1 Samuel 4 · Verse 19

1 Samuel 4:19

And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, 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; for her pains came upon her.
1 Samuel 4:19, King James Version

1 Samuel 4:19 in other translations

BSBNow Eli’s daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was pregnant and about to give birth. When she heard the news of the capture of God’s ark and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband, she collapsed and gave birth, for her labor pains overtook her.
WEBHis daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, near to giving birth. When she heard the news that God’s ark was taken and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, she bowed herself and gave birth; for her pains came on her.
ASVAnd his daughter-in-law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, 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 brought forth; for her pains came upon her.
YLTAnd his daughter-in-law, wife of Phinehas, is pregnant, about to bear, and she heareth the report of the taking of the ark of God, that her father-in-law and her husband have died, and she boweth, and beareth, for her pains have turned upon her.
DARBYAnd his daughter-in-law, Phinehas' wife, was with child, 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; for her pains came upon her.
BBEAnd his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was with child and near the time when she would give birth; and when she had the news that the ark of God had been taken and that her father-in-law and her husband were dead, her pains came on her suddenly and she gave birth.
WebsterAnd his daughter-in-law, the wife of Phinehas, was with child 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; for her pains came upon her.

What does 1 Samuel 4:19 mean?

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 19 And his daughter-in-law - This is another very affecting story; the defeat of Israel, the capture of the ark, the death of her father-in-law, and the slaughter of her husband, were more than a woman in her circumstances, near the time of her delivery could bear. She bowed, travailed, was delivered of a son, gave the child a name indicative of the ruined state of Israel, and expired!

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 4:19-22
The wife of Phinehas seems to have been a person of piety. Her dying regret was for the loss of the ark, and the departure of the glory from Israel. What is any earthly joy to her that feels herself dying? No joy but that which is spiritual and divine, will stand in any stead then; death is too serious a thing to admit the relish of any earthly joy. What is it to one that is lamenting the loss of the ark? What pleasure can we take in our creature comforts and enjoyments, if we want God's word and ordinances; especially if we want the comfort of his gracious presence, and the light of his countenance? If God go, the glory goes, and all good goes. Woe unto us if he depart! But though the glory is withdrawn from one sinful nation, city, or village after another, yet it shall never depart altogether, but shines forth in one place when eclipsed in another.

Matthew Henry, 1706 · public domain

1 Samuel 4:19 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וְכַלָּת֣וֹve.kha.la.Toand daughter-in-law hisH3618
אֵֽשֶׁת\־'e.shet-[the] wife ofH802
פִּינְחָס֮pi.ne.ChasPhinehasH6372
הָרָ֣הha.Rah[was] pregnantH2030
לָלַת֒la.Latto give birthH3205
וַתִּשְׁמַ֣עva.tish.Ma'and she heardH8085
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
הַשְּׁמֻעָ֔הha.she.mu.'Ahthe reportH8052
אֶל\־'el-concerningH413
הִלָּקַח֙hi.la.Kach[the] being taken ofH3947
אֲר֣וֹן'a.Ron[the] ark ofH727
הָאֱלֹהִ֔יםha.'E.lo.Him<the> GodH430
וּמֵ֥תu.Metand he had diedH4191
חָמִ֖יהָcha.Mi.hafather-in-law herH2524
וְאִישָׁ֑הּve.'i.Shahand husband herH376
וַתִּכְרַ֣עva.tikh.Ra'and she bowed downH3766
וַתֵּ֔לֶדva.Te.ledand she gave birthH3205
כִּֽי\־ki-forH3588
נֶהֶפְכ֥וּne.hef.Khuthey turnedH2015
עָלֶ֖יהָ'a.Lei.haon herH5921
צִרֶֽיהָ\׃tzi.Rei.hapangs herH6735

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
be delivered. or, cry out. came upon her. Heb. were turned.

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 4:18

    And it came to pass, when he made mention of the ark of God, that he fell from off the 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 4:19

    And his daughter in law, Phinehas’ wife, was with child, 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; for her pains came upon her.

  • 1 Samuel 4:20

    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.

Read all of 1 Samuel 4

1 Samuel 4:19 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y su nuera, la mujer de Phinees, que estaba preñada, cercana al parto, oyendo el rumor que el arca de Dios era tomada, y muertos su suegro y su marido, encorvóse y parió; porque sus dolores se habían ya derramado por ella.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et sa belle-fille, femme de Phinées, était enceinte, près d’accoucher; et elle entendit la nouvelle que l’arche de Dieu était prise, et que son beau-père et son mari étaient morts, et elle se courba et enfanta, car les douleurs la surprirent.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und seine Schwiegertochter, das Weib des Pinehas, war schwanger zum Gebären; und als sie die Nachricht hörte, daß die Lade Gottes genommen, und daß ihr Schwiegervater und ihr Mann tot wären, da sank sie nieder und gebar, denn es überfielen sie ihre Wehen.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Nurus autem ejus, uxor Phinees, prægnans erat, vicinaque partui: et audito nuntio quod capta esset arca Dei, et mortuus esset socer suus et vir suus, incurvavit se et peperit: irruerant enim in eam dolores subiti.