1 Samuel 7:17 Meaning and Explanation
“And his return was to Ramah; for there was his house; and there he judged Israel; and there he built an altar unto the LORD.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Samuel always returns home to Ramah, where he judges Israel and builds an altar to the LORD.
What Does 1 Samuel 7:17 Mean?
At the end of each circuit Samuel returns to Ramah, the town that is his home. There too he judges Israel, and there he builds an altar to the LORD. His public service and his life of worship are rooted in one place, and the chapter closes with worship at its center.
The altar Samuel builds shows that his leadership flows from communion with God. He governs the people, yet he keeps a place of sacrifice and prayer at the heart of his home. Worship is not a detour from his work but its source and goal. So the chapter that began with longing for the LORD ends with an altar raised to Him, a fitting close to a story of return, deliverance, and a life centered on God.
1 Samuel 7:17 in the Original Language
mizbeach (מִזְבֵּחַ), 'altar' -- from a root meaning 'to slaughter,' a place of sacrifice and worship.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 7:17
What does 1 Samuel 7:17 mean?
Samuel always returns home to Ramah, where he judges Israel and builds an altar to the LORD.