Boy Old Testament Rare
Ichabod
where is the glory? or, no glory
אִי־כָבוֹד i-kha.vod
Ichabod (Hebrew: אִי־כָבוֹד, i-kha.vod) means “where is the glory? or, no glory”, by traditional interpretation. It appears in 2 verses across 1 book of the Bible. In United States birth records the name is below the reporting threshold. Appears with Ahijah in 1 Samuel 14.
The bearer in scripture
One person in scripture bears this name.
-
Ichabod
son of Phinehas
Scripture against society
The two measures, side by side
At a glance
- Verses
- 2 across 1 book
- Bearers
- 1 one person only
- Testament
- Old
- Era
- United Monarchy
Using it today
In United States birth records this name is below the reporting threshold. The Social Security Administration does not publish counts under five, so a name given to four children looks the same as one given to none.
In scripture
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| First appears | 1 Samuel 4:21 |
| Last appears | 1 Samuel 14:3 |
| Cross-references | 30 linked passages |
Names connected to this one
- Phinehas co-occurrence Appears with Phinehas in 1 Samuel 14.
- Ahitub co-occurrence Appears with Ahitub in 1 Samuel 14.
- Ahimelech co-occurrence Appears with Ahimelech in 1 Samuel 14.
- Ahijah co-occurrence Appears with Ahijah in 1 Samuel 14.
- Ahimaaz co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Ahimaaz.
- Ahinoam co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Ahinoam.
- Eli co-occurrence Appears with Eli in 1 Samuel 14.
- Merab co-occurrence Appears in the same passages as Merab.
Origin & meaning
A man living at the time of United Monarchy, first mentioned at 1Sa.4.21;
son of: Phinehas (H6372H);
brother of: Ahitub (H0285)
§ Ichabod = "no glory"
a son of Phinehas, so named because of the capture of the Ark by the Philistines
Ichabod was the son of Phinehas, born when the ark of God was captured by the Philistines and named to reflect the departure of glory from Israel.
The biblical story
Ichabod is mentioned in 1Sa.4.21 and 1Sa.14.3 as the son of Phinehas and the grandson of Eli, the high priest of Israel. His birth is recorded in the context of a tragic event in Israel's history.
In 1 Samuel 4, the Israelites were defeated by the Philistines in battle, and the ark of the covenant, a symbol of God's presence, was captured. Upon hearing the news of the ark's capture and the deaths of her husband Phinehas and her father-in-law Eli, Ichabod's mother went into labor and gave birth to him. As she lay dying, she named the child Ichabod, saying, "The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured."
The name Ichabod means "no glory" or "where is the glory?" reflecting the despair and sense of loss felt by the Israelites at the capture of the ark and the death of the priestly family. The name serves as a reminder of the spiritual and moral decline of Israel during this period.
In 1Sa.14.3, Ichabod's brother Ahijah is mentioned as serving as a priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. This suggests that despite the tragic circumstances surrounding Ichabod's birth, the priestly lineage continued through his brother.
The story of Ichabod's birth highlights the importance of the ark of the covenant in Israelite worship and the devastating consequences of its capture by the Philistines. It also underscores the significance of names in the Bible, as they often reflect the circumstances or character of the individuals who bear them.
Key verses
Ichabod appears in 2 verses. Here are some of the most notable:
-
And she named the child I–chabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel: because the ark of God was taken, and because of her father in law and her husband.
1 Samuel 4:21 -
And Ahiah, the son of Ahitub, I–chabod’s brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the Lord’s priest in Shiloh, wearing an ephod. And the people knew not that Jonathan was gone.
1 Samuel 14:3
Show all 2 references
1 Samuel (2)
- 1 Samuel 4:21
- 1 Samuel 14:3