1 Samuel 2:18

Amplified Bible

Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a child dressed in a linen ephod [a sacred item of priestly clothing].

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Samuel served in the Lord’s presence—this mere boy was dressed in the linen ephod.

Hebrew Names Version
But Shemu'el ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen efod.

King James Version
But Samuel ministered before the Lord , being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

Lexham English Bible
Now Samuel was serving before Yahweh, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.

English Standard Version
Samuel was ministering before the Lord , a boy clothed with a linen ephod.

New Century Version
But Samuel obeyed the Lord . As a boy he wore a linen holy vest.

New English Translation
Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord . The boy was dressed in a linen ephod.

New American Standard Bible
Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.

Geneva Bible (1587)
Now Samuel being a yong childe ministred before the Lord, girded with a linen Ephod.

Legacy Standard Bible
Now Samuel was ministering before Yahweh, as a young boy girded with a linen ephod.

Contemporary English Version
The boy Samuel served the Lord and wore a special linen garment

Complete Jewish Bible
But Sh'mu'el ministered in the presence of Adonai , wearing a linen ritual vest even though he was only a child.

Darby Translation
And Samuel ministered before Jehovah, a boy girded with a linen ephod.

Easy-to-Read Version
But Samuel served the Lord . He was a helper who wore the linen ephod.

George Lamsa Translation
But the boy Samuel ministered before the LORD, and he wore a linen ephod.

Good News Translation
In the meantime the boy Samuel continued to serve the Lord , wearing a sacred linen apron.

Literal Translation
And Samuel was serving before Jehovah, a boy girded with an ephod of linen.

Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But Samuel was a mynister before the LORDE, and the childe was gyrded with an ouer body cote of lynnen.

American Standard Version
But Samuel ministered before Jehovah, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

Bible in Basic English
But Samuel did the work of the Lord's house, while he was a child, dressed in a linen ephod.

Bishop's Bible (1568)
But the childe Samuel ministred before the Lorde, girded with a linnen Ephod.

JPS Old Testament (1917)
But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

King James Version (1611)
But Samuel ministred before the Lord, being a child, girded with a linnen Ephod.

Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And Samuel ministered before the Lord, a child girt with a linen ephod.

English Revised Version
But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

Berean Standard Bible
Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD-a boy wearing a linen ephod.

Wycliffe Bible (1395)
`Forsothe Samuel, a child gird with a lynnun clooth, mynystride bifor the face of the Lord.

Young's Literal Translation
And Samuel is ministering [in] the presence of Jehovah, a youth girt [with] an ephod of linen;

Update Bible Version
But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a lad, girded with a linen ephod.

Webster's Bible Translation
But Samuel ministered before the LORD, [being] a child, girded with a linen ephod.

World English Bible
But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.

New King James Version
But Samuel ministered before the LORD, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.

New Living Translation
But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the Lord . He wore a linen garment like that of a priest.

New Life Bible
Now Samuel was serving the Lord, even as a boy, wearing a linen vest.

New Revised Standard
Samuel was ministering before the Lord , a boy wearing a linen ephod.

J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
But, as for Samuel, he was ministering before Yahweh, - a boy girded with an ephod of linen.

Douay-Rheims Bible
But Samuel ministered before the face of the Lord: being a child girded with a linen ephod.

Revised Standard Version
Samuel was ministering before the LORD, a boy girded with a linen ephod.

THE MESSAGE
In the midst of all this, Samuel, a boy dressed in a priestly linen tunic, served God . Additionally, every year his mother would make him a little robe cut to his size and bring it to him when she and her husband came for the annual sacrifice. Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife, saying, " God give you children to replace this child you have dedicated to God ." Then they would go home.

New American Standard Bible (1995)
Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.

