1 Samuel 5 5

1 Samuel 5:5 kjv

Therefore neither the priests of Dagon, nor any that come into Dagon's house, tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod unto this day.

1 Samuel 5:5 nkjv

Therefore neither the priests of Dagon nor any who come into Dagon's house tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

1 Samuel 5:5 niv

That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor any others who enter Dagon's temple at Ashdod step on the threshold.

1 Samuel 5:5 esv

This is why the priests of Dagon and all who enter the house of Dagon do not tread on the threshold of Dagon in Ashdod to this day.

1 Samuel 5:5 nlt

That is why to this day neither the priests of Dagon nor anyone who enters the temple of Dagon in Ashdod will step on its threshold.

1 Samuel 5 verses

1 Samuel 5 5 Meaning

This verse details a unique and lasting custom that arose in Gath among the Philistine worshippers of Dagon. Because Dagon's idol fell and was dismembered—specifically its head and hands—upon the threshold of its own temple when the Ark of the Covenant was brought in, his priests and followers subsequently refrained from stepping on that very threshold. This practice, enduring "to this very day" (from the time of the biblical account), served as a constant, tangible memorial of Dagon's humiliation and the supreme power of the God of Israel.

1 Samuel 5 5 Context

First Samuel chapter 5 opens with the Philistines capturing the Ark of the Covenant from Israel, believing it to be a powerful war prize and symbol of their victory. They bring it to Ashdod and place it in the temple of their chief god, Dagon, alongside Dagon's idol. This act implicitly challenged the God of Israel against Dagon. The ensuing narrative details two successive mornings where the Dagon idol is found fallen before the Ark. The first time, it's merely prostrate (bowed down), but the Philistines set it upright again. The second morning, however, Dagon is found not only fallen but utterly dismembered, with its head and both hands cut off and lying on the temple's threshold, while only the fishy torso remains on its pedestal. This grotesque scene serves as a dramatic demonstration of Yahweh's absolute superiority over Dagon, rendering the Philistine god helpless and humiliated in its own sanctuary. Verse 5, therefore, explains the immediate and long-term consequence of this event: the origin of a distinctive custom among Dagon's worshippers in Gath, another major Philistine city. This custom, avoiding the defiled threshold, perpetually recalled the decisive defeat of their deity.

Historically, the Philistines were a formidable foe of early Israel, often culturally and religiously opposing them. Their worship of Dagon, a fertility god often depicted with a fish-like lower body, stood in direct contrast to Israel's monotheistic worship of Yahweh. This entire account functions as a powerful theological polemic, demonstrating that the Ark's capture was not a defeat for the true God, but rather a catalyst for Him to assert His power over the false gods and idol worship of the Philistines on their own turf, thus affirming His sovereignty to both nations.

1 Samuel 5 5 Word analysis

• Therefore (Hebrew: לָכֵן, lāḵēn): This word signifies a logical consequence or a reason for what follows. It establishes a direct cause-and-effect relationship, indicating that the custom described in this verse is a direct result of the events concerning Dagon's idol falling and being dismembered at the threshold in 1 Sam 5:3-4. It grounds the ritual in a specific, historical divine action.
• neither the priests of Dagon: This phrase specifies the key religious figures responsible for the worship of Dagon. Their participation in the custom is particularly significant as they were the closest custodians of the idol. Their observance of this practice highlights an unwilling yet undeniable acknowledgment of Yahweh's power over their god, as their own deity was rendered helpless and dishonored by Him.
• nor anyone who enters Dagon's temple: This indicates the custom extended beyond the priesthood to the general populace who came to worship Dagon. It demonstrates the widespread and pervasive nature of this practice, cementing the humiliation of Dagon into the collective religious memory of his worshippers in Gath. The event was not merely a priestly affair but impacted the common worshiper.
• step on the threshold (Hebrew: יִדְרְכוּ עַל מִפְתַּן, yiḏrĕḵū ʿal miptan):
  • step (דָּרַךְ, darak): Implies to tread upon or walk over. It's an intentional action.
  • threshold (מִפְתָּן, miptan): This is a crucial element. In ancient Near Eastern cultures, thresholds often held spiritual significance, sometimes viewed as a boundary between realms, a place of spiritual protection, or even a site for oath-taking or judgment. In 1 Sam 5:4, Dagon's severed head and hands lay specifically "upon the threshold." This implies that the threshold became the scene of Dagon's complete disgrace, defilement, or a marked point of God's judgment upon the false idol. The custom of not stepping on it signifies either a superstitious avoidance of a "cursed" or inauspicious spot, or a subconscious, or even forced, reverence for the overpowering action that occurred there by the true God. It became a permanent, tactile reminder of Dagon's defeat.
• of Dagon in Gath: Gath was one of the five major Philistine city-states (along with Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, and Ekron). Mentioning Gath specifies that this custom was observed there, emphasizing that the consequence of Yahweh's power extended beyond Ashdod (where the Ark initially was) and affected the practices in other significant Philistine cities. It validates the impact of the event across their land.
• to this very day (Hebrew: עַד הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה, ad hayyōm hazzeh): This is a common biblical formula used by the narrator to assert the historical continuity and longevity of a described event, custom, or monument. It assures the reader that the phenomenon being recounted was still observable at the time the book was being written or compiled, thereby providing credible evidence and acting as a standing memorial to the recounted miracle of God's triumph over Dagon. It authenticates the historical accuracy and lasting significance of the divine act.

1 Samuel 5 5 Bonus section

This custom serves as an unintentional, enduring memorial to the triumph of Yahweh. It highlights that God does not always need direct intervention from Israel to defend His name; His very presence can bring judgment upon idols and their worshippers. This narrative provides an example of divine revelation impacting pagan religious practice, a form of unwilling homage rendered by the very enemies of God's people. The dismemberment of Dagon at the threshold foreshadows the ultimate spiritual battle where spiritual enemies are ultimately cast down.

1 Samuel 5 5 Commentary

1 Samuel 5:5 crystallizes the profound theological victory presented in the preceding verses. The unusual custom among Dagon's worshippers to avoid stepping on their temple's threshold is not merely an interesting anthropological detail but a stark, perpetual confession of the God of Israel's unassailable power over false deities. By turning the very place of Dagon's demise into a restricted area, the Philistines were, in effect, performing a ritualized acknowledgment of Yahweh's absolute sovereignty and the abject impotence of their own god. It’s a visible, long-lasting polemic against idolatry. This silent tribute from Dagon's own devotees underscores the futility of trusting in man-made gods who have no life or power, unable even to protect their own physical forms, much less their worshippers, from the devastating presence of the true and living God. The scene powerfully teaches that idols are exposed and shamed in the presence of divine holiness.