1 Samuel 7 12

1 Samuel 7:12 kjv

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

1 Samuel 7:12 nkjv

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us."

1 Samuel 7:12 niv

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Thus far the LORD has helped us."

1 Samuel 7:12 esv

Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, "Till now the LORD has helped us."

1 Samuel 7:12 nlt

Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means "the stone of help"), for he said, "Up to this point the LORD has helped us!"

1 Samuel 7 verses

1 Samuel 7 12 Meaning

The verse commemorates God's powerful intervention and help for Israel against the Philistines. Samuel establishes a stone as a memorial, naming it "Ebenezer," meaning "stone of help," signifying that all assistance to that point came from the Lord. It acknowledges God as the source of victory and deliverance, serving as a physical reminder of His faithfulness.

1 Samuel 7 12 Context

The verse marks a significant turning point in Israel's history. It follows a period of Philistine oppression and a disastrous defeat at the very location of Ebenezer where Israel had lost the Ark of the Covenant and thirty thousand men (1 Sam 4:1-11). Chapters 5 and 6 detail the Ark's return by the Philistines. Chapter 7 opens with Israel turning back to the Lord under Samuel's guidance. After Samuel's call for national repentance and prayer at Mizpah, the Philistines launched another attack. This time, however, God directly intervened with a mighty thunderstorm, throwing the Philistines into confusion and enabling Israel to route them decisively. Samuel's act of setting up the Ebenezer stone commemorates this dramatic divine deliverance, highlighting God's faithfulness despite Israel's prior failures. Historically, it emphasizes a shift from self-reliance or reliance on religious symbols (like the Ark) to genuine dependence on God through repentance and prophetic intercession.

1 Samuel 7 12 Word analysis

• Then (וַיִּקַּח – vayyiqqaḥ): "And he took." A sequential narrative marker, highlighting Samuel's immediate response to the divine victory. It emphasizes a deliberate act following the significant event.
• Samuel (שְׁמוּאֵל – Shmu’el): The central prophetic and judicial figure in this period. His actions are not merely personal but representative of Israel's new covenant relationship with God. He acts as God's instrument in establishing this public memorial.
• took (וַיִּקַּח – vayyiqqaḥ): The Hebrew verb signifies a deliberate act of selecting and acquiring. It's an active, purposeful taking, indicating the significance Samuel placed on this specific stone.
• a stone (אֶבֶן – ’eben): A common, tangible object chosen for its permanence. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, stones were often used as boundary markers, altars, or monuments for treaties and significant events. Its nature makes the memorial enduring.
• and set it up (וַיָּשֶׂם – vayyaśem): Literally "and he placed/set." Implies positioning firmly and publicly. This wasn't a hidden act but a public declaration, designed for all to see and remember.
• between Mizpah and Shen (בֵּין־הַמִּצְפָּה וּבֵין הַשֵּׁן – bên-hammiṣpāh ūbên haššen): Geographical indicators that precisely mark the location of the Philistine defeat.
  • Mizpah: A site frequently associated with assemblies, prayers, and military gatherings in Israel (cf. Judg 20:1; 1 Sam 7:5-6). It was a strategic and religiously significant point.
  • Shen: Meaning "tooth" or "crag," possibly referring to a sharp rock formation or a specific prominent landmark, marking the boundary of the conflict and divine intervention. This specific naming ensures historical veracity and provides context for the victory.
• and called its name (וַיִּקְרָא שְׁמָהּ – vayyiqrā' šəmāh): Naming a place or object was a common biblical practice to signify an event's nature or to attribute a meaning (e.g., Bethel, Peniel). This naming solidifies the spiritual significance of the location and event.
• Ebenezer (אֶבֶן הָעֵזֶר – ’eben ha-ezer): Directly translates to "stone of help."
  • ’eben: "stone."
  • ezer: "help" or "aid." This name succinctly summarizes the entire event: God's concrete and tangible help manifested in Israel's victory. It functions as a declarative statement, proclaiming divine assistance.
• saying (וַיֹּאמֶר – vayyo’mer): Samuel articulates the theological significance of the stone, ensuring the meaning is clear and not left to speculation. It transforms a physical act into a profound spiritual statement.
• "Thus far (עַד־הֵנָּה – ‘ad-hēnnâ)": "Up to here." A temporal marker indicating the extent of God's assistance. It signifies both God's past faithfulness and subtly implies an ongoing reliance and potential for future help. It points to continuous, faithful provision.
• the LORD (יְהוָה – YHWH): The covenant name of God, emphasizing His personal, relational, and unchanging nature. It is not just "god" but the God who promised, saves, and acts on behalf of His people. The source of the help is specifically identified as the sovereign Lord.
• has helped us (עֲזָרָנוּ – ‘ăzārānū): The verb ‘āzar (to help, assist, deliver) is in the perfect tense, indicating a completed action with lasting effect. "Us" includes Samuel and all of Israel, indicating a collective deliverance. This asserts God's direct agency in their deliverance, not their own strength or luck.

1 Samuel 7 12 Bonus section

The concept of "Ebenezer" transcends merely a historical stone. It functions as a spiritual principle for believers to remember and recount God's specific acts of grace and deliverance in their lives. Such "Ebenezers" can be personal testimonies, significant events, or even habits of gratitude and remembrance that prevent spiritual amnesia. Just as Israel was prone to forget God's mighty acts, believers can also forget how God has "thus far" helped them, leading to doubt or self-reliance. Establishing personal "Ebenezers" - moments or practices of recall - serves to reinforce faith in God's ongoing faithfulness, encouraging confidence for future challenges, knowing that the same God who helped yesterday will help today and tomorrow.

1 Samuel 7 12 Commentary

1 Samuel 7:12 is a powerful statement of God's faithfulness and Israel's renewed covenant with Him. The setting up of Ebenezer by Samuel is more than just erecting a monument; it is a profound act of theological proclamation. It asserts God as the singular, omnipotent source of help, delivering Israel from decades of Philistine oppression not through military might, but through His direct, supernatural intervention in response to national repentance and intercession. The naming "Ebenezer," meaning "stone of help," encapsulates the entire event, providing a constant visual reminder that salvation comes from the Lord, YHWH. The phrase "Thus far the LORD has helped us" reflects both a grateful backward glance at God's completed work and a forward-looking posture of humble reliance. It acknowledges God's consistent aid while leaving room for continued dependence on Him for future challenges, preventing complacency and fostering ongoing trust. This event stands as a counter-narrative to Israel's previous defeats and idolatry, cementing the truth that their strength lies in the Lord alone.