1st Samuel Chapter 2 verse 18 Holy Bible
But Samuel ministered before Jehovah, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
read chapter 2 in ASV
But Samuel did the work of the Lord's house, while he was a child, dressed in a linen ephod.
read chapter 2 in BBE
And Samuel ministered before Jehovah, a boy girded with a linen ephod.
read chapter 2 in DARBY
But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
read chapter 2 in KJV
But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
read chapter 2 in WBT
But Samuel ministered before Yahweh, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
read chapter 2 in WEB
And Samuel is ministering `in' the presence of Jehovah, a youth girt `with' an ephod of linen;
read chapter 2 in YLT
Pulpit Commentary
Pulpit CommentaryVerse 18. - But Samuel ministered. While the misconduct of Eli's sons was thus bringing religion into contempt, and sapping the nation's morals, Samuel was advancing in years and piety, and was gaining that education which made him fit to retrieve the evil of their doings. He is still styled na'ar, a boy; for the word, according to the Rabbins, may be used up to fifteen years (1 Samuel 1:24). In the sense of servant there is no limit of age; and as it is the word translated "young men" in ver. 17, it probably means there not Eli's sons, but the servants by whose instrumentality their orders were actually carried out. Samuel's dress, an ephod of white linen, was probably that worn by the Levites in their ordinary ministrations; for the ephod of the priests was richer both in material and colour (Exodus 28:6-8). As being thus the simplest ministerial garment, it was apparently worn also by laymen when taking part in any religious service, as by David when he danced before the ark (2 Samuel 6:14).
Ellicott's Commentary
Ellicott's Commentary for English Readers(18) Ministered . . . being a child.--A striking contrast is intended to be drawn here between the covetous, self-seeking ministrations of the worldly priests and the quiet service of the boy devoted by his pious mother and father to the sanctuary service.Girded with a linen ephod.--The ephod was a priestly dress, which Samuel received in very early youth, because he had, with the high priest's formal sanction, been set apart for a life-long service before the Lord. This ephod was an official garment, and consisted of two pieces, which rested on the shoulders in front and behind, and were joined at the top, and fastened about the body with a girdle.
