1 Samuel 4:20

KJV

And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard [it].

KJV (with Strong's)

And about the time {H6256} of her death {H4191} the women that stood {H5324} by her said {H1696} unto her, Fear {H3372} not; for thou hast born {H3205} a son {H1121}. But she answered {H6030} not, neither did she regard {H7896}{H3820} it.

Complete Jewish Bible

As she was dying, the women standing by her said to her, "Don't be afraid, because you have given birth to a son." But she didn't answer or show any sign of recognition.

Berean Standard Bible

As she was dying, the women attending to her said, “Do not be afraid, for you have given birth to a son!” But she did not respond or pay any heed.

American Standard Version

And about the time of her death the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast brought forth a son. But she answered not, neither did she regard it.

Commentary

### SUMMARY
1 Samuel 4:20 captures a moment of profound, almost unbearable tragedy, depicting the final moments of Phinehas's wife before she succumbs to the shock of national catastrophe. Despite the culturally significant and joyful news from the attending women that she has given birth to a son, her overwhelming despair over the loss of God's presence and glory to Israel renders her completely unresponsive, highlighting a spiritual anguish that transcends any personal blessing.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** This verse is the climactic point of a devastating sequence of events for Israel and the priestly house of Eli. The narrative immediately precedes it details Israel's humiliating defeat by the Philistines and, crucially, the capture of the Ark of the Covenant, the sacred symbol of God's presence among His people ([1 Samuel 4:11](/1_samuel/4-11 "1 Samuel 4:11 - The Capture of the Ark")). News of this catastrophe, coupled with the deaths of Eli's two wicked sons, Hophni and Phinehas, leads to the death of Eli himself, who falls backward and breaks his neck upon hearing that the Ark of God has been taken ([1 Samuel 4:18](/1_samuel/4-18 "1 Samuel 4:18 - Eli's Death")). It is into this maelstrom of national and personal loss that Phinehas's pregnant wife, overwhelmed by the cumulative shock, goes into premature and difficult labor. The women attending her attempt to offer comfort by announcing the birth of a male child, a source of immense joy and blessing in ancient Israelite society, yet their words fall on deaf ears.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** The Ark of the Covenant was not merely a religious artifact; it was the tangible representation of God's dwelling among His people, housed in the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle. Its capture by the Philistines was therefore perceived as the ultimate sign of God's judgment and departure from Israel, a theological disaster far outweighing any military defeat. In ancient Israelite culture, bearing a son was a profound blessing, ensuring the continuation of the family line, inheritance, and social standing. Childbirth, though often dangerous, was a moment of great celebration, especially for a male heir. The women's attempt to comfort Phinehas's wife with the news of her son's birth reflects this cultural value, expecting it to alleviate her distress. However, her reaction subverts this expectation, demonstrating that for her, the national spiritual calamity eclipsed all personal joy.
* **Key Themes:** The passage powerfully underscores several critical themes. First, it highlights the **profound consequences of priestly corruption** and Israel's sin, which led to divine judgment and the perceived withdrawal of God's presence. The capture of the Ark, central to the narrative in [1 Samuel 4](/1_samuel/4 "1 Samuel 4 - The Ark Captured"), is the starkest manifestation of this judgment. Second, it emphasizes the **priority of spiritual realities over temporal blessings**. Despite the immense cultural value of a male birth, the mother's focus remains solely on the loss of God's glory, foreshadowing the naming of her son Ichabod, meaning "the glory has departed" ([1 Samuel 4:21](/1_samuel/4-21 "1 Samuel 4:21 - Ichabod's Name")). This demonstrates a deep spiritual discernment, recognizing that true well-being is tied to God's active presence among His people. Finally, the verse introduces the theme of **divine sovereignty and the transition of leadership**, as the era of Eli's corrupt priesthood ends and the stage is set for the rise of Samuel, who will eventually lead Israel back to God ([1 Samuel 7](/1_samuel/7 "1 Samuel 7 - Israel's Deliverance")).

