21 She named the boy Ichabod,[1] saying, "The Glory has departed from Israel"-because of the capture of the ark of God and the deaths of her father-in-law and her husband.

Other Translations of 1 Samuel 4:21

King James Version

21 And she named the child Ichabod, Ichabod: that is, Where is the glory? or, There is no glory saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.

English Standard Version

21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departedOr gone into exile; also verse 22 from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

The Message

21 The Chest of God gone, father-in-law dead, husband dead, she named the boy Ichabod (Glory's-Gone),

New King James Version

21 Then she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel!" because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.

New Living Translation

21 She named the child Ichabod (which means "Where is the glory?"), for she said, "Israel's glory is gone." She named him this because the Ark of God had been captured and because her father-in-law and husband were dead.

Matthew Henry's Commentary on 1 Samuel 4:21

Commentary on 1 Samuel 4:19-22

(Read 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 But though the glory is withdrawn from one sinful nation, city, or village after another, yet it shall never depart altogether, but shines forth in one place when eclipsed in another.