1 Samuel 4 8

1 Samuel 4:8 kjv

Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

1 Samuel 4:8 nkjv

Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

1 Samuel 4:8 niv

We're doomed! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? They are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

1 Samuel 4:8 esv

Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the power of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every sort of plague in the wilderness.

1 Samuel 4:8 nlt

Help! Who can save us from these mighty gods of Israel? They are the same gods who destroyed the Egyptians with plagues when Israel was in the wilderness.

1 Samuel 4 verses

1 Samuel 4 8 Meaning

The Philistines express extreme dismay and dread at the arrival of the Ark of the Covenant, which they associate with the powerful Israelite God. They perceive Yahweh as one of many "mighty gods" and attribute the devastating plagues inflicted upon Egypt in the past to Him, fearing similar judgments will now be brought upon them. Their exclamation reveals a sense of overwhelming, unavoidable doom in the face of this perceived divine intervention.

1 Samuel 4 8 Context

Chapter 4 of 1 Samuel narrates the Philistine-Israelite battle, which begins with Israel's initial defeat. In desperation, the Israelite elders decide to bring the Ark of the Covenant from Shiloh to the battlefield, believing its mere presence guarantees victory. When the Ark arrives, the Israelites let out a great shout of triumph, which sends shockwaves of fear through the Philistine camp. It is in this moment of intense dread that the Philistine soldiers express their fear, misinterpreting the Israelite God but recognizing His formidable power based on distorted historical knowledge. Historically, the Philistines were militarily superior and frequently threatened Israel. Their polytheistic worldview meant they viewed Yahweh as another tribal god, albeit an exceptionally potent one, capable of wielding devastating power like that shown in the plagues. This verse marks a stark polemical contrast: the Philistines, for all their strength, are terrified by the unseen God of Israel.

1 Samuel 4 8 Word analysis

• Woe to us! (הוֹי לָנוּ, hoy lanu): An intense interjection expressing despair, lamentation, and deep sorrow. It signifies a realization of utter defeat or impending disaster, conveying a sense of finality.
• Who will deliver us (מִי יַצִּילֵנוּ, mi yatsileinu): A rhetorical question underscoring helplessness. The root natsal means to snatch away, rescue, or deliver. The Philistines perceive no human or divine entity capable of saving them from what they believe is Yahweh's onslaught.
• from the hand (מִיַּד, miyad): "Hand" (yad) frequently symbolizes power, authority, and active agency in the Bible. To be "from the hand of" indicates escape from the powerful grasp or dominion of another.
• of these mighty (הָאֵלִים הָאַדִּירִים, ha'elim ha'addirim):
  • mighty (addir): Powerful, majestic, great. This term conveys superlative strength and preeminence, emphasizing their perception of these deities as immensely potent.
  • gods (elohim): This is a plural form. The Philistines, as polytheists, genuinely believed in multiple deities. While they were reacting to the Ark's presence, representing Yahweh (the singular God), their theological framework caused them to interpret Him as one among "these" terrifying powerful "gods." This highlights their fundamental misunderstanding of Yahweh's unique monotheistic nature, yet acknowledges His terrifying power. It serves as an indirect polemic against their polytheistic beliefs, as even in their fear, they single out a power beyond their familiar deities.
• These are the gods (אֵלֶּה הֵם הָאֵלִּים, elleh hem ha'elim): The repetition reinforces their fixed idea of a plurality of powerful deities. They identify the "god" represented by the Ark with the source of past destruction.
• who struck (הַמַּכִּים, hamakim): The verb nakah means to strike, smite, beat down, or defeat. It conveys decisive and devastating action, particularly in the context of divine judgment or military defeat.
• the Egyptians (אֶת־מִצְרַיִם, et-Mitsrayim): Refers to the people and land of Egypt, Yahweh's powerful adversary during the Exodus.
• with every kind of plague (בְכָל־מַכָּה, bekhol-makka): Literally, "with every stroke" or "with every blow." This refers explicitly to the ten plagues detailed in Exodus, emphasizing their comprehensive and destructive nature.
• in the wilderness (בַּמִּדְבָּר, bamidbar): This specific detail is a point of intrigue. The plagues occurred in Egypt, while the Israelites wandered in the wilderness after leaving Egypt. This Philistine detail could reflect:
  • Misinformation/Confusion: Their knowledge of Israelite history was likely derived from incomplete accounts or rumors. They might have conflated the plagues in Egypt with the subsequent significant events in the wilderness.
  • Symbolic Association: The "wilderness" might be used as a general term for an unknown, dangerous realm from which this terrifying power emerged alongside the Israelites, enhancing their fear.
  • Rhetorical Device: It serves to emphasize the perceived mystery and formidable origin of this God, irrespective of strict geographical accuracy. The essential point is their historical awareness, however imprecise, of devastating divine power linked to Israel.

• "Woe to us! Who will deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods?": This exclamation captures the profound psychological impact of the Ark's arrival. It reveals the Philistines' polytheistic framework by pluralizing Yahweh, yet still conveys overwhelming fear of an utterly superior, irresistible power. Their sense of hopelessness sets the stage for a critical moment in their conflict with Israel.
• "These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with every kind of plague in the wilderness.": This phrase provides the specific rationale for their terror. It links the present perceived divine presence to past historical events of cataclysmic divine judgment, which, despite some inaccuracy in detail, vividly impresses upon them the magnitude of the danger. It highlights how divine acts, even if misunderstood, can still instil profound awe and dread in the ungodly.

1 Samuel 4 8 Bonus section

• Theology of Terror: This passage presents an intriguing "theology of terror" from a pagan perspective. While pagan religions often sought to appease their gods, the Philistines here anticipate only judgment and overwhelming defeat, demonstrating that even a partial or incorrect understanding of Yahweh's power can be profoundly unsettling.
• Foreshadowing Divine Judgment: The Philistines' fearful recollection of the plagues (God's judgment on Egypt) implicitly foreshadows the subsequent judgment upon themselves. Their idol, Dagon, will be humiliated, and they will suffer severe physical ailments (tumors/hemorrhoids) as divine "plagues" until the Ark is returned.
• Human Perspective vs. Divine Reality: The verse offers a powerful contrast between the Philistines' anthropocentric and polytheistic viewpoint ("these mighty gods") and the biblical truth of Yahweh as the one incomparable God (Deut 4:35; Isa 45:5). Their terror validates the reality of Yahweh's power, even as their interpretation of it is flawed.
• Fear of God as a Motivating Factor: For the Philistines, this fear leads to desperate measures ("Let us be strong, and be men!"). While born of pagan dread, it ironically pushes them to fight, contributing to Israel's initial defeat – an instance where misguided fear has an unexpected, devastating consequence.

1 Samuel 4 8 Commentary

1 Samuel 4:8 lays bare the deep terror experienced by the Philistines in the presence of the Ark of the Covenant, which they equate with Yahweh. Despite their military prowess, they are psychologically shattered by the perceived arrival of an adversary God whose power they have only heard about. Their lament is based on a limited, polytheistic understanding—they mistake the one true God, Yahweh, for one among "mighty gods." Their fear stems from historical memory, linking the Ark's presence to the devastating plagues Yahweh inflicted upon Egypt, albeit misplacing the wilderness detail. This verse vividly portrays how God's historical acts, even when distorted by foreign pagan understanding, can inspire profound dread, highlighting His singular, terrifying power even among His enemies. It underscores the profound theological gulf between the Philistines' polytheism and Israel's monotheistic reality.