1 Samuel 5 6

1 Samuel 5:6 kjv

But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.

1 Samuel 5:6 nkjv

But the hand of the LORD was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and He ravaged them and struck them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.

1 Samuel 5:6 niv

The LORD's hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod and its vicinity; he brought devastation on them and afflicted them with tumors.

1 Samuel 5:6 esv

The hand of the LORD was heavy against the people of Ashdod, and he terrified and afflicted them with tumors, both Ashdod and its territory.

1 Samuel 5:6 nlt

Then the LORD's heavy hand struck the people of Ashdod and the nearby villages with a plague of tumors.

1 Samuel 5 verses

1 Samuel 5 6 Meaning

1 Samuel 5:6 describes the immediate, severe divine judgment enacted by the Lord upon the Philistines of Ashdod after they captured the Ark of the Covenant and brought it into their city, placing it alongside their idol Dagon. God's mighty power, expressed as His "heavy hand," brought widespread devastation and a specific plague of painful tumors upon the inhabitants, encompassing not only the city of Ashdod but also its surrounding territories. This was a direct manifestation of God's holiness and His sovereign authority over idols and nations, demonstrating that the Ark was not a mere trophy but a conduit for the living God's powerful presence.

1 Samuel 5 6 Context

1 Samuel chapter 5 narrates the consequences of the Philistines capturing the Ark of the Covenant from Israel during battle (detailed in chapter 4). The Philistines, having defeated Israel and taken what they believed to be a powerful Israelite war trophy, brought it to Ashdod and placed it in the temple of their chief deity, Dagon. Verses 2-5 recount how Dagon’s statue twice fell before the Ark, first merely prostrated, then broken with its head and hands severed, leaving only the "fish part" intact. This humiliating act demonstrated the impotence of their idol before the living God of Israel. Verse 6 marks an escalation from symbolic judgment on Dagon to direct, physical judgment on the people of Ashdod, showing that God's power extended beyond destroying idols to afflicting the idol worshipers themselves. This incident serves as a clear theological polemic, asserting the unrivaled supremacy of Yahweh over all false gods and their adherents, underscoring that the Ark was not just an object but a representation of God's active, holy presence that could not be desecrated with impunity.

1 Samuel 5 6 Word analysis

• But: Hebrew waw (ו), acting here as a strong adversative or contrastive conjunction, indicating a consequence that is distinct from and far more severe than the Dagon incident. It introduces God’s direct, physical intervention after the humiliation of the idol.
• the hand of the Lord: Hebrew yad YHWH (יד יהוה). This is a powerful anthropomorphism, not implying a literal hand, but symbolizing God's active, sovereign power, judgment, and direct intervention. It signifies the tangible manifestation of divine might, distinct from human action or natural causes, acting with deliberate intent and irresistible force.
• was heavy: Hebrew kābhēdh (כָּבְדָה), from the root kabad. It implies great weight, severity, and oppressiveness. In this context, it describes the crushing, overwhelming nature of God's judgment. This term can also signify glory, but here it conveys the burden and severity of divine displeasure.
• on the people of Ashdod: The judgment was specifically targeted at the inhabitants of this primary Philistine city, demonstrating a personal and localized punishment rather than random misfortune.
• and He ravaged them: Hebrew wayyashemmēm (וַיָּשֵׁם), from the verb shamem, meaning to be desolate, ruined, appalled, or devastated. This goes beyond mere physical sickness, implying a widespread state of fear, confusion, disruption, and potentially even depopulation or utter terror that overtook the city. It suggests a systemic impact beyond just the physical tumors.
• and struck them: Hebrew wayyakkēm (וַיַּךְ), from the verb nakah, meaning to strike, smite, beat. This emphasizes the direct, forceful, and deliberate nature of God's action, a divine blow.
• with tumors: Hebrew ba`aphōlīm (בָּעֳפָלִים). The precise medical condition is debated, often translated as "tumors" or "hemorrhoids" (KJV: "emerods"). Many scholars connect this to bubonic plague due to the mention of mice in the subsequent chapter, as the buboes (swellings) of plague are a likely interpretation. Regardless of the exact ailment, it was a debilitating, painful, and often publicly demeaning condition, indicating God’s judgment caused suffering and shame.
• both Ashdod and its territory: Hebrew wa'et-`Ashdōd wūgḇūleyhā (וְאֶת-אַשְׁדּוֹד וּגְבֻלֶיהָ). This phrase emphasizes the extensive scope of the judgment, affecting not just the city center but the entire administrative region controlled by Ashdod, indicating a pervasive and comprehensive divine punishment across the Philistine domain.

1 Samuel 5 6 Bonus section

The detailed accounts of the Philistine affliction serve not only as a record of divine judgment but also as a profound theological lesson. They illustrate that God’s presence, symbolized by the Ark, is inherently holy and brings judgment upon anything impure or that stands in opposition to Him. The Philistines' response throughout chapters 5 and 6 — including the further afflictions in Gath and Ekron, and their desperate attempt to return the Ark with guilt offerings – reveals their growing understanding and fear of Yahweh. The specific mention of "tumors" and later mice (1 Sam 6:4-5) led early translators and rabbinic tradition to believe the affliction was a form of bubonic plague. This narrative underlines that God uses both physical and socio-psychological means (devastation, fear, humiliation) to manifest His judgment and ensure His glory is recognized even by His enemies.

1 Samuel 5 6 Commentary

1 Samuel 5:6 unfolds a pivotal moment in the Ark narrative, where divine intervention transitions from symbolic judgment (Dagon's fall) to palpable suffering among the Philistines. The "heavy hand of the Lord" vividly portrays God's unyielding power and the gravity of His holiness. This was no ordinary plague but a direct, targeted demonstration of Yahweh's supremacy. The choice of tumors as the affliction, especially if associated with plague or severe hemorrhoids, brought both physical agony and profound public humiliation, directly challenging the Philistine perception of themselves as powerful and their gods as protective. The widespread nature of the "ravaging" and the extension of the plague to "Ashdod and its territory" leave no doubt that this was a comprehensive, inescapable judgment. This incident affirms that the Lord requires no human army to defend His glory; He acts directly to vindicate His holy name when profaned. It also foreshadows later encounters where Israel's God continually demonstrates His sovereignty over all creation and nations, regardless of their military might or the popularity of their deities.