1 Samuel 7:12
New International Version
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

New Living Translation
Samuel then took a large stone and placed it between the towns of Mizpah and Jeshanah. He named it Ebenezer (which means “the stone of help”), for he said, “Up to this point the LORD has helped us!”

English Standard Version
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, “Till now the LORD has helped us.”

Berean Standard Bible
Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

King James Bible
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

New King James Version
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

New American Standard Bible
Then Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, “So far the LORD has helped us.”

NASB 1995
Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

NASB 1977
Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

Legacy Standard Bible
Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it Ebenezer. And he said, “Thus far Yahweh has helped us.”

Amplified Bible
Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he named it Ebenezer (stone of help), saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”

Christian Standard Bible
Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, “The LORD has helped us to this point.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it upright between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, explaining, “The LORD has helped us to this point.”

American Standard Version
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath Jehovah helped us.

English Revised Version
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Then Samuel took a rock and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer [Rock of Help] and said, "Until now the LORD has helped us."

Good News Translation
Then Samuel took a stone, set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and said, "The LORD has helped us all the way"--and he named it "Stone of Help."

International Standard Version
Then Samuel took a stone, placed it between Mizpah and Shen and named it Ebenezer. He said, "The LORD has helped us this far."

Majority Standard Bible
Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, ?Thus far the LORD has helped us.?

NET Bible
Samuel took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, "Up to here the LORD has helped us."

New Heart English Bible
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Jashan, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, "The LORD helped us until now."

Webster's Bible Translation
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.

World English Bible
Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called its name Ebenezer, saying, “Yahweh helped us until now.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And Samuel takes a stone, and sets [it] between Mizpeh and Shen, and calls its name Eben-Ezer, saying, “Until now YHWH has helped us.”

Young's Literal Translation
And Samuel taketh a stone, and setteth it between Mizpeh and Shen, and calleth its name Eben-Ezer, saying, 'Hitherto hath Jehovah helped us.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And Samuel will take one stone and set between Mizpeh and between Shen, and he will call its name the Stone of Help; and he will say, Till now Jehovah helped us.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And Samuel took a stone, and laid it between Masphath and Sen: and he called the place, the Stone of help. And he said: Thus far the Lord hath helped us.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Then Samuel took a single stone, and he placed it between Mizpah and Shen. And he called the name of this place: The Stone of Assistance. And he said, “For in this place the Lord gave assistance to us.”

New American Bible
Samuel then took a stone and placed it between Mizpah and Jeshanah; he named it Ebenezer, explaining, “As far as this place the LORD has been our help.”

New Revised Standard Version
Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Jeshanah, and named it Ebenezer; for he said, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpeh and Beth-jashan, and called its name Rock of Help, and he said, Hitherto the LORD has helped us.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And Shemueil took one stone and set it between Metspaya and Bayth Yashan, and he called its name, Keepha D’Eudrana“The Rock of Help”, and he said: “Thus far LORD JEHOVAH has helped us”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and called the name of it Eben-ezer, saying: 'Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And Samuel took a stone, and set it up between Massephath and the old city; and he called the name of it Abenezer, stone of the helper; and he said, Hitherto has the Lord helped us.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Samuel Subdues the Philistines
11Then the men of Israel charged out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines, striking them down all the way to an area below Beth-car. 12Afterward, Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” 13So the Philistines were subdued, and they stopped invading the territory of Israel. And the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.…

Cross References
Joshua 4:7
you are to tell them, ‘The waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters were cut off.’ Therefore these stones will be a memorial to the Israelites forever.”

Genesis 28:18
Early the next morning, Jacob took the stone that he had placed under his head, and he set it up as a pillar. He poured oil on top of it,

Joshua 24:26-27
Joshua recorded these things in the Book of the Law of God. Then he took a large stone and set it up there under the oak that was near the sanctuary of the LORD. / And Joshua said to all the people, “You see this stone. It will be a witness against us, for it has heard all the words the LORD has spoken to us, and it will be a witness against you if you ever deny your God.”

Judges 15:20
And Samson judged Israel for twenty years in the days of the Philistines.

Isaiah 37:31-32
And the surviving remnant of the house of Judah will again take root below and bear fruit above. / For a remnant will go forth from Jerusalem, and survivors from Mount Zion. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.

Psalm 103:2
Bless the LORD, O my soul, and do not forget all His kind deeds—

Psalm 124:8
Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 145:18
The LORD is near to all who call on Him, to all who call out to Him in truth.

Psalm 46:1
For the choirmaster. Of the sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A song. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble.

Psalm 121:1-2
A song of ascents. I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? / My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

Psalm 77:11-12
I will remember the works of the LORD; yes, I will remember Your wonders of old. / I will reflect on all You have done and ponder Your mighty deeds.

Psalm 105:5
Remember the wonders He has done, His marvels, and the judgments He has pronounced,

Isaiah 12:4
and on that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD; proclaim His name! Make His works known among the peoples; declare that His name is exalted.

Isaiah 25:1
O LORD, You are my God! I will exalt You; I will praise Your name. For You have worked wonders—plans formed long ago—in perfect faithfulness.

Matthew 1:23
“Behold, the virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means, “God with us”).


Treasury of Scripture

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Till now has the LORD helped us.

took a stone

Genesis 28:18,19
And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it…

Genesis 31:45-52
And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar…

Genesis 35:14
And Jacob set up a pillar in the place where he talked with him, even a pillar of stone: and he poured a drink offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon.

Eben-ezer.