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
#### Key Word Analysis
* **regard (Hebrew, _śûm_):** The Hebrew verb שׂוּם (_śûm_) carries a wide range of meanings, including "to put, place, set, appoint, establish, lay, make, regard, consider." In this context, "neither did she regard [it]" (וְלֹא שָׂמָה לִבָּהּ, _wəlo’ śāmâ libbāh_) is a powerful idiom literally meaning "she did not set her heart upon it" or "she did not give her mind to it." This conveys not merely a lack of attention but a profound and absolute indifference or inability to process the information, indicating that her mental and emotional faculties were entirely consumed by the national tragedy, rendering the personal joy utterly meaningless.
* **answered not (Hebrew, _ʿānāh_):** The Hebrew verb עָנָה (_ʿānāh_) means "to answer, respond, testify, sing." The phrase "she answered not" (וְלֹא עָנָתָה, _wəlo’ ʿānāṯāh_) signifies her complete silence and unresponsiveness. This is more than just a lack of verbal reply; it indicates a state of profound shock, despair, and perhaps even a catatonic withdrawal from her surroundings. It underscores the depth of her anguish, rendering her incapable of the expected joyful reaction to the news of her son's birth.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"And about the time of her death":** This phrase indicates that she was at the point of collapse or near-death due to the extreme shock and the trauma of premature labor. It does not necessarily mean she literally died at that exact moment, but rather that her physical and emotional state was so dire that death was imminent or she was already fading. This sets a somber, urgent tone for the scene.
* **"the women that stood by her said unto her, Fear not; for thou hast born a son.":** The attending women, recognizing her distress and the danger of her condition, attempted to comfort her. Their words "Fear not" are a common biblical reassurance, and the news "thou hast born a son" was intended to be the ultimate source of joy and hope, a blessing that would typically overshadow any pain or fear associated with childbirth in ancient Israelite society. This highlights the cultural significance of male offspring.
* **"But she answered not, neither did she regard [it].":** This is the poignant climax of the verse. Despite the life-affirming news and the attempted comfort, she remains utterly silent and unresponsive. Her inability to "answer" or "regard" (i.e., pay attention to or care about) the birth of her son powerfully conveys her complete emotional and spiritual devastation. Her mind was so consumed by the catastrophic loss of the Ark and the glory of God that personal joy held no meaning for her.

#### Literary Devices
The verse is rich in **Irony**, presenting the paradox of a life-affirming birth occurring amidst overwhelming death and despair. The women's joyful pronouncement of a son is met with absolute silence and indifference, creating a stark contrast that highlights the depth of the mother's spiritual anguish. This **Contrast** between expected joy and actual despair amplifies the tragedy. The scene also employs **Pathos**, evoking deep sympathy for the suffering woman, whose personal pain is inextricably linked to the national spiritual crisis. Furthermore, the verse serves as powerful **Foreshadowing**, setting the stage for the naming of her son Ichabod in the very next verse ([1 Samuel 4:21](/1_samuel/4-21 "1 Samuel 4:21 - Ichabod's Name")), which explicitly articulates the "departure of glory" that her silence already profoundly communicates. The narrative structure uses **Juxtaposition** to place the personal (the birth) against the national (the Ark's capture), demonstrating how deeply individual lives were intertwined with the spiritual state of the community and God's presence.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
This verse serves as a stark theological commentary on the profound significance of God's presence among His people and the devastating consequences of its perceived withdrawal. For Phinehas's wife, the loss of the Ark, symbolizing God's glory, was a catastrophe so immense that it rendered even the most cherished personal blessing—the birth of a son—meaningless. Her reaction prioritizes spiritual reality over temporal joy, illustrating that true life and hope are rooted in God's active presence and favor, not merely in material or familial blessings. This underscores a critical biblical principle: the spiritual health and glory of God's people are paramount, and their absence can overshadow all other forms of prosperity. The scene is a powerful indictment of the spiritual decay in Israel under Eli's priesthood, demonstrating how corporate sin can lead to divine judgment and a palpable sense of God's departure.

* [Psalm 78:60-61](/psalms/78-60 "Psalm 78:60-61 - God Abandons Shiloh")
* [Hosea 9:12](/hosea/9-12 "Hosea 9:12 - Woe to Them When I Depart")
* [Ezekiel 10:18-19](/ezekiel/10-18 "Ezekiel 10:18-19 - The Glory of the Lord Departs")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
The profound despair of Phinehas's wife in 1 Samuel 4:20 challenges us to examine our own priorities and sources of joy. In a world that often measures success and happiness by personal achievements, material possessions, or familial blessings, this verse reminds us that true, lasting joy and security are fundamentally tied to God's active presence and glory in our lives and communities. Her indifference to the birth of her son, a blessing of immense cultural value, highlights a spiritual discernment that recognized the ultimate catastrophe was not personal loss but the perceived departure of God's glory from Israel. This prompts us to consider what truly devastates us: personal setbacks or the spiritual decline of our churches and nations? It calls us to cultivate a heart that grieves over the absence of God's manifest presence and rejoices in His glory above all else, recognizing that when God's glory departs, all other blessings can feel hollow. It also serves as a sobering reminder that the corporate spiritual health of God's people has tangible consequences, impacting individual lives in profound ways.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **What are the "Arks" in my life—the symbols or sources of God's presence—that I prioritize above all else?**
* **How deeply do I grieve or rejoice over the spiritual state of my community or nation, compared to my personal circumstances?**
* **In times of personal crisis or national upheaval, what is my ultimate source of comfort and hope? Is it God's presence, or something else?**
* **How might my own spiritual apathy or the corporate sin of my community contribute to a sense of God's glory departing?**