Contextual Overview

¹¹Elkanah [and his wife Hannah] returned to Ramah to his house. But the child [Samuel] served the LORD under the guidance of Eli the priest. ¹²The sons of Eli [Hophni and Phinehas] were worthless (dishonorable, unprincipled) men; they did not know [nor respect] the LORD ¹³and the custom of the priests with [the sacrifices of] the people. When any man was offering a sacrifice, the priest's servant would come while the meat was boiling, with a three-pronged [meat] fork in his hand; ¹⁴then he would thrust it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; everything that the fork brought up the priest would take for himself. This is what they did in Shiloh to all [the sacrifices of] the Israelites who came there. ¹⁵Also, before they burned (offered) the fat, the priest's servant would come and say to the man who was sacrificing, "Give the priest meat to roast, since he will not accept boiled meat from you, only raw." ¹⁶If the man said to him, "Certainly they are to burn (offer) the fat first, and then you may take as much as you want," then the priest's servant would say, "No! You shall give it to me now or I will take it by force." ¹⁷So the sin of the [two] young men [Hophni and Phinehas] was very great before the LORD, for the men treated the offering of the LORD disrespectfully. ¹⁸Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD, as a child dressed in a linen ephod [a sacred item of priestly clothing].¹⁹Moreover, his mother would make him a little robe and would bring it up to him each year when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice. ²⁰Then Eli would bless Elkanah and his wife and say, "May the LORD give you children by this woman in place of the one she asked for which was dedicated to the LORD." Then they would return to their own home.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

ministered: 1 Samuel 2:11, 1 Samuel 3:1

a linen ephod: 1 Samuel 22:18, Exodus 28:4, Leviticus 8:7, 2 Samuel 6:14

Reciprocal: Judges 11:31 - shall surely Judges 11:39 - to his vow 1 Samuel 1:22 - and there 1 Kings 18:12 - from my youth 1 Chronicles 15:27 - a robe 2 Chronicles 34:1 - eight years Ecclesiastes 12:1 - Remember Hosea 3:4 - ephod Matthew 11:25 - and hast Matthew 19:14 - Suffer Matthew 20:2 - he sent Luke 1:66 - And the Luke 2:40 - the child Acts 3:24 - Samuel 2 Timothy 3:15 - from Hebrews 11:32 - Samuel

Cross-References

Genesis 1:31
God saw everything that He had made, and behold, it was very good and He validated it completely. And there was evening and there was morning, a sixth day.

Genesis 2:7
then the LORD God formed [that is, created the body of] man from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and the man became a living being [an individual complete in body and spirit].

Genesis 2:9
And [in that garden] the LORD God caused to grow from the ground every tree that is desirable and pleasing to the sight and good (suitable, pleasant) for food; the tree of life was also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the [experiential] knowledge (recognition) of [the difference between] good and evil.

Genesis 2:11
The first [river] is named Pishon; it flows around the entire land of Havilah, where there is gold.

Genesis 2:12
The gold of that land is good; bdellium (a fragrant, valuable resin) and the onyx stone are found there.

Genesis 2:13
The name of the second river is Gihon; it flows around the entire land of Cush [in Mesopotamia].

Genesis 3:12
And the man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me—she gave me [fruit] from the tree, and I ate it."

Ruth 3:1
Then Naomi her mother-in-law said to Ruth, "My daughter, shall I not look for security and a home for you, so that it may be well with you?

Proverbs 18:22
He who finds a [true and faithful] wife finds a good thing And obtains favor and approval from the LORD.

1 Corinthians 7:36
But if any man thinks that he is not acting properly and honorably toward his virgin daughter, [by not permitting her to marry], if she is past her youth, and it must be so, let him do as he wishes, he does not sin; let her marry.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

But Samuel ministered before the Lord,.... The ministration of Samuel, though a child, is observed both before and after the account of the ill behaviour and wickedness of Eli's sons; partly to the shame and disgrace of them, and as serving to aggravate their sin, and make it appear the more black and heinous; and partly to his honour and reputation, that he was not corrupted and turned aside from God by their evil practices. The phrase here used is different from that in 1 Samuel 2:11 there he is said to minister before Eli, under his direction and guidance, but here before the Lord; being now engaged in higher services, and which he could perform without the assistance of Eli, as in the presence of God more immediately; it seems to have respect to him when more grown in age, stature, knowledge, and experience, though here related: yet still being "a child"; not got out of his childhood, or arrived to manhood:

girded with a linen ephod; such as priests used to wear, but not Levites in common, nor extraordinary persons on extraordinary occasions, see 1 Samuel 22:18. This seems to be a peculiar favour, and a special honour which Eli granted to Samuel when so very young, on account of the grace of God bestowed on him in a wonderful manner; and because brought up in the tabernacle as a holy person, and a Nazarite; and because his birth was foretold, and he asked of God, as his name signified, as Procopius Gazaeus observes.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

Girded 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.

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse 1 Samuel 2:18. Girded with a linen ephod — This the Targum translates אסיר כרדוט דבוץ asir cardut debuts, "Girded with a cardit of byssus, or fine linen." The word cardut they seem to have borrowed from the Greek χειριδωτος, a tunic, having χειριδας, 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.