1 Samuel 4:18

Linguistic Bible Translation from Source Texts

When he mentioned the Ark of God, Eli fell backward off his seat by the gate. His neck was broken, and he died, for he was an old and heavy man. He had judged Israel for forty years.

📖 Grammatical Analysis

Original Text

וַיְהִ֞י כְּהַזְכִּיר֣וֹ ׀ אֶת־אֲר֣וֹן הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים וַיִּפֹּ֣ל מֵֽעַל־הַ֠כִּסֵּא אֲחֹ֨רַנִּ֜ית בְּעַ֣ד ׀ יַ֣ד הַשַּׁ֗עַר וַתִּשָּׁבֵ֤ר מַפְרַקְתּוֹ֙ וַיָּמֹ֔ת כִּֽי־זָקֵ֥ן הָאִ֖ישׁ וְכָבֵ֑ד וְה֛וּא שָׁפַ֥ט אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אַרְבָּעִ֥ים שָׁנָֽה׃

Transliteration

And wə yəhî as-kəhazkîrô 'et-'ărôn the-'ĕlōhîm and wə yippōl from-upon-the-kissē' backward 'ăḥōrannît beside bə'ad yad the-ša'ar and wə tiššāvēr his-mapəraqtô and wə yāmōt for-kî-old zāqēn the-'îš and-heavy wəkāvēd and-he wəhû' judged šāpaṭ 'et-yiśrā'ēl forty 'arbā'îm šānāh.

Grammar Details

• *yəhî*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular consecutive jussive - it happened
• *kəhazkîrô*: preposition + hiphil infinitive construct + 3rd masculine singular suffix - as he mentioned
• *'et*: direct object marker
• *'ărôn*: masculine singular construct - ark of
• *'ĕlōhîm*: masculine plural noun with definite article - the God
• *yippōl*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular consecutive - he fell
• *kissē'*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the seat
• *'ăḥōrannît*: adverb - backward
• *bə'ad*: preposition - beside, through
• *yad*: feminine singular construct - hand, side of
• *ša'ar*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the gate
• *tiššāvēr*: niphal imperfect 3rd feminine singular consecutive - was broken
• *mapəraqtô*: feminine singular noun + 3rd masculine singular suffix - his neck
• *yāmōt*: qal imperfect 3rd masculine singular consecutive - he died
• *kî*: conjunction - for, because
• *zāqēn*: adjective masculine singular - old
• *'îš*: masculine singular noun with definite article - the man
• *wəkāvēd*: conjunction + adjective masculine singular - and heavy
• *wəhû'*: conjunction + 3rd masculine singular personal pronoun - and he
• *šāpaṭ*: qal perfect 3rd masculine singular - he judged
• *yiśrā'ēl*: proper noun - Israel
• *'arbā'îm*: cardinal number - forty
• *šānāh*: feminine singular noun - year

Word Meanings

• *kəhazkîrô*: as he mentioned, when he spoke of
• *yippōl*: he fell, he dropped
• *'ăḥōrannît*: backward, backwards
• *bə'ad* *yad* *ša'ar*: beside the side of the gate, by the gateway
• *tiššāvēr* *mapəraqtô*: his neck was broken, his neck snapped
• *kāvēd*: heavy, weighty

Other Translations

• King James Version 1769 (Standard Version)

  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.

• KJV1611 – Modern English

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

• King James Version 1611 (Original)

  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.

• American Standard Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, when he made mention{H2142} of the ark{H727} of God,{H430} that [Eli] fell{H5307} from off his seat{H3678} backward{H322} by{H1157} the side{H3027} of the gate;{H8179} and his neck{H4665} brake,{H7665} and he died:{H4191} for he was an old{H2204} man,{H376} and heavy.{H3513} And he had judged{H8199} Israel{H3478} forty{H705} years.{H8141}

• King James Version with Strong's Numbers

  And it came to pass, when he made mention{H2142}{(H8687)} of the ark{H727} of God{H430}, that he fell{H5307}{(H8799)} from off the seat{H3678} backward{H322} by{H1157} the side{H3027} of the gate{H8179}, and his neck{H4665} brake{H7665}{(H8735)}, and he died{H4191}{(H8799)}: for he was an old{H2204}{(H8804)} man{H376}, and heavy{H3513}{(H8804)}. And he had judged{H8199}{(H8804)} Israel{H3478} forty{H705} years{H8141}.