### FAQ
**Why is her "death" mentioned if she doesn't die in this verse?**

Answer: The phrase "about the time of her death" (כְּמוֹתָהּ, _kəmoṯāh_) is often understood idiomatically to mean "as she was dying" or "at the point of death." It describes her extreme physical and emotional collapse, indicating that she was in a critical, life-threatening condition due to the shock and premature labor. While she doesn't literally die at that exact moment, the phrase powerfully conveys the imminence of her demise and the severity of her state, setting the stage for her eventual death in the following verse after naming her son Ichabod ([1 Samuel 4:21](/1_samuel/4-21 "1 Samuel 4:21 - Ichabod's Name")).

**What was the significance of bearing a son in ancient Israelite culture?**

Answer: In ancient Israel, bearing a son was of immense cultural, social, and religious significance. Sons ensured the continuation of the family line, preserved the family name, inherited property, and provided security for parents in their old age. A male heir was considered a divine blessing and a sign of God's favor. Conversely, barrenness or the absence of a son was often a source of great sorrow and even social stigma. The women's announcement of a son's birth was therefore intended as the most comforting and joyous news possible, meant to elicit a positive, celebratory response from Phinehas's wife.

**Why was the Ark's capture so devastating to Phinehas's wife and to Israel?**

Answer: The Ark of the Covenant was the most sacred object in Israel, representing the very presence and glory of Yahweh among His people. It was housed in the Most Holy Place of the tabernacle and later the temple, symbolizing God's throne and His covenant relationship with Israel ([Exodus 25:22](/exodus/25-22 "Exodus 25:22 - The Mercy Seat")). Its capture by the Philistines was not merely a military defeat but a profound theological catastrophe. It was perceived as God's judgment on Israel's sin and the corrupt priesthood of Eli's sons, signifying that God had "departed" from His people, leaving them vulnerable and without His divine protection. For Phinehas's wife, this loss of God's glory (which she explicitly articulates in [1 Samuel 4:21](/1_samuel/4-21 "1 Samuel 4:21 - Ichabod's Name")) was a spiritual blow so immense that it overshadowed all personal joy, including the birth of her son.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
The tragic cry of "the glory has departed" (Ichabod) in 1 Samuel 4:20-21, stemming from the loss of the Ark, foreshadows a far greater "departure" and a more glorious "return" in the person of Jesus Christ. The Ark symbolized God's presence, but it was a localized and limited presence, vulnerable to capture and ultimately a shadow of the true divine indwelling. When Jesus, the very "radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being" ([Hebrews 1:3](/hebrews/1-3 "Hebrews 1:3 - The Radiance of God's Glory")), came into the world, He was the ultimate embodiment of God's glory dwelling among humanity ([John 1:14](/john/1-14 "John 1:14 - The Word Became Flesh")). Yet, Israel, in its spiritual blindness, rejected Him, leading to a profound "departure" of God's glory from the temple and Jerusalem, culminating in the crucifixion and the subsequent destruction of the temple ([Matthew 23:37-38](/matthew/23-37 "Matthew 23:37-38 - Jesus Laments Over Jerusalem")). However, unlike the temporary loss of the Ark, Christ's departure through death was not a defeat but a victory, paving the way for the ultimate return of God's glory through the resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Through Christ, God's glory did not merely return to a physical temple but now indwells believers, making them "temples of the Holy Spirit" ([1 Corinthians 6:19](/1_corinthians/6-19 "1 Corinthians 6:19 - Your Body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit")). Thus, the despair over "Ichabod" finds its ultimate answer in Christ, who ensures that God's glory, once perceived as departed, is now eternally present with His people through His Spirit, a presence that can never be taken away ([John 14:16-17](/john/14-16 "John 14:16-17 - The Promise of the Holy Spirit")).

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

John 16:21

A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.

Psalms 77:2

In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted.

Genesis 35:17

And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

Genesis 35:18

And it came to pass, as her soul was in departing, (for she died) that she called his name Benoni: but his father called him Benjamin.