Ichabod
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Topical Encyclopedia
Meaning of the Name:
The name "Ichabod" is derived from the Hebrew phrase "אִי־כָבוֹד" (I-Khavod), which means "no glory" or "the glory has departed." This name is deeply symbolic, reflecting a significant moment of loss and divine judgment in Israel's history.

Biblical References:
Ichabod is mentioned in the First Book of Samuel, specifically in 1 Samuel 4:19-22. His account is intertwined with the tragic events surrounding the Ark of the Covenant and the downfall of Eli's house.

Historical Context:
Ichabod was born during a tumultuous period in Israel's history. The Philistines, a perennial enemy of Israel, had captured the Ark of the Covenant in a battle at Aphek. This event was seen as a catastrophic loss for Israel, as the Ark represented the presence and glory of God among His people.

Family Background:
Ichabod was the son of Phinehas, one of the two sons of Eli, the high priest. Both Phinehas and his brother Hophni were known for their corrupt practices and disregard for the sacred duties of the priesthood (1 Samuel 2:12-17). Their actions contributed to the spiritual decline of Israel and ultimately led to divine judgment.

Birth and Naming:
The birth of Ichabod is recorded in 1 Samuel 4:19-22. Upon hearing the news of the Ark's capture and the deaths of her husband Phinehas and father-in-law Eli, Phinehas' wife went into labor and gave birth to a son. Overwhelmed by grief and despair, she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel," because the Ark of God had been taken and her family had suffered great loss.

Significance of the Name:
The name Ichabod serves as a poignant reminder of the consequences of disobedience and the loss of God's presence due to sin. It encapsulates the sorrow and spiritual desolation felt by Israel at that time. The departure of God's glory signified a breach in the covenant relationship between God and His people, highlighting the need for repentance and restoration.

Theological Implications:
Ichabod's account underscores the importance of faithfulness and reverence for God's holiness. The capture of the Ark and the subsequent naming of Ichabod illustrate the severe repercussions of neglecting God's commands and the sacred responsibilities entrusted to His people. It serves as a warning against complacency and a call to uphold the sanctity of worship and obedience to God.

Legacy:
While Ichabod himself does not play a further role in the biblical narrative, his name and the circumstances of his birth left an indelible mark on Israel's history. The events surrounding his birth were a catalyst for change, eventually leading to the rise of Samuel as a prophet and judge, and the eventual restoration of the Ark to Israel.
Hitchcock's Bible Names Dictionary
Ichabod

where is the glory? or, no glory

Smith's Bible Dictionary
Ichabod

(inglorious), the son of Phinehas and grandson of Eli. (1 Samuel 4:21) (B.C. about 1100.)

ATS Bible Dictionary
Ichabod

Where is the glory- A son of Phinehas, and grandson of Eli, both of whom, and his mother also, died on the day of his birth, 1 Samuel 4:19 22; 14:3.

Easton's Bible Dictionary
When the tidings of the disastrous defeat of the Israelites in the battle against the Philistines near to Mizpeh were carried to Shiloh, the wife of Phinehas "was near to be delivered. And when she heard the tidings that the ark of God was taken, and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and travailed" (1 Samuel 4:19-22). In her great distress she regarded not "the women that stood by her," but named the child that was born "Ichabod" i.e., no glory, saying, "The glory is departed from Isreal;" and with that word on her lips she expired.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
ICHABOD

ik'-a-bod, i'-ka-bod (i-kha-bhodh, "inglorious"; Codex Vaticanus, ouai barchaboth; Codex Alexandrinus, ouai chaboth, Atimos): Son of Phinehas, Eli's son, slain at the battle of Aphek when the ark was taken. Ichabod was born after his father's death. His mother gave him this name on her death-bed to indicate that the "glory (had) departed from Israel" (1 Samuel 4:19). He was thus important as a symbol, though little is recorded of him as an individual. His nephew Ahijah was one of those who tarried with Saul and the six hundred at Gibeah just before Jonathan's brave attack upon the Philistines (1 Samuel 14:2 f).

