King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 4:17 Mean?

1 Samuel 4:17 in the King James Version says “And the messenger answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter a...” — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“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.”

1 Samuel 4:17 · King James Version


Context

15

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

16

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? is: Heb. is the thing

17

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

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

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. be delivered: or, cry out came: Heb. were turned


Commentaries3 scholars

KJV Study CommentaryPublic Domain
The report comes in ascending severity: Israel fled before the Philistines (bad), great slaughter occurred (worse), both sons are dead (devastating), and the Ark is captured (unthinkable). Each element builds on the previous, climaxing with the Ark. The messenger knows what matters most to Eli and saves it for last. The structure forces Eli - and the reader - to absorb each level of disaster before confronting the ultimate catastrophe. The Ark of God is in enemy hands.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The report's structure follows ancient conventions for delivering bad news in stages. Each element compounds the previous: military defeat, casualties, personal loss, and finally the theological crisis of the Ark's capture.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why does the messenger structure his report in ascending order of severity?
  2. How does the narrative force readers to experience the cumulative weight of disaster?

Compare 3 commentaries from different scholars and time periods for a richer understanding.


Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 21 words
וַיַּ֨עַן1 of 21

“answered”

H6030

properly, to eye or (generally) to heed, i.e., pay attention; by implication, to respond; by extension to begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout,

הַֽמְבַשֵּׂ֜ר2 of 21

“And the messenger”

H1319

properly, to be fresh, i.e., full (rosy, figuratively cheerful); to announce (glad news)

וַיֹּ֗אמֶר3 of 21

“and said”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

נָ֤ס4 of 21

“is fled”

H5127

to flit, i.e., vanish away (subside, escape; causatively, chase, impel, deliver)

יִשְׂרָאֵל֙5 of 21

“Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

לִפְנֵ֣י6 of 21

“before”

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

פְלִשְׁתִּ֔ים7 of 21

“the Philistines”

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

וְגַ֛ם8 of 21
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

מַגֵּפָ֥ה9 of 21

“slaughter”

H4046

a pestilence; by analogy, defeat

גְדוֹלָ֖ה10 of 21

“and there hath been also a great”

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent

הָֽיְתָ֣ה11 of 21
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

בָעָ֑ם12 of 21

“among the people”

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

וְגַם13 of 21
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

שְׁנֵ֨י14 of 21

“and thy two”

H8147

two; also (as ordinal) twofold

בָנֶ֜יךָ15 of 21

“sons”

H1121

a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or

מֵ֗תוּ16 of 21

“are dead”

H4191

to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill

חָפְנִי֙17 of 21

“also Hophni”

H2652

chophni, an israelite

וּפִ֣ינְחָ֔ס18 of 21

“and Phinehas”

H6372

pinechas, the name of three israelites

וַֽאֲר֥וֹן19 of 21

“and the ark”

H727

a box

הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים20 of 21

“of God”

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

נִלְקָֽחָה׃21 of 21

“is taken”

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 4:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 4:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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