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Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלdidוַיַּעַשׂwhatאֵת אֲשֶׁרYHWHיְהוָהhad spokenדִּבֶּרand cameוַיָּבֹאto Bethlehem.בֵּית לָחֶםThe eldersזִקְנֵיof the cityהָעִירtrembledוַיֶּחֶרְדוּto meet him,לִקְרָאתוֹand one said,וַיֹּאמֶר“Is your comingבּוֹאֶךָin peace?”שָׁלֹם
1 Samuel 16:4
Study it in the app“Samuel did what YHWH had spoken and came to Bethlehem. The elders of the city trembled to meet him, and one said, “Is your coming in peace?””
With the Hebrew beneath
1 Samuel 16:4, word by word
- Samuelשְׁמוּאֵלshemuel
Samuel
Samuel, the name of two persons. One was a chief of the tribe of Simeon (Numbers 34:20). The best known is the son of Elkanah and Hannah, prophet and last judge of Israel, who anointed the kings Saul and David. The name sounds like "heard by El" or "name of El."
Where else “shemuel” appears- didיַּעַשׂyaas
do
To carry out an act or to deal with someone in a certain way, for good or ill.
Where else “yaas” appears- YHWHיְהוָהyehva
YHWH
The personal name of the God of Israel, written in Hebrew with four letters, Y-H-W-H, without vowels. Out of reverence Jews stopped pronouncing it and read "Adonai" (Lord), so many Bibles put "the LORD" or "Jehovah". This translation keeps the four letters. The name is related to the verb "to be" (Exodus 3:14-15). He is not a god other than Elohim: "YHWH Elohim" is the same Creator God, called by his name.
Where else “yehva” appears- had spokenדִּבֶּרdiber
speak
To speak, say something; above all God to his people.
Where else “diber” appears- and cameיָּבֹאyavo
come
To come, arrive: "days are coming".
Where else “yavo” appears- to Bethlehemבֵּיתbet
Bethlehem
See it on the mapWhere else “bet” appears- The eldersזִקְנֵיzikne
elder
The senior men who led a city or the people.
Where else “zikne” appears- of the cityעִירir
city
A settled place protected by a wall, with a gate and houses.
Where else “ir” appears- trembledיֶּחֶרְדוּyecherdu
tremble
To shudder with fear, with surprise or before God's presence.
Where else “yecherdu” appears- to meet himקְרָאתkerat
meet
To go out toward someone who is coming, to meet him on the way.
Where else “kerat” appears- and one saidיֹּאמֶרyomer
say
To say with the mouth to someone what one thinks or wants, or to answer him.
Where else “yomer” appears- in peaceשָׁלֹםshalom
peace
Living without war or quarrels, in harmony.
Where else “shalom” appears
Translation note
The Hebrew says “and he said,” in the singular, without saying which of the elders spoke. It can be understood that they trembled because the prophet’s arrival could mean a judgment from God.
Places in this verse
Bethlehem
Today: Bethlehem (Bayt Lahm), West Bank
A town in Judea, about 5.5 miles (9 km) south of Jerusalem.
Rachel died near it (Gen 35:19), Naomi and Ruth lived there (Ruth 1:1), and David was born there. Micah said a ruler would come from it, and Jesus was born in Bethlehem (Mic 5:2; Matt 2:1).
The context
3Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will make known to you what you shall do; and you shall anoint for me the one I tell you.”
4 · This verse (above)
5He said, “In peace. I have come to sacrifice to YHWH. Sanctify yourselves and come with me to the sacrifice.” And he sanctified Jesse and his sons, and invited them to the sacrifice.