Henry Wallace

Strong's Hebrew
350. I-kabod -- "inglorious," a son of Phinehas
I-kabod. 349, 350. I-kabod. 351 . "inglorious," a son of Phinehas. Transliteration:
I-kabod Phonetic Spelling: (ee-kaw-bode') Short Definition: Ichabod. ...
/hebrew/350.htm - 6k
Library

A Liberal Education: and Where to Find It.
... that ignorance makes bad workmen; that England will soon be unable to turn out cotton
goods, or steam engines, cheaper than other people; and then, Ichabod! ...
/.../huxley/lay sermons addresses and reviews/iii a liberal education and.htm

Christian Names.
... CHAPTER XII. CHRISTIAN NAMES. "She named the child Ichabod.""1 SAMUEL. "Thus was
the building left Ridiculous, and the work confusion named.". ...
/.../philips/the christian home/chapter xii christian names.htm

The Tears of Christ.
... And so Jerusalem was doomed. Over gorgeous temple, stately palace, and quiet
home alike was written Ichabod"thy glory is departed. ...
/.../the life of duty a years plain sermons v 2/sermon xlv the tears of.htm

A Solemn Warning for all Churches
... Is he not departed? Might not "Ichabod" be written on the walls of many a sanctuary?
They have a name to live, , but are dead. They have their piety? ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/a solemn warning for all.htm

Religious Zeal.
... only she cried, "The glory is departed from Israel." Then the women that stood by
said, "So shall the name be," and they called the child Ichabod, which means ...
/.../the village pulpit volume ii trinity to advent/lxv religious zeal.htm

The Seventh Commandment
... the house of Israel committeth, that I should go far off from my sanctuary?' Ezekiel
8:6. God might remove his gospel, and then we might write Ichabod on this ...
/.../watson/the ten commandments/2 7 the seventh commandment.htm

The Eclipse and Rediscovery of the Old Testament
... At least many open-minded people might have been saved from the supreme error of
writing, either consciously or unconsciously, Ichabod across the pages of ...
/.../i the eclipse and rediscovery.htm

The War of Truth
... been what it now is, if it had not been for her religion; and in that hour when
she shall forsake her God, her glory shall have fallen, and "Ichabod" shall be ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 3 1857/the war of truth.htm

A Sermon for the Time Present
... she gave was once because of the death of her husband and his father, but twice
because "the ark of God is taken." For this she named her new-born child Ichabod ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 33 1887/a sermon for the time.htm

Letter Lxvi. To Pammachius.
... the priest, on hearing that the ark of the Lord had been taken, was seized suddenly
with the pains of travail and that she brought forth a son Ichabod and died ...
/.../jerome/the principal works of st jerome/letter lxvi to pammachius.htm

Thesaurus
Ichabod (2 Occurrences)
... In her great distress she regarded not "the women that stood by her," but named
the child that was born "Ichabod" ie, no glory, saying, "The glory is departed ...
/i/ichabod.htm - 8k

Ichabod's (1 Occurrence)
... Multi-Version Concordance Ichabod's (1 Occurrence). 1 Samuel 14:3 and Ahijah,
the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas ...
/i/ichabod's.htm - 6k

Phinehas (24 Occurrences)
... He died in battle with the Philistines (1 Samuel 4:4, 11); and his wife, on hearing
of his death, gave birth to a son, whom she called "Ichabod," and then she ...
/p/phinehas.htm - 20k

Ich'abod (1 Occurrence)
Ich'abod. I-chabod, Ich'abod. Ichabod's . Multi-Version Concordance Ich'abod
(1 Occurrence). ... (See RSV). I-chabod, Ich'abod. Ichabod's . Reference Bible
/i/ich'abod.htm - 6k

Ahitub (16 Occurrences)
... a-hi'-tub ('achiTubh, "brother of goodness," ie "good brother," or, "my brother
is goodness"): (1) The brother of Ichabod and son of Phinehas the son of Eli (1 ...
/a/ahitub.htm - 14k

Ahijah (23 Occurrences)
... (3.) Son of Ahitub (1 Samuel 14:3, 18), Ichabod's brother; the same probably as
Ahimelech, who was high priest at Nob in the reign of Saul (1 Samuel 22:11). ...
/a/ahijah.htm - 21k

Hophni (5 Occurrences)
... caused Eli's death. Phinehas was father of the posthumous Ichabod, whose
name marks the calamity (see ICHABOD). A remoter sequel ...
/h/hophni.htm - 10k

Ice-storm (14 Occurrences)
Ice-storm. Ice-drops, Ice-storm. Ichabod . Multi-Version Concordance Ice-storm
(14 Occurrences). ... (BBE). Ice-drops, Ice-storm. Ichabod . Reference Bible
/i/ice-storm.htm - 10k

Wore (19 Occurrences)
... 1 Samuel 14:3 (And Ahijah the son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas,
the son of Eli, Jehovah's priest in Shiloh, wore the ephod.) And the ...
/w/wore.htm - 11k

Resources
What does the term “Ichabod” mean in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who were Hophni and Phinehas? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Eli in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

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