforנִלְקַחnil/KACHhas been takenאֲרוֹןa/RONthe ark ofהָאֱלֹהִים׃ha/e/lo/HIMGod

    And she said, The glory is departed from Israel: for the ark of God is taken.