1 Samuel 4:1
And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek.

1 Samuel 5:1
And the Philistines took the ark of God, and brought it from Ebenezer unto Ashdod.

Genesis 22:14
And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.

Hitherto

Psalm 71:6,17
By thee have I been holden up from the womb: thou art he that took me out of my mother's bowels: my praise shall be continually of thee…

Isaiah 46:3,4
Hearken unto me, O house of Jacob, and all the remnant of the house of Israel, which are borne by me from the belly, which are carried from the womb: …

Acts 26:22
Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come:

Jump to Previous
Ebenezer Eben-Ezer Ebene'zer Help Helped Hitherto Jeshanah Jesha'nah Mizpah Mizpeh Samuel Stone
Jump to Next
Ebenezer Eben-Ezer Ebene'zer Help Helped Hitherto Jeshanah Jesha'nah Mizpah Mizpeh Samuel Stone
1 Samuel 7
1. They of Kiriath Jearim bring the ark to Abinadab, and sanctify Eleazar as guard
2. After twenty years,
3. the Israelites, by Samuel's means, solemnly repent at Mizpeh
7. While Samuel prays and sacrifices,
10. the Lord thwarts the Philistines by thunder at Ebenezer
13. The Philistines are subdued
15. Samuel judges Israel














Afterward, Samuel took a stone
The act of taking a stone signifies a deliberate and intentional action by Samuel, the last judge of Israel and a prophet. In the Hebrew context, stones were often used as memorials or witnesses to significant events (Genesis 28:18, Joshua 4:9). Samuel's choice to use a stone underscores the permanence and solidity of God's intervention in Israel's history. It serves as a tangible reminder of divine faithfulness.

and set it up between Mizpah and Shen
The geographical markers, Mizpah and Shen, are significant in understanding the historical context. Mizpah was a place of gathering and judgment (Judges 20:1), while Shen, though less known, indicates a specific location that would be recognized by the people. By setting the stone between these places, Samuel creates a physical and spiritual landmark, a testament to God's deliverance in a specific historical context.

He named it Ebenezer
The name "Ebenezer" comes from the Hebrew words "Eben" (stone) and "Ezer" (help). This naming is deeply symbolic, as it encapsulates the essence of the event: a stone of help. The name itself becomes a theological statement, a declaration of God's providence and assistance. It is a reminder that God is a present help in times of trouble (Psalm 46:1).

saying, 'Thus far the LORD has helped us.'
This phrase is a profound acknowledgment of God's continuous support and intervention. The Hebrew word for "helped" is "azar," which implies assistance and support. The phrase "Thus far" suggests a journey, a narrative of ongoing divine involvement in the life of Israel. It is both a statement of gratitude for past help and a faith-filled anticipation of future guidance. This acknowledgment serves as an inspiration for believers to recognize and remember God's faithfulness in their own lives, encouraging trust and reliance on Him for the future.

(12) Between Mizpeh and Shen.--The situation of Ha-Shen, "The Tooth," has not yet been identified. It probably denotes a peak or crag, a prominent rock formation, so named, like the modern French dent--a favourite name for a peak in some districts of the Alps and Pyrenees: e.g., Dent du Midi.

Verse 12. - Then Samuel took a stone, and... called the name of it Eben-ezer. We saw on ch. 4. I that the place where Israel then suffered defeat, but which now received a more happy name, was an open plain, over which the people now chased their then victorious enemies. Here, then, Samuel set up a memorial, according to Jewish custom, and called its name Help stone. In giving his reason for it, hitherto hath Jehovah helped us, there is a plain indication of the need of further assistance. There was a long struggle before them, and Jehovah, who had aided them so mightily at its beginning, would also help them unto the end. The memorial stood halfway between Mizpeh and Shen, both which names have the article in Hebrew, because one signifies the watchtower, the other the tooth. It was a steep, pointed rock, but is not mentioned elsewhere. Dent, the French for tooth, is a common name for mountains in the Alps and Pyrenees.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Afterward, Samuel
שְׁמוּאֵ֜ל (šə·mū·’êl)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 8050: Samuel -- 'name of God', a prophet of Israel

took
וַיִּקַּ֨ח (way·yiq·qaḥ)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 3947: To take

a
אַחַ֗ת (’a·ḥaṯ)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

stone
אֶ֣בֶן (’e·ḇen)
Noun - feminine singular construct
Strong's 68: A stone

and set [it] up
וַיָּ֤שֶׂם (way·yā·śem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7760: Put -- to put, place, set

between
בֵּֽין־ (bên-)
Preposition
Strong's 996: An interval, space between

Mizpah
הַמִּצְפָּה֙ (ham·miṣ·pāh)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 4709: Mizpah -- the name of several places in Israel

and Shen.
הַשֵּׁ֔ן (haš·šên)
Article | Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 8129: Shen -- 'tooth', a place near Mizpah

He named
וַיִּקְרָ֥א (way·yiq·rā)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 7121: To call, proclaim, read

it Ebenezer,
הָעָ֑זֶר (hā·‘ā·zer)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 72: Ebenezer -- 'stone of the help', a place of uncertain location, also a commemorative stone

saying,
וַיֹּאמַ֕ר (way·yō·mar)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“Thus
הֵ֖נָּה (hên·nāh)
Adverb
Strong's 2008: Hither, thither

far
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

the LORD
יְהוָֽה׃ (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

has helped us.”
עֲזָרָ֥נוּ (‘ă·zā·rā·nū)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular | first person common plural
Strong's 5826: To surround, protect, aid


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OT History: 1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 7:11
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