• Coverdale Bible (1535)

  Whan he had made mencion of the Arke of God, he fell downe bacwarde from the seate by the gate, and brake his neck, and dyed: for he was olde, & an heuy man. He iudged Israel fortie yeares.

• Geneva Bible (1560)

  And when he had made mention of the Arke of God, Eli fell from his seate backward by the side of the gate, and his necke was broken, and he dyed: for he was an olde man and heauie: and he had iudged Israel fourtie yeeres.

• Bishops' Bible (1568)

  And when he made mention of the arke of God, Eli fell from of his stoole backward by the side of the gate, and his necke brake, and he dyed: For he was an olde man and heauy, and iudged Israel fourtie yeres?

• Authorized King James Version (1611)

  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.

• Webster's Bible (1833)

  It happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that [Eli] fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

• Young's Literal Translation (1862/1898)

  And it cometh to pass, at his mentioning the ark of God, that he falleth from off the throne backward, by the side of the gate, and his neck is broken, and he dieth, for the man `is' old and heavy, and he hath judged Israel forty years.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that `Eli' feel from off his 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.

• American Standard Version (1901)

  And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that [Eli] feel from off his 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.

• Bible in Basic English (1941)

  And at these words about the ark of God, Eli, falling back off his seat by the side of the doorway into the town, came down on the earth so that his neck was broken and death overtook him, for he was an old man and of great weight. He had been judging Israel for forty years.

• World English Bible (2000)

  It happened, when he made mention of the ark of God, that Eli fell from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck broke, and he died; for he was an old man, and heavy. He had judged Israel forty years.

• NET Bible® (New English Translation)

  When he mentioned the ark of God, Eli fell backward from his chair beside the gate. He broke his neck and died, for he was old and heavy. He had judged Israel for forty years.

Referenced Verses

• 1 Sam 4:21-22 : 21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has departed from Israel,' because the Ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband. 22 She said, 'The glory has departed from Israel, because the Ark of God has been captured.'
• 1 Sam 4:13 : 13 When he arrived, Eli was sitting on his seat by the side of the road, watching, for his heart trembled for the Ark of God. When the man entered the city to report the news, the entire city cried out.
• 1 Pet 4:17-18 : 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the house of God, and if it begins with us, what will become of those who disobey the gospel of God? 18 And if it is hard for the righteous to be saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?
• Lev 10:3 : 3 Then Moses said to Aaron, 'This is what the LORD has said: I will be shown as holy to those who draw near me, and I will be honored in the sight of all the people.' And Aaron remained silent.
• 1 Sam 2:31-32 : 31 The days are coming when I will cut off your strength and the strength of your father’s house, so that there will not be an old man in your house. 32 You will see distress in My dwelling, despite all the good I do for Israel. Never will there be an old man in your family line.
• 1 Sam 3:12-13 : 12 On that day I will carry out everything I have spoken against Eli’s house, from beginning to end. 13 I have told him that I will judge his house forever because of the sin he knew about. His sons were cursing God, and he did not restrain them.
• Ps 26:8 : 8 Lord, I love the house where You dwell, the place where Your glory resides.
• Ps 42:3 : 3 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?
• Ps 42:10 : 10 I say to God, my rock: 'Why have you forgotten me? Why must I go about mourning, oppressed by the enemy?'
• Ps 69:9 : 9 I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother’s sons.
• Lam 2:15-19 : 15 All who pass along the way clap their hands at you; they hiss and wag their heads at the daughter of Jerusalem, saying, 'Is this the city that was called the perfection of beauty, the joy of all the earth?' 16 All your enemies open their mouths against you; they hiss and grind their teeth, saying, 'We have swallowed her up. Surely this is the day we hoped for; we have found it, we have seen it.' 17 The LORD has done what he planned; he has fulfilled his word that he decreed long ago. He has overthrown without pity; he has let the enemy gloat over you and exalt the horn of your adversaries. 18 Their heart cried out to the Lord. O wall of the daughter of Zion, let your tears flow like a stream day and night; give yourself no rest, and let your eyes have no respite. 19 Arise, cry out in the night, at the start of the night watches; pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your little children who faint from hunger at every street corner.
• 1 Cor 11:30-32 : 30 That is why many among you are weak and sick, and a number of you have fallen asleep. 31 But if we were more discerning with regard to ourselves, we would not come under judgment. 32 Nevertheless, when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined so that we may not be condemned with the world.