1 Samuel 5 4

1 Samuel 5:4 kjv

And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.

1 Samuel 5:4 nkjv

And when they arose early the next morning, there was Dagon, fallen on its face to the ground before the ark of the LORD. The head of Dagon and both the palms of its hands were broken off on the threshold; only Dagon's torso was left of it.

1 Samuel 5:4 niv

But the following morning when they rose, there was Dagon, fallen on his face on the ground before the ark of the LORD! His head and hands had been broken off and were lying on the threshold; only his body remained.

1 Samuel 5:4 esv

But when they rose early on the next morning, behold, Dagon had fallen face downward on the ground before the ark of the LORD, and the head of Dagon and both his hands were lying cut off on the threshold. Only the trunk of Dagon was left to him.

1 Samuel 5:4 nlt

But the next morning the same thing happened ? Dagon had fallen face down before the Ark of the LORD again. This time his head and hands had broken off and were lying in the doorway. Only the trunk of his body was left intact.

1 Samuel 5 verses

1 Samuel 5 4 Meaning

1 Samuel 5:4 describes the complete and utter humiliation of the Philistine god Dagon before the Ark of the LORD. After falling a first time in prostration before the Ark, Dagon's statue is discovered on the following morning, having fallen again. This time, its head and both hands were severed, lying on the temple threshold, leaving only the torso of the idol intact. This event unequivocally demonstrates the supreme power of the God of Israel over false deities, showcasing His self-vindication and rejection of idolatry.

1 Samuel 5 4 Context

Chapter 5 of 1 Samuel narrates the Philistines' experience after capturing the Ark of the Covenant in 1 Samuel 4. They brought it to Ashdod and placed it in the temple of their god, Dagon. On the first morning after its placement (v.3), Dagon's statue was found fallen face down before the Ark, which was set upright again by the Philistines. The current verse (v.4) describes the next morning's discovery, demonstrating not only a repeated humiliation but a complete dismemberment of the idol, directly attributed to the unseen power of the LORD. This public dismantling of a primary Philistine deity in his own house signifies God's undisputed sovereignty over all rival gods and serves as a prelude to the plagues that would strike the Philistine cities (1 Sam 5:6-12), forcing them to return the Ark (1 Sam 6). Historically, this event serves as a powerful polemic against the polytheistic beliefs prevalent in the ancient Near East, affirming that Yahweh is the only living and true God, whose presence even in captivity cannot be tolerated by false idols.

