BibleWord.ai› Bible› 1 Samuel› Chapter 4› Verse 15

1 Samuel 4:15

Old Testament Historical ASV (1901)

What does 1 Samuel 4:15 say?

The American Standard Version records this verse as: “Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.” Read the surrounding verses and the named sources below before drawing broader conclusions.

The verse

Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.
1 Samuel 4:15 — American Standard Version

Context — 1 Samuel 4

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. Click any verse for its study page.
12And there ran a man of Benjamin out of the army, and came to Shiloh the same day, with his clothes rent, and with earth upon his head.
13And when he came, lo, Eli was sitting upon his seat by the wayside watching; for his heart trembled for the ark of God. And when the man came into the city, and told it, all the city cried out.
14And when Eli heard the noise of the crying, he said, What meaneth the noise of this tumult? And the man hasted, and came and told Eli.
15Now Eli was ninety and eight years old; and his eyes were set, so that he could not see.
16And the man said unto Eli, I am he that came out of the army, and I fled to-day out of the army. And he said, How went the matter, my son?
17And he that brought the tidings answered and said, Israel is fled before the Philistines, and there hath been also a great slaughter among the people, and thy two sons also, Hophni and Phinehas, are dead, and the ark of God is taken.
18And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that [Eli] feel from off his seat backward by the side of the gate; and his neck brake, and he died: for he was an old man, and heavy. And he had judged Israel forty years.
← 1 Samuel 4:141 Samuel 4:16 →
← Full Chapter 4 1 Samuel Overview

What do historical commentaries say?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · 18th-century historical commentary
“Now Eli was ninety eight years old, etc.] Which is very properly observed, he being now come to the end of his days, and which also accounts for his blindness after mentioned: and his eyes were dim, that he could not see; could not see the messenger, and read in his countenance, and perceive by his clothes rent, and earth on his head, that he was a bringer of bad tidings; or his eyes each of them “stood” f89; were fixed and immovable, as the eyes of blind men be. In (<090302>1 Samuel 3:2) it is said, “his eyes began to wax dim”; but here that they “were” become dim; and there might be some years between that time and this, for Samuel then was very young, but now more grown up: though…”
Read attributed excerpt →
Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · 19th-century historical commentary
“Dim - Rather, “set.” The word is quite different from that so rendered in 1 Samuel 3:2. The phrase seems to express the “fixed” state of the blind eye, which is not affected by the light. Eli’s blindness, while it made him alive to sounds, prevented his seeing the ripped garments and dust-besprinkled head of the messenger of bad news. return to 'Top of Page'”
Read attributed excerpt →
Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · Modern study notes
“4:15 blind: See 3:2 and corresponding study note.”
Read attributed excerpt →
Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · Cross-reference reference work
“ninety: Sa1 3:2; Psa 90:10 and his eyes: Gen 27:1 were dim: Heb. stood 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 4:16”
Read attributed excerpt →
Keil & Delitzsch
C. F. Keil & F. Delitzsch · Commentary on the Old Testament · 19th-century historical commentary
“Eli was ninety-eight years old, and "his eyes stood," i.e., were stiff, so that he could no more see (vid., Kg1 14:4). This is a description of the so-called black cataract (amaurosis), which generally occurs at a very great age from paralysis of the optic nerves. 1 Kings (1 Samuel) 4:16”
Read attributed excerpt →

Related study paths

Read 1 Samuel 4 in contextBrowse Hebrew word studiesOpen this verse in the study reader

Sources and verification