Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version who was ninety-eight years old and whose eyes had failed so that he could not see. New Living Translation who was ninety-eight years old and blind. English Standard Version Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set so that he could not see. Berean Standard Bible Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his gaze was fixed because he could not see. King James Bible Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. New King James Version Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were so dim that he could not see. New American Standard Bible Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were fixed and he could not see. NASB 1995 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were set so that he could not see. NASB 1977 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes were set so that he could not see. Legacy Standard Bible Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes had set so that he could not see. Amplified Bible Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; his eyes were dim so that he could not see. Christian Standard Bible At that time Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes didn’t move because he couldn’t see. Holman Christian Standard Bible At that time Eli was 98 years old, and his gaze was fixed because he couldn’t see. American Standard Version Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that he could not see. English Revised Version Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were set, that he could not see. GOD'S WORD® Translation (Eli was 98 years old, and his eyesight had failed so that he couldn't see.) Good News Translation Eli was now ninety-eight years old and almost completely blind.) International Standard Version Now Eli was 98 years old, and his vision had failed. Majority Standard Bible Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his gaze was fixed because he could not see. NET Bible Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes looked straight ahead; he was unable to see. New Heart English Bible Now Eli was ninety-eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that he could not see. Webster's Bible Translation Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. World English Bible Now Eli was ninety-eight years old. His eyes were set, so that he could not see. Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd Eli is a son of ninety-eight years, and his eyes have stood, and he has not been able to see. Young's Literal Translation And Eli is a son of ninety and eight years, and his eyes have stood, and he hath not been able to see. Smith's Literal Translation And Eli the son of ninety and eight years; and his eyes standing, and he will not be able to see. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleNow Heli was ninety and eight years old, and his eyes were dim, and he could not see. Catholic Public Domain Version Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes had dimmed, so that he was not able to see. New American Bible Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his eyes would not focus. So he could not see. New Revised Standard Version Now Eli was ninety-eight years old and his eyes were set, so that he could not see. Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleNow Eli was seventy-eight years old; and his eyes were dim so that he could not see. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And Eli was a son of seventy and eight years, and his eyes were dim, and he could not see OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were set, that he could not see. Brenton Septuagint Translation Now Heli was ninety years old, and his eyes were fixed, and he saw not. Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Death of Eli…14Eli heard the outcry and asked, “Why this commotion?” So the man hurried over and reported to Eli. 15Now Eli was ninety-eight years old, and his gaze was fixed because he could not see. 16“I have just come from the battle,” the man said to Eli. “I fled from there today.” “What happened, my son?” Eli asked.… Cross References 1 Samuel 3:2 And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room. 1 Kings 14:4 Jeroboam’s wife did as instructed; she arose and went to Shiloh and arrived at Ahijah’s house. Now Ahijah could not see, for his eyes were dim because of his age. Genesis 27:1 When Isaac was old and his eyes were so weak that he could no longer see, he called his older son Esau and said to him, “My son.” “Here I am,” Esau replied. Deuteronomy 34:7 Moses was a hundred and twenty years old when he died, yet his eyes were not weak, and his vitality had not diminished. Ecclesiastes 12:3 on the day the keepers of the house tremble and the strong men stoop, when those grinding cease because they are few and those watching through windows see dimly, Psalms 90:10 The length of our days is seventy years—or eighty if we are strong—yet their pride is but labor and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away. Isaiah 42:18 Listen, you deaf ones; look, you blind ones, that you may see! Zechariah 11:17 Woe to the worthless shepherd, who deserts the flock! May a sword strike his arm and his right eye! May his arm be completely withered and his right eye utterly blinded!” Matthew 15:14 Disregard them! They are blind guides. If a blind man leads a blind man, both will fall into a pit.” John 9:39-41 Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.” / Some of the Pharisees who were with Him heard this, and they asked Him, “Are we blind too?” / “If you were blind,” Jesus replied, “you would not be guilty of sin. But since you claim you can see, your guilt remains.” Acts 13:22 After removing Saul, He raised up David as their king and testified about him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after My own heart; he will carry out My will in its entirety.’ Hebrews 11:21 By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. Genesis 48:10 Now Israel’s eyesight was poor because of old age; he could hardly see. Joseph brought his sons to him, and his father kissed them and embraced them. 1 Kings 1:1 Now King David was old and well along in years, and though they covered him with blankets, he could not keep warm. 2 Samuel 19:35 I am now eighty years old. Can I discern what is good and what is not? Can your servant taste what he eats or drinks? Can I still hear the voice of singing men and women? Why should your servant be an added burden to my lord the king? Treasury of Scripture Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were dim, that he could not see. ninety 1 Samuel 3:2 And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; Psalm 90:10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. and his eyes (See on Genesis 27:1 And it came to pass, that when Isaac was old, and his eyes were dim, so that he could not see, he called Esau his eldest son, and said unto him, My son: and he said unto him, Behold, here am I. Jump to Previous Able Dim Eight Eli Eyes Ninety Ninety-Eight StoodJump to Next Able Dim Eight Eli Eyes Ninety Ninety-Eight Stood1 Samuel 4 1. The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Ebenezer3. They fetch the ark unto the terror of the Philistines 10. They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain 12. Eli at the news, falling backward, breaks his neck 19. Phinehas's wife, discouraged in her travail with Ichabod, dies Now Eli was ninety-eight years old Eli's advanced age is significant in the biblical narrative, highlighting his long tenure as a judge and priest in Israel. His age suggests a lifetime of service, yet it also underscores the decline in his physical and spiritual faculties. In the context of ancient Israel, reaching such an age was notable, as life expectancy was generally lower. Eli's age also serves as a backdrop to the transition of leadership to Samuel, who represents a new era for Israel. The number ninety-eight, while not symbolically significant in itself, emphasizes the completion of Eli's life and the impending judgment on his house as prophesied in 1 Samuel 2:31-36. and his gaze was fixed because he could not see Persons / Places / Events 1. EliThe high priest of Israel at the time, Eli was a judge and spiritual leader. His advanced age and blindness symbolize the spiritual decline of Israel and his own inability to lead effectively. 2. Israel The nation of Israel is in a period of spiritual and moral decline, as evidenced by their defeat in battle and the loss of the Ark of the Covenant. 3. The Ark of the Covenant A sacred chest that held the tablets of the Ten Commandments, representing God's presence with His people. Its capture by the Philistines is a significant event in this chapter. 4. Philistines A neighboring people and frequent adversaries of Israel, they are instrumental in the events of this chapter as they capture the Ark. 5. Shiloh The religious center of Israel at the time, where the Ark was kept and where Eli served as priest. Teaching Points Spiritual Leadership and ResponsibilityEli's physical blindness is a metaphor for his spiritual oversight. Leaders must remain vigilant and spiritually aware to guide others effectively. The Consequences of Neglect Eli's failure to discipline his sons and maintain spiritual integrity led to national consequences. Personal neglect can have broader implications. The Importance of Spiritual Vision Just as physical sight is crucial, spiritual vision is essential for discerning God's will and direction. We must seek God's guidance to avoid spiritual blindness. Aging and Spiritual Vitality While physical abilities may decline with age, spiritual vitality can remain strong. Eli's account encourages us to maintain spiritual fervor throughout life. God's Sovereignty in Judgment Despite human failure, God's purposes prevail. The capture of the Ark was a judgment on Israel, yet it ultimately served God's greater plan.(15) Ninety and eight years old.--The LXX. here reads "ninety" years, the Syriac Version "seventy eight." In the sacred text, where numbers are concerned we usually find these varieties of translation and interpretation. The present system of numerals was invented by the Arabs. The Hebrews use the letters of the alphabet to express numbers. Such a system was naturally fruitful in errors of transcription, and thus numbers, and dates especially, in the earlier books of the Old Testament are frequently confused and uncertain. Many of the difficulties which have given so much trouble to commentators have arisen out of the confusion of copyists substituting, through inadvertence, in Hebrew one letter for another. Instead of "his eyes were dim," the more accurate rendering would be his eyes were set--were stiff, so that he could no longer see. This, as Keil observes, is a description of the so-called black cataract (amaurosis), which not unfrequently occurs at a very great age from paralysis of the optic nerves.Verse 15. - Eli was ninety and eight years old. Until the invention by the Arabs of the present system of numerals, all ancient nations had a most cumbrous system of expressing numbers. The Hebrew method was to attach a value to each of the letters of the alphabet, and then add them together, and thus the eighth and nineteenth letters would between them make up ninety-eight. Such a system led to constant mistakes in copying, and thus the numerals in the earlier parts of the Old Testament are beset with uncertainty. Here the Septuagint has ninety, and the Syriac seventy-eight. But as Eli was described already as "very old" in 1 Samuel 2:22, the Hebrew text is the most probable. Instead of dim the Hebrew has set, i.e. Eli was now absolutely blind, as the word expresses the motionless state of the eye when obscured by cataract. In 1 Samuel 3:2 a different word is used, rightly there translated "dim," as the disease is one which comes on gradually. In 1 Kings 14:4 we read that Ahijah was blind from the same cause, and the word is there correctly rendered "set." Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew Now Eliוְעֵלִ֕י (wə·‘ê·lî) Conjunctive waw | Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 5941: Eli -- a priest at Shiloh was ninety-eight תִּשְׁעִ֥ים (tiš·‘îm) Number - common plural Strong's 8673: Ninety years old, בֶּן־ (ben-) Noun - masculine singular construct Strong's 1121: A son and his gaze וְעֵינָ֣יו (wə·‘ê·nāw) Conjunctive waw | Noun - cdc | third person masculine singular Strong's 5869: An eye, a fountain was fixed קָ֔מָה (qā·māh) Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 6965: To arise, stand up, stand because he could not וְלֹ֥א (wə·lō) Conjunctive waw | Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no see. לִרְאֽוֹת׃ (lir·’ō·wṯ) Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct Strong's 7200: To see Links 1 Samuel 4:15 NIV1 Samuel 4:15 NLT 1 Samuel 4:15 ESV 1 Samuel 4:15 NASB 1 Samuel 4:15 KJV 1 Samuel 4:15 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 4:15 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 4:15 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 4:15 French Bible 1 Samuel 4:15 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 4:15 Now Eli was ninety-eight years old (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |
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