1 Samuel 5 4 Word analysis

• But: Connects this action as a continuation and escalation from the previous day's event. It signals a new development.
• when they arose early: Suggests a habit of routine, possibly eager anticipation or concern for Dagon's status. "Early" implies discovery at the start of a new day, making the events unmistakable.
• on the next morning: Reinforces the swiftness and inevitability of divine judgment. This was not a random occurrence but a clear follow-up to the previous day's fall.
• behold: (Hebrew: hinneh) An interjection inviting attention and expressing surprise or astonishment. It emphasizes the extraordinary nature of what was found.
• Dagon: (Hebrew: דָּגוֹן, Dagon) The national god of the Philistines, a major deity. His name possibly relates to "grain" (dagan) or "fish" (dag). The very naming of this foreign god highlights his specific, limited domain versus the universal God of Israel.
• had fallen again: (Hebrew: נָפַל, naphal) Signifies that the previous day's prostration was not an accident or mere collapse. "Again" emphasizes divine intent and Dagon's inability to resist or stay standing, highlighting the continued display of the LORD's power.
• before the ark of the LORD: The positioning is critical. This is not just a random fall but a submission, albeit a forced one, directly in front of the symbolic presence of Israel's God, contrasting divine glory with idolatrous impotence.
• on his face: The posture of worship, subservience, or absolute defeat and humiliation.
• and his head: (Hebrew: רֹאשׁ, rosh) The head symbolizes authority, wisdom, intelligence, and leadership. Its severing denotes the complete dethronement, degradation, and mental incapacitation of the false god.
• and both his hands: (Hebrew: יָדַיִם, yadayim, dual form) Hands symbolize power, action, capability, and strength. Their removal signifies Dagon's utter lack of power, his inability to act, protect himself, or bless his worshippers.
• were broken off: Indicates violent and destructive dismemberment, an act of judgment and contempt.
• on the threshold: (Hebrew: מִפְתָּן, mifatan) The threshold is the very entrance to the temple, a significant boundary. For the head and hands, the most vital parts, to be severed and left on the threshold symbolizes public disgrace, inability to enter or leave, and a complete expulsion of Dagon from his own domain, signifying judgment right at the point of access.
• only the trunk of Dagon was left to him: The torso (Hebrew: גֶּוּ, gev) remaining alone signifies Dagon's reduction to a mere inanimate, lifeless, and powerless object—a hollow shell without vital parts or function. This renders the idol utterly useless for any purpose of worship or benefit.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "But when they arose early on the next morning": Establishes the definite timeframe and human witness, showing that the event was discovered by diligent observation and was not a secret act.
• "behold, Dagon had fallen again before the ark of the LORD, on his face": This phrase confirms the repetitive nature of Dagon's collapse and reaffirms his posture of subservience or defeat before the Almighty, demonstrating God's consistent action against him.
• "and his head and both his hands were broken off on the threshold": This pivotal segment describes the thorough and humiliating mutilation of Dagon. The loss of head and hands signifies removal of intellect, authority, power, and activity. Placing them on the threshold makes this an undeniable public humiliation right at the entry of Dagon's own perceived sanctuary.
• "only the trunk of Dagon was left to him": This final statement powerfully conveys the extent of Dagon's disgrace and uselessness. Reduced to an inert torso, Dagon is shown to be a nullity, unable to help himself or his devotees, a stark contrast to the living God.

1 Samuel 5 4 Bonus section

The account of Dagon's fall highlights a fundamental biblical polemic: the exclusive power of Yahweh versus the absolute nothingness of all other "gods." This is a recurring theme throughout the Old Testament (e.g., Ps 115, Isa 44, Jer 10). The very nature of this account, where God directly intervenes to expose Dagon's falseness, emphasizes divine action rather than human might in the battle against spiritual darkness. The detail about the "threshold" is especially potent, as in ancient cultures, thresholds were sacred places or points of vulnerability, sometimes even where covenants were sealed or curses invoked. To have the parts of a god laid upon his own threshold represents ultimate dishonor and subjugation, a symbolic eviction from his own claimed dominion. Some later Jewish tradition and possible interpretation of Zep 1:9 connected a Philistine custom of not treading on the threshold to this event, implying a lasting memory and consequence of Dagon's dismemberment, reinforcing the reality of the defeat. The Dagon episode profoundly illustrates God's unassailable holiness and the destructive consequences that arise from daring to oppose or even irreverently handle His holy presence.

1 Samuel 5 4 Commentary

1 Samuel 5:4 serves as a profound divine commentary on the utter vanity and impotence of idolatry when confronted with the true, living God. This is not a chance event but an escalating display of Yahweh's power. The initial fall (v.3) was a clear message, but its restoration by the Philistines required a more decisive, humiliating act of divine judgment. Dagon's complete dismemberment, specifically the removal of his head (intellect/authority) and hands (power/action), directly addresses and dismantles the very essence of what an idol is purported to represent: control, protection, or efficacy. The placement of these severed parts on the threshold of Dagon's own temple magnifies the public disgrace, symbolically trapping Dagon and revealing him as a defeated, powerless object within his supposed domain. This event demonstrates that the Ark, symbolizing God's active presence, required no human defender. God himself fought, humiliated, and disarmed the spiritual forces of idolatry. This prefigures the New Testament revelation of Christ's triumph over "principalities and powers" (Col 2:15), affirming that no human-made deity or spiritual opposition can stand before the Creator of all. The Dagon incident serves as an eternal object lesson on God's exclusive sovereignty and the inevitable collapse of all false worship.