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H350 · Hebrew · Old Testament
אִי-כָבוֹד
Ikavod
Proper noun, masculine
Ichabod / Where is the glory?

Definition

The Hebrew name Ikavod means 'Where is the glory?' or 'No glory.' It is the name given to the son of Phinehas (grandson of Eli) by his dying mother upon hearing that the Ark of God had been captured by the Philistines. The name is a compound of i (no/where?) and kavod (glory), encapsulating a moment of supreme national and spiritual tragedy.

Usage & Theological Significance

The naming of Ikavod marks one of the darkest moments in Israel's early history. When the Ark — the symbol of God's presence and glory — was captured, the dying mother of Phinehas declared 'The glory has departed from Israel.' This event foreshadows a recurring Old Testament pattern: God's glory cannot be manipulated or presumed upon. The sin of Eli's sons (treating holy things with contempt) resulted in divine judgment. Kavod (glory) departing is the ultimate covenant curse — the withdrawal of God's presence.

Key Bible Verses

1 Samuel 4:21 She named the boy Ichabod, saying, 'The glory has departed from Israel' — because of the capture of the ark of God.
1 Samuel 4:22 She said, 'The glory has departed from Israel, for the ark of God has been captured.'
1 Samuel 14:3 Ahijah son of Ahitub, Ichabod's brother, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eli, the LORD's priest at Shiloh, was wearing an ephod.
Ezekiel 10:18 Then the glory of the LORD departed from over the threshold of the temple and stopped above the cherubim.
Psalm 78:61 He sent the ark of his might into captivity, his splendor into the hands of the enemy.

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