1 Samuel 7:17 kjv
And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.
1 Samuel 7:17 nkjv
But he always returned to Ramah, for his home was there. There he judged Israel, and there he built an altar to the LORD.
1 Samuel 7:17 niv
But he always went back to Ramah, where his home was, and there he also held court for Israel. And he built an altar there to the LORD.
1 Samuel 7:17 esv
Then he would return to Ramah, for his home was there, and there also he judged Israel. And he built there an altar to the LORD.
1 Samuel 7:17 nlt
Then he would return to his home at Ramah, and he would hear cases there, too. And Samuel built an altar to the LORD at Ramah.
1 Samuel 7 17 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Sam 7:15 | And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life. | Samuel's lifelong judicial ministry. |
| 1 Sam 7:16 | He used to go on a circuit year by year to Bethel, Gilgal, and Mizpah... | Preceding verse outlining his circuit. |
| Judg 4:4-5 | Now Deborah... used to sit under the palm of Deborah... and the people... came up to her for judgment. | A judge with a specific place for judgment. |
| Judg 10:1-3 | After Abimelech... Tola... arose to save Israel... and he judged Israel 23 years... Then Jair... judged Israel 22 years. | Examples of other judges and their tenures. |
| Gen 12:7-8 | Then the LORD appeared to Abram... And there he built an altar to the LORD... He built an altar to the LORD. | Abraham building altars at significant places. |
| Gen 26:24-25 | The LORD appeared to him... So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD. | Isaac building an altar at Beersheba. |
| Gen 35:1, 7 | God said to Jacob... build an altar there... And he built an altar there and called the place El-Bethel. | Jacob building altars, consecrating places. |
| Exod 17:15 | And Moses built an altar and called its name, The LORD Is My Banner. | Moses building an altar after victory. |
| Judg 6:24 | Then Gideon built an altar there to the LORD and called it, The LORD Is Peace. | Gideon building an altar after encountering God. |
| 2 Sam 24:18-25 | So David built an altar to the LORD there and offered burnt offerings... So the LORD was moved... | David building an altar at the threshing floor. |
| 1 Kgs 18:30-32 | Then Elijah... repaired the altar of the LORD... and with the stones he built an altar in the name of the LORD. | Elijah repairing an altar to the Lord. |
| Josh 24:1 | Then Joshua assembled all the tribes of Israel to Shechem... and they presented themselves before God. | Leaders assembling Israel for covenant renewal/judgment. |
| Deut 16:18 | You shall appoint judges and officers in all your towns... and they shall judge the people with righteous judgment. | Mandate for righteous judgment. |
| Isa 33:22 | For the LORD is our judge; the LORD is our lawgiver; the LORD is our king; he will save us. | God as the ultimate judge and lawgiver. |
| Acts 13:20 | And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. | Paul affirming the era of judges, ending with Samuel. |
| 1 Sam 1:1, 19 | There was a certain man from Ramathaim-zophim... Then they arose early in the morning... and worshiped before the LORD... Then they returned to their home at Ramah. | Samuel's origin and family home in Ramah. |
| 1 Sam 8:4-5 | Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together and came to Samuel at Ramah... | Elders coming to Samuel at Ramah to request a king. |
| 1 Sam 19:18 | Then he went and told Saul... he went to Ramah and stood before Samuel. | Ramah as Samuel's settled location even for others seeking him. |
| Heb 11:32 | And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David, and Samuel... | Samuel listed among the faithful. |
| Prov 29:4 | By justice a king builds up a country, but a man who takes bribes tears it down. | Importance of justice in national stability. |
| Matt 23:23 | Woe to you... for you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. | Justice as a fundamental ethical demand. |
1 Samuel 7 verses
1 Samuel 7 17 Meaning
Samuel's circuit leadership brought justice to all parts of Israel, but his primary residence remained Ramah, a fixed home. From this personal dwelling, he faithfully served as Israel's judge, consistently dispensing justice. Crucially, he also established an altar there, signifying that Ramah was not merely a governmental center but also a dedicated place of worship and spiritual communion with the Lord, reflecting his integrated spiritual and civic leadership.
1 Samuel 7 17 Context
This verse appears directly after Samuel's annual judicial circuit, clarifying that while he traveled, his administrative and spiritual base remained consistently in Ramah. Historically, after the Philistine defeat at Ebenezer (1 Sam 7:7-14) and Israel's return to the Lord, Samuel entered a period of stable leadership. The Tabernacle, having lost the ark and Shiloh being destroyed, no longer served as the undisputed central place of worship. Thus, Samuel, acting as prophet, priest-like figure, and judge, established his own residence in Ramah as a crucial center for both national justice and spiritual devotion. This period of Samuel's judgeship bridged the era of independent judges and the establishment of the monarchy, highlighting a renewed stability and return to covenant fidelity under godly leadership.
