1 Samuel 4:13 Meaning and Explanation
“And when he came, lo, Eli sat upon a 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.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Eli waits anxiously by the road, his heart trembling for the ark; when the man reports the news, the whole city cries out.
What Does 1 Samuel 4:13 Mean?
Eli is found waiting by the roadside, his heart trembling, watching for news. For all his failures as a father, his deepest anxiety is for the ark of God, the sign of the Lord's presence with Israel. When the messenger enters the city and tells what happened, the whole town erupts in a cry of anguish.
There is something tender in Eli's trembling heart. His concern is not for himself but for the things of God, and that concern is genuine even though his life ends in judgment. A flawed servant can still love what is holy. The city's outcry shows that the people, too, felt the magnitude of the loss. Grief over the apparent absence of God among them was, in its own way, the first stirring of a heart that might yet turn back.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 4:13
What does 1 Samuel 4:13 mean?
Eli waits anxiously by the road, his heart trembling for the ark; when the man reports the news, the whole city cries out.