Illustration created for this project.

Ichabod

The son of Phinehas and grandson of Eli, born as the news came that the ark of God had been captured and both his father and grandfather were dead. His mother went into labour at the shock, and as she died the women told her she had borne a son; she did not answer, but named him Ichabod — 'the glory has departed from Israel'.

Role: Grandson of Eli

Lived: c. 11th century BC

Belonged to: Tribe of Levi

Tribe/lineage: Levi

Born: Shiloh

What we know — and how we know it

Bible — stated in scripture (with verse) · 3 Scholarly — supported scholarly belief · 1

Origin & birthplace

BibleFrom Shiloh.

1 Samuel 4:21

↳ Shiloh

Family & lineage

BibleSon of Phinehas.

1 Samuel 4:21

↳ Phinehas (son of Eli)

Tribe & people

BibleOf the tribe of Levi.

1 Samuel 4:21

Name & titles

ScholarlyThe name Ichabod (Hebrew I-kabod) is explained within the text itself as meaning 'no glory' or 'the glory has departed', built from the negative particle plus kabod, 'glory'; it was given at his birth in reaction to the capture of the ark and the deaths of Eli and Phinehas.

Hebrew etymology of I-kabod (particle 'i- + kabod 'glory'); the naming is glossed in the verse itself, a rare in-text folk etymology.

Where in scripture

1 Samuel

She named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel”; because God’s ark was taken, and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
1 Samuel 4:21 — 'The glory has departed'

including Ahijah, the son of Ahitub, Ichabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the priest of Yahweh in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. The people didn’t know that Jonathan was gone.
1 Samuel 14:3

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, a public-domain translation.

1 Samuel 4:21 1 Samuel 14:3

Related reading

Ichabod

What we know — and how we know it

Where in scripture

Family