1 Samuel 4 15

1 Samuel 4:15 kjv

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

1 Samuel 4:15 nkjv

Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see.

1 Samuel 4:15 niv

who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see.

1 Samuel 4:15 esv

Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set so that he could not see.

1 Samuel 4:15 nlt

who was ninety-eight years old and blind.

1 Samuel 4 verses

1 Samuel 4 15 Meaning

1 Samuel 4:15 describes Eli's physical state immediately before receiving the catastrophic news of the Israelite defeat, the death of his sons, and the capture of the Ark of God. At ninety-eight years old, he was extremely old and his eyes were "set" or "fixed," meaning they were functionally blind, unable to see. This verse emphasizes his physical vulnerability and dependence on sound rather than sight to grasp the impending disaster, highlighting the pathos of his final moments.

1 Samuel 4 15 Context

This verse is situated at a critical juncture in the book of 1 Samuel, serving as the dramatic prelude to the ultimate collapse of Eli's priesthood and the old order in Israel. Chapter 4 begins with the Israelites going to war against the Philistines and suffering a significant defeat. In desperation, they bring the Ark of the Covenant, God's dwelling presence, to the battlefield, believing it will guarantee victory. However, the plan backfires, leading to an even more crushing defeat, the death of Eli's wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, and the capture of the Ark.

Verse 15 describes Eli's fragile physical state as the sole high priest awaiting news from the battle. His age and severe blindness immediately highlight his physical incapacitation, creating tension as the reader knows devastating news is imminent. It sets the scene for Eli's reaction, emphasizing that while he can't see, he will keenly perceive through hearing the magnitude of the tragedy, particularly regarding the Ark. This personal detail prepares the reader for the climax of Eli's life story and the prophetic judgment upon his house as foretold in earlier chapters (1 Sam 2-3). Historically, the loss of the Ark was an unthinkable catastrophe, representing the perceived departure of God's presence from Israel.

1 Samuel 4 15 Word analysis

• Now (וְעֵלִי - wĕʿēli): The conjunction "and" or "now" links this verse to the preceding narrative, signaling a direct transition to Eli's situation. It immediately draws attention to the priest at this pivotal moment.

• Eli (עֵלִי - ʿEli): The high priest of Israel and judge. His name may mean "My God" or "High," ironically contrasted with his fallen status and physical decline. He represents the established but fading order.

• was ninety-eight years old (בֶּן־תִּשְׁעִים וּשְׁמוֹנֶה שָׁנָה - ben-tišʿîm ūšmōneh shānāh): Literally "son of ninety and eight years." This detail emphasizes his advanced age, profound weakness, and physical inability to actively respond to the unfolding crisis. It is an exceptional age for the period, highlighting his frailty and perhaps a long life but also one filled with personal and national failings concerning his sons. This detail paints a vivid picture of the individual caught in this national tragedy.

• and his eyes were set (וְעֵינָיו קָמוּ - wĕʿênāw qāmū):

  • and his eyes (וְעֵינָיו - wĕʿênāw): The eyes are crucial organs of perception. Their condition here is central to Eli's physical state.
  • were set (קָמוּ - qāmū): Derived from the Hebrew verb קוּם (qūm), meaning "to rise," "to stand," "to stand firm." When applied to eyes in this context, it signifies that they were fixed, rigid, or had stiffened, implying a severe, age-related loss of focus and responsiveness. This is not merely "dim" as in English translations like KJV, but a structural impairment. It suggests an inability to perceive or react quickly, serving as a symbolic parallel to Israel's spiritual blindness and inability to discern God's judgment. The Septuagint translates it as "were dim" (κεκάμωνται).

• so that he could not see (וְלֹא יָכֹל לִרְאוֹת - wĕlōʾ yākōl lirʾōt): This explicit statement clarifies the extent of his visual impairment. His inability to see sets up the dramatic reliance on auditory cues in the subsequent verses and underscores his vulnerability. It underscores that while his physical sight failed, his mind remained sharp enough to grasp the severity of the impending news, particularly concerning the Ark. This highlights a physical boundary Eli has reached but suggests a contrasting inner awareness.

• Words-group Analysis:

  • "Eli was ninety-eight years old": This phrase immediately establishes Eli's profound old age and physical feebleness. It prepares the reader for a lack of active engagement from him in the events to come and emphasizes his dependence. It evokes empathy and underlines the heavy burden of age at a moment of extreme national crisis.
  • "and his eyes were set, so that he could not see": This complete clause precisely describes Eli's blindness. The term "set" or "fixed" is stronger than just "dim" and points to a rigid, unresponsive quality of his eyes due to advanced age. This specific detail of his physical incapacitation becomes crucial for understanding the immediate narrative. It underscores his reliance on hearing, as seen in his dramatic reaction to the news in subsequent verses. It can also subtly symbolize the spiritual dimness or unseeing nature that had allowed corruption to fester within his own priestly house, fulfilling earlier prophecies of judgment.

1 Samuel 4 15 Bonus section

The meticulous detail regarding Eli's age and eye condition serves to immediately raise the emotional stakes and clarify why the news is perceived rather than witnessed. This kind of physical detail about a main character in moments of high drama is characteristic of biblical narrative, adding realism and pathos. The condition of his eyes being "set" (qamu) rather than just "dim" (kaheh) found in other instances of biblical blindness (like Isaac's eyes in Gen 27:1) suggests a more severe, perhaps irreversible, form of age-related blindness, contributing to the inevitability of his fate and the finality of the era he represents. His reaction to the news regarding the Ark (which leads to his death) rather than the death of his sons indicates that despite his familial failings, his primary concern was for the sanctity of God's presence, signifying a deep reverence, however imperfectly maintained in his priesthood. This slight nuance adds complexity to his character, demonstrating a mixture of failings and profound spiritual concern at his end.

1 Samuel 4 15 Commentary

1 Samuel 4:15 is a concise but potent verse that deepens the pathos and tension leading to the climax of Eli's story. It vividly portrays the aged priest, emphasizing his extreme old age (ninety-eight years) and total physical blindness ("eyes were set, so that he could not see"). This detail is not merely biographical but serves several critical narrative and thematic purposes. Physically, his impaired sight means he cannot visually discern the frantic messenger approaching, building suspense as the news of national calamity arrives. His inability to see means he must rely entirely on what he hears, sharpening the focus on the content of the news rather than the visual drama.

Symbolically, Eli's physical blindness parallels the spiritual dimness that afflicted his house and, by extension, parts of Israel during his judgeship. Though a high priest, his failure to adequately restrain his corrupt sons led to the severe judgment foretold by God (1 Sam 2-3). While he maintains mental clarity to grasp the significance of the news, particularly concerning the Ark, his physical infirmity is a poignant reflection of a spiritual leadership that had grown weak and unable to truly "see" God's will and prevent moral decay. This verse thus humanizes Eli, making his eventual collapse a tragic outcome, yet simultaneously frames it within the divine judgment for unaddressed sin and priestly failure. It highlights that the departure of God's glory (Ichabod) affects even the highest religious office, marking the end of an era and paving the way for a new leadership under Samuel.