1 Samuel 4 7

1 Samuel 4:7 kjv

And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

1 Samuel 4:7 nkjv

So the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp!" And they said, "Woe to us! For such a thing has never happened before.

1 Samuel 4:7 niv

the Philistines were afraid. "A god has come into the camp," they said. "Oh no! Nothing like this has happened before.

1 Samuel 4:7 esv

the Philistines were afraid, for they said, "A god has come into the camp." And they said, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before.

1 Samuel 4:7 nlt

they panicked. "The gods have come into their camp!" they cried. "This is a disaster! We have never had to face anything like this before!

1 Samuel 4 verses

1 Samuel 4 7 Meaning

This verse vividly portrays the intense fear and despair of the Philistines upon realizing the Ark of the Covenant, representing the presence of the God of Israel, had entered the Israelite camp. Their cry, "Woe to us! For nothing like this has happened before," reflects a recognition of a unique and terrifying divine power, unlike any threat they had previously encountered, recalling powerful historical acts of Israel's God.

1 Samuel 4 7 Context

1 Samuel Chapter 4 details a pivotal moment in Israel's history at the end of the period of Judges, marking the decline of the priestly house of Eli and foreshadowing the transition to monarchy. The Philistines, a dominant foreign power, were at war with Israel. Initially, Israel suffers a significant defeat, losing 4,000 men. In response, the Israelite elders decide to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh, viewing it as a tangible talisman or "good luck charm" that would guarantee victory, rather than understanding it as a symbol of God's holy presence contingent on their obedience. This verse specifically describes the Philistines' reaction before the battle's devastating outcome, highlighting their pagan perspective on deity—believing that God, like their idols, could be physically transported and directly enter a battlefield. Their immediate memory flashes back to God's powerful actions in Egypt and the wilderness.

1 Samuel 4 7 Word analysis

• And the Philistines: (וּפְלִשְׁתִּים, uphlish'tîm). The Philistines were an Aegean people who settled along the southwestern coast of Canaan. They were Israel's perennial, technologically superior enemy, known for their iron weapons and formidable military. Their inclusion highlights a contrast in understanding between a polytheistic culture and the monotheistic Yahwism.
• were afraid: (וַיִּרְאוּ, vayyir'û). This is the Hebrew verb יָרֵא (yare'), meaning to fear, be afraid, or revere. Here, it denotes terror, panic, and dread, stemming from a belief in a powerful divine presence rather than a physical army. It implies a recognition of a supernatural force.
• for they said: (כִּי אָמְרוּ, kî ’amrû). Introduces the Philistines' internal reasoning and interpretation of the Ark's arrival.
• God: (אֱלֹהִים, ’Elohim). This generic Hebrew term for God, gods, or divine beings. While the Philistines worshiped gods like Dagon, they recognized a supreme divine entity associated with Israel. Their use of Elohim here suggests a pragmatic understanding of powerful divinity, attributing specific deeds to Israel's Elohim, distinct from their own Pantheon. This does not necessarily mean they converted to Yahwism but acknowledged its powerful manifestion.
• has come: (בָּא, bā') into the camp: (בַּמַּחֲנֶה, bammachaněh). Their interpretation reflects a pagan worldview where gods could physically move into or dwell within objects or specific locations, endowing them with power. They misunderstood God's omnipresence and transcendence, believing Yahweh had physically entered Israel's camp in the form of the Ark, making Him more immediately potent for battle.

Words-group analysis

• God has come into the camp: This phrase encapsulates the Philistines' mistaken yet profound awe. They viewed the Ark not merely as a symbol, but as the literal vehicle for God's immanent presence. This immediate and concrete perception of divine power fueled their terror. It represents a theological misunderstanding of God's nature – He is not contained by objects or locations in the same way pagan deities were.
• Woe to us!: (אֽוֹי־לָ֣נוּ, ’ôy-lānû). This is a strong Hebrew interjection expressing lament, grief, or foreboding. It indicates deep despair and a sense of impending doom. It often signifies a state of being utterly undone, frequently used in the context of divine judgment.
• For nothing like this has happened before: (כִּי לֹא הָיְתָה כָזֹאת אֶתְמוֹל שִׁלְשׁוֹם, kî lo’ hayětah kazō’t ’etmol shilshōm). This phrase literally means "for not has happened like this yesterday, day before yesterday." It's an idiomatic expression signifying "never before," or "nothing like this in the past." It points to their collective historical memory, particularly of the Exodus events (plagues, Red Sea) where the God of Israel powerfully intervened to destroy enemies. The Philistines, from Canaanite memory and their own dealings with Israel, understood the scale of this "God's" past interventions, implying that this current intervention would be unparalleled in their experience. It signifies their recognition of divine agency on an unprecedented level against them personally.

1 Samuel 4 7 Bonus section

The Philistines' reaction also reveals a subtle polemic against their own gods. Their gods, like Dagon, did not intervene in the same tangible, earth-shaking way that the God of Israel was reported to have done. When this God entered the camp, it was met with dread, not with the typical ritualistic defiance of pagan warfare. Their fear indicates that the power of ’Elohim was seen as superior to their own deities, foreshadowing the complete humiliation of Dagon before the Ark in the very next chapter (1 Sam 5). This event served not only as a warning to Israel about presumption but also as an unmistakable demonstration of God's incomparable sovereignty to the surrounding nations.

1 Samuel 4 7 Commentary

1 Samuel 4:7 offers a striking moment of theological irony. The Israelites, custodians of the true God's covenant, treat the Ark as a magic charm, indicative of their deep spiritual decay and misunderstanding of God's holy and relational nature. In stark contrast, the pagan Philistines, though operating from a polytheistic worldview, demonstrate a clearer grasp of Yahweh's formidable power, interpreting the Ark's arrival as the personal and terrifying presence of the Israelite deity. Their fear is rooted in historical memory—they had heard of the plagues and the Red Sea.

Their cry of "Woe to us!" is an acknowledgment of ultimate divine power, bringing an acute sense of hopelessness. This episode highlights that while humans may attempt to manipulate or control God (as Israel did with the Ark), His sovereign power remains unleashed according to His will, often manifesting in unexpected ways to challenge both His own people's complacency and His enemies' false security. The Philistines' response, despite their paganism, stands as a testimony to God's inherent might, perceived even by those outside His covenant.