1 Samuel 4 20

1 Samuel 4:20 kjv

And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

1 Samuel 4:20 nkjv

And about the time of her death the women who stood by her said to her, "Do not fear, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer, nor did she regard it.

1 Samuel 4:20 niv

As she was dying, the women attending her said, "Don't despair; you have given birth to a son." But she did not respond or pay any attention.

1 Samuel 4:20 esv

And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, "Do not be afraid, for you have borne a son." But she did not answer or pay attention.

1 Samuel 4:20 nlt

She died in childbirth, but before she passed away the midwives tried to encourage her. "Don't be afraid," they said. "You have a baby boy!" But she did not answer or pay attention to them.

1 Samuel 4 verses

1 Samuel 4 20 Meaning

First Samuel 4:20 depicts the intense anguish of the wife of Phinehas as she nears death during childbirth. Despite the custom of rejoicing over the birth of a son, the women attending her could not comfort her. Her overwhelming grief stemmed not from physical pain or the peril of childbirth itself, but from the catastrophic news of Israel's defeat, the death of her husband Phinehas and her father-in-law Eli, and, most profoundly, the capture of the Ark of God. Her unresponsiveness reveals her complete preoccupation with the national and spiritual disaster, rendering the personal joy of a new son meaningless in light of the loss of God's perceived presence among His people.

1 Samuel 4 20 Context

First Samuel 4:20 occurs at the tragic climax of chapter 4, following a series of devastating events for Israel and the household of Eli. The Philistines have decisively defeated Israel in battle, killing 30,000 Israelite soldiers, including Eli's wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, who had presumptuously brought the Ark of God into battle as a talisman. The verse focuses on Phinehas's wife, who receives this calamitous news while in labor. The historical context is a period of great spiritual declension in Israel, marked by corrupt priesthood under Eli's sons, leading to divine judgment foreshadowed by prophecy. The capture of the Ark signifies a national crisis, implying the departure of God's glory and presence (foreshadowing her naming of Ichabod in the next verse). Her deep sorrow, which overcomes even the joy of childbirth, profoundly illustrates the spiritual desolation of the time. The cultural context emphasizes the supreme importance of bearing a male heir, which normally elicited great celebration; however, for Phinehas's wife, this blessing is overshadowed by the divine judgment on Israel and her family.

1 Samuel 4 20 Word analysis

• And as she was dying: The Hebrew verb is mût (מּוּת), specifically a participle mêtāh (מֵתָה), signifying "she was dying" or "at the point of death." This highlights the critical state of her health, underscoring the severity of the shock and emotional trauma she experienced. Her demise is imminent, directly caused by her extreme grief, showing a powerful connection between internal sorrow and physical collapse.
• the women who stood by her: This refers to the midwives and other attendants present during childbirth. Their role was typically to assist and also to pronounce the blessing of the new life. Their attempt to comfort her is culturally expected, but entirely ineffectual here.
• said to her, "Do not fear, for you have borne a son.": The command "Do not fear" (al tîra’î) is a common biblical injunction, often bringing comfort and hope. Here, the comfort offered is the conventional good news of a male birth. In ancient Israelite society, the birth of a son was highly valued, ensuring the family line, carrying on the name, and providing future security and strength. This blessing was supposed to evoke great joy, reflecting God's favor and blessing on a family (e.g., Ps 127:3-5). The irony lies in its inability to assuage her unique and profound sorrow.
• But she did not answer or pay attention. The Hebrew reads wəlō’ ‘ānetāh wəlo’ śātāh libbāh.
  • lō’ ‘ānetāh means "she did not answer," indicating her total withdrawal from communication.
  • wəlo’ śātāh libbāh translates literally to "and she did not set her heart (upon it)," or "did not pay attention" to the news or the attempt at comfort. The word lev (לֵב) for "heart" in Hebrew often refers to the entire inner being, including intellect, emotion, and will (cf. Prov 4:23). This phrase powerfully conveys her complete emotional and mental detachment from the joy of motherhood due to her spiritual distress. Her mind and spirit were consumed by the devastating news of the Ark's capture and the family losses, demonstrating that for her, the glory of God and His presence superseded all personal blessings, even that of a son. Her will to live, or to engage with the joy, was entirely broken.
• Words-group: "Do not fear, for you have borne a son" vs. "did not answer or pay attention": This juxtaposition creates a dramatic tension. The societal norm of celebration for a male heir collides with an individual's deep spiritual devastation. The customary comfort is rendered utterly meaningless, highlighting the unparalleled gravity of the national catastrophe and the loss of God's perceived presence, which for her eclipsed any personal good fortune.

1 Samuel 4 20 Bonus section

The profound spiritual insight of Phinehas's wife, focusing on the Ark's capture above all else, contrasts sharply with the general spiritual apathy prevalent in Israel, particularly within Eli's own household. While Hophni and Phinehas treated the Ark as a magical talisman, she understood its capture as the cessation of divine glory. Her ultimate sorrow and death can be seen as a sacrificial lament, reflecting a remnant's deep grief over the perceived absence of God. Her personal pain is intrinsically linked to God's honor and the spiritual health of the nation, illustrating that a true relationship with God can render even the most profound personal joy insignificant when His glory is at stake.

1 Samuel 4 20 Commentary

First Samuel 4:20 stands as a poignant illustration of profound grief, where personal blessing becomes utterly insignificant in the face of spiritual and national disaster. Phinehas’s wife, Eli’s daughter-in-law, is beyond the conventional comfort offered by the birth of a son. Her heart—her mind, emotions, and will—is fixated not on her newborn, but on the capture of the Ark of God, which represented the very presence and glory of the LORD in Israel (1 Sam 4:21). This scene emphasizes the dire spiritual state of Israel at the time; even as Eli's house faces judgment, her unique spiritual discernment focuses on the greater cosmic tragedy—God’s apparent withdrawal from His people. Her dying, unheeding response powerfully conveys that without the manifest presence of God, even the most cherished worldly blessing (a son) holds no value. This serves as a stark commentary on true priorities, where spiritual reality transcends physical fortune, foreshadowing her final utterance, "Ichabod," meaning "The glory has departed" (1 Sam 4:21-22).