Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see.
Parallel translations
- WEB Now Eli was ninety-eight years old. His eyes were set, so that he could not see.
- KJV Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see.
- BSB Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his gaze was fixed because he could not see.
- NASB Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were fixed and he could not see.
- NLT who was ninety-eight years old and blind.
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
The narrator notes Eli was ninety-eight and blind. His age and blindness frame the end of his life and ministry under judgment.
Overview
Eli's advanced age and loss of sight are mentioned to set the stage for his death. His physical blindness mirrors the spiritual dimness that allowed his sons' corruption to go unchecked. The detail underscores that an era of failed leadership in Israel is drawing to its appointed close.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 4
- 1 Sam 3:2At that time, when Eli was laid down in his place (now his eyes had begun to grow dim, so that he could not see),
- Ps 90:10The days of our years are seventy, or even by reason of strength eighty years; yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for it passes quickly, and we fly away.
- 1 Kgs 14:4Jeroboam’s wife did so, and arose, and went to Shiloh, and came to Ahijah’s house. Now Ahijah could not see; for his eyes were set by reason of his age.
- Gen 27:1When Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his elder son, and said to him, “My son?” He said to him, “Here I am.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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Commentaries & study tools
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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 4:15 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
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.