But Samuel, though he was only a boy, served the Lord. He wore a linen garment like that of a priest.
Parallel translations
- WEB But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, clothed with a linen ephod.
- KJV But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
- BSB Now Samuel was ministering before the LORD—a boy wearing a linen ephod.
- NKJV But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod.
- NASB Now Samuel was ministering before the Lord, as a boy wearing a linen ephod.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
In contrast, the boy Samuel ministered before the Lord, clothed in a linen ephod. His faithful service shines against the priests' corruption.
Overview
The narrative deliberately returns to Samuel, whose devout service contrasts with the wickedness just described. The linen ephod marked him as one set apart for sacred ministry, young as he was. This repeated contrast highlights how God was raising up a faithful servant even as He prepared to judge the unfaithful.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 8
- Exod 28:4These are the garments which they shall make: a breastplate, and an ephod, and a robe, and a coat of checker work, a turban, and a sash: and they shall make holy garments for Aaron your brother, and his sons, that he may minister to me in the priest’s office.
- 1 Sam 3:1The child Samuel ministered to Yahweh before Eli. Yahweh’s word was precious in those days. There visions were not frequent.
- 1 Sam 2:11Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. The child served Yahweh before Eli the priest.
- 2 Sam 6:14David danced before Yahweh with all his might; and David was clothed in a linen ephod.
- 1 Sam 22:18The king said to Doeg, “Turn and attack the priests!” Doeg the Edomite turned, and he attacked the priests, and he killed on that day eighty-five people who wore a linen ephod.
- 1 Chr 15:27David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who bore the ark, the singers, and Chenaniah the choir master with the singers; and David had an ephod of linen on him.
- 1 Sam 2:28Didn’t I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to go up to my altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? Didn’t I give to the house of your father all the offerings of the children of Israel made by fire?
- Lev 8:7He put the coat on him, tied the sash on him, clothed him with the robe, put the ephod on him, and he tied the skillfully woven band of the ephod on him, and fastened it to him with it.
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Christ at the center
The rise of the anointed king after Israel's failed first choice points to the true Anointed One (Messiah means 'anointed'), the shepherd-king after God's own heart from Bethlehem.
How 1 Samuel 2:18 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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