1 Samuel 7 17 Word analysis
- And his return: (וּתְשֻׁבָתוֹ, uṯ-šuḇāṯō) From the root שׁוּב (shuv), meaning "to turn back," "return." This signifies a regular pattern or an established itinerary where he always came back to a particular point. It denotes a structured, deliberate action rather than haphazard movement.
- was to Ramah: (הָֽיְתָה֙ הָרָ֔מָה, hāyəṯāh hārāmāh) Ramah (רָמָה) means "height" or "high place." It was Samuel's hometown and becomes the epicenter of his ongoing ministry. Its elevated position might also hint at its spiritual prominence.
- for there: (שָׁ֑מָּה, shā́mmāh) An adverb emphasizing location. Its repetition in this verse ("there was his home," "there he judged," "there he built") underscores Ramah's absolute centrality to Samuel's life and work.
- was his home: (כִּי־שָׁ֣ם בֵּית֗וֹ, kî-šām bēyṯōw) Bayit (בַּיִת) refers to a "house" or "dwelling." This highlights Ramah not just as a temporary stopping point, but as his fixed, personal residence. It grounds his public service in a private, settled existence, giving him stability.
- and there he judged Israel: (וְשָׁ֖ם שָׁפַ֥ט אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל, wəšām shāpaṭ eṯ-yiśrā’ēl) Shaphat (שָׁפַט) encompasses more than merely legal judgments; it includes governance, deliverance, and maintaining justice and order. Samuel exercised spiritual, judicial, and perhaps even military leadership from this base.
- And there he built an altar: (וְשָׁ֥ם בָּנָ֛ה מִזְבֵּ֖חַ, wəšām bānāh mizbēaḥ) Banah (בָּנָה) means "to build," and mizbeach (מִזְבֵּחַ) is an "altar." Building an altar was an act of worship, consecration, thanksgiving, or invoking God's presence. It was a place for offering sacrifices and seeking the Lord's face, making Ramah a legitimate place of covenant interaction.
- to the Lord: (לַֽיהוָֽה׃, layhwāh) Specifically dedicates the altar and the worship to Yahweh, the covenant God of Israel, reaffirming pure worship amidst pagan influences.
Words-group analysis
- "And his return was to Ramah, for there was his home": This phrase highlights Samuel's deep roots and personal connection to Ramah. It underscores the stability and regularity of his leadership, as his personal dwelling also served as his central operational hub for national service.
- "and there he judged Israel. And there he built an altar to the Lord": This significant pairing demonstrates the integrated nature of Samuel's leadership. His exercise of justice and governance was inseparable from his spiritual devotion and worship. Ramah thus served as a dual center for civil administration and sacred encounter, positioning Samuel as both the civic leader and the spiritual authority, with God at the very foundation of his rule. The repeated "there" emphasizes that all these crucial functions emanated from and revolved around this single, central location.
1 Samuel 7 17 Bonus section
The thrice-repeated emphasis on "there" (sham in Hebrew) for Ramah is a rhetorical device underscoring its pivotal importance in Samuel's life and the emerging national structure. It signals Ramah as the distinct locus of Samuel's being (home), his administrative function (judging), and his spiritual devotion (altar). This firmly establishes Ramah as a uniquely powerful, multi-functional center during a transitional period in Israel's history, after the breakdown of Shiloh but before Jerusalem's ascent. Samuel's decision to root his multifaceted ministry in a personal residence and establish an altar there illustrates the principle of personal devotion empowering public service. His stable and Spirit-filled leadership laid crucial groundwork for the monarchy, showing how national governance could be both ordered and sacred.
1 Samuel 7 17 Commentary
1 Samuel 7:17 portrays Samuel as a remarkable leader whose public life was deeply rooted in his personal commitment to God. His regular "return to Ramah" emphasizes a structured, disciplined life, contrasting with the often erratic or localized leadership during the era of the Judges. Ramah served as his permanent "home," symbolizing stability and continuity. From this domestic base, he "judged Israel," meticulously addressing legal, social, and spiritual matters across the land, embodying God's justice. Crucially, he also "built an altar to the Lord" there. This act signifies that Ramah was not just a judicial seat but a sacred space, reflecting Samuel's integrated approach to leadership—his authority derived from and was sustained by a direct, constant communion with Yahweh. In an era without a permanent central sanctuary, Samuel's personal altar legitimized Ramah as a crucial center of worship, reinforcing God's presence at the heart of his governance and reminding the people that true leadership stems from divine relationship.