1 Samuel 6 3

1 Samuel 6:3 kjv

And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.

1 Samuel 6:3 nkjv

So they said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you."

1 Samuel 6:3 niv

They answered, "If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift; by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you."

1 Samuel 6:3 esv

They said, "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away from you."

1 Samuel 6:3 nlt

"Send the Ark of the God of Israel back with a gift," they were told. "Send a guilt offering so the plague will stop. Then, if you are healed, you will know it was his hand that caused the plague."

1 Samuel 6 verses

1 Samuel 6 3 Meaning

The verse presents the counsel of the Philistine priests and diviners to their lords concerning the Ark of the Covenant, which has been afflicting their land. They declare that if the Philistines return the Ark of the God of Israel, they must not send it back "empty" (meaning without proper compensation or atonement). Instead, they must offer a "trespass offering" to Him. Doing so, they assert, will result in their healing from the divine affliction, and confirm that the plagues were indeed caused by the God of Israel's hand. This demonstrates a growing understanding among the Philistines of the God of Israel's power and the necessity of appeasing Him according to His own customs, though initially through their own superstitious and pragmatic lenses.

1 Samuel 6 3 Context

First Samuel Chapter 6, Verse 3, follows immediately after the Philistine lords, facing severe divine judgment, inquire of their priests and diviners regarding the correct procedure for returning the Ark of the Covenant. The Ark, captured by the Philistines in 1 Samuel 4:11 and subsequent chapters, had brought about devastating plagues of tumors and rats upon their cities (1 Sam 5:6-12). The people of Ekron were in a "deadly panic" (1 Sam 5:11). This verse marks the beginning of the religious leaders' counsel, who now advise appeasement of the God of Israel, acknowledging His undeniable power over their polytheistic deities like Dagon. This decision is borne out of a practical need to end their suffering rather than true conversion, yet it demonstrates a profound, albeit reluctant, acknowledgment of Yahweh's supremacy. Historically, it reflects the pragmatic approach of ancient cultures when confronted by the perceived power of another nation's deity, especially when their own gods seem powerless.

1 Samuel 6 3 Word analysis

• And they said: Refers to the Philistine priests and diviners mentioned in the previous verse (1 Sam 6:2), indicating their united expert opinion.
• "If you send away the ark of the God of Israel...": This is a direct answer to the lords' inquiry. The conditional "if" acknowledges that they still have agency, but their counsel is framed as the only viable option given the severity of the situation.
• ark: ארון (aron) - the chest or container, specifically referring to the Ark of the Covenant, a sacred object to Israel symbolizing God's presence. Its significance extends beyond a mere artifact, recognized by the Philistines as tied to Israel's power.
• of the God of Israel: אלהי ישראל (Elohei Yisrael) - A significant acknowledgement. They explicitly name Him as "the God of Israel," demonstrating that they attribute the calamities not to some vague divine force but directly to Yahweh, the specific deity of Israel. This contrasts sharply with their earlier attempts to place the Ark with Dagon, implying their own gods were superior (1 Sam 5:2-4).
• "you must not send it away empty": לא תשלחו אתו רקם (lo tishl’khu oto reqam).
  • empty: רקם (reqam) - means without any gift, tribute, or accompanying offering. This is a common requirement in the ancient Near East when interacting with powerful individuals or deities, showing respect, appeasement, or restitution. For Israel, this was enshrined in the law concerning appearance before God (Exod 23:15, Deut 16:16). The Philistines, though Gentiles, recognize a similar principle. It signifies a debt owed or appeasement required, showing recognition of God's rights and offended holiness.
• "but you shall surely return to Him a trespass offering": כי השב תשיבו לו אשם (ki hashev tashivu lo asham).
  • surely return: The Hebrew construction (hashev tashivu) is an infinitive absolute, emphasizing the certainty and absolute necessity of the action. It is not optional but mandatory for relief. "Return" suggests restoring something that was wrongfully taken or held, or recompensing for harm done.
  • trespass offering: אשם (asham) - This is a very specific type of offering in Israelite law (Leviticus 5, 6; Numbers 5). It was required for unintentional sins or acts of sacrilege against the Lord's holy things, or for depriving another person of property (requiring restitution plus one-fifth). The Philistines, via their diviners, have either gleaned enough knowledge of Israelite law through observation/spies or their diviners instinctively concluded that a specific type of propitiatory offering, one for "guilt" or "trespass," was needed given the nature of the offenses (taking the Ark, implicitly violating its sanctity). This shows a remarkable, though likely superstitious, attempt to appease the God of Israel on His own terms. It acknowledges that they incurred guilt.
• "then you will be healed": וְנִרְפֵּאתֶם (wenirpa'tem) - "and you will be cured" or "you will be restored." Refers directly to the cessation of the tumors and death plaguing them. It is physical healing from a divine plague, indicating the removal of God's 'hand' of judgment.
• "and it will be known to you why His hand has not departed from you": וְנוֹדַע לָכֶם מַדּוּעַ לֹא תָסוּר יָדוֹ מִכֶּם (wenoda lakhem maddua lo tasur yado mikem).
  • it will be known: A practical test. If their counsel works, it confirms the source of the affliction.
  • His hand: A biblical idiom for divine power, agency, or action, often punitive or judgmental in this context. (e.g., Exod 9:3, Ps 32:4, Acts 13:11).
  • has not departed: Implies persistence and severity of the divine affliction, continuing until the conditions are met.

1 Samuel 6 3 Bonus section

• Implicit Polemic: This verse presents a powerful, albeit subtle, polemic against the Philistine pagan gods. Their priests implicitly admit the impotence of Dagon and their own pantheon to alleviate the plagues or offer counsel, turning instead to a method prescribed by the God of Israel. It showcases Yahweh's supremacy even to those who did not worship Him.
• Universal Acknowledgment of Deity: Even pagan cultures possessed an intuitive understanding of needing to appease an offended deity with an offering, reflecting a universal moral or spiritual impulse toward recompense for divine offense, hinted at in Rom 1.
• Cost of Disobedience: The Philistines learned through painful experience that disrespecting the things of God (the Ark symbolizing His presence) comes with severe, undeniable consequences, even for those outside the covenant. This speaks to the unyielding justice of God.
• Redemptive Judgment: While punitive, God's actions compelled the Philistines to acknowledge Him, leading to the Ark's return, demonstrating His control and His ability to work His purposes through all circumstances and peoples.

1 Samuel 6 3 Commentary

This verse illuminates a critical moment of theological recognition among the Philistines. Previously, they had taken the Ark as a war trophy, assuming their god Dagon was superior (1 Sam 5). However, through devastating plagues, they now acknowledge the undeniable, sovereign power of the God of Israel. Their pagan priests and diviners, skilled in discerning divine will, instruct them to not only return the Ark but to do so with an Israelite "trespass offering" (asham). This specific offering underscores their understanding, or perhaps just their desperation, that they have committed a sacrilege against God's holy things, and thus require a formal atonement recognized by the offended deity Himself.

The command "you must not send it away empty" reflects a universal ancient Near Eastern principle of not approaching a powerful deity or sovereign without tribute. However, the specificity of an asham points to a forced adoption of a core tenet of Israelite law by Gentiles to appease the one true God. This implicitly contrasts their previous polytheistic practices where such specific moral-legal redress for divine property might not exist. The Philistines, though not converting, acknowledge God's claims over His property and their guilt, seeing His 'hand' as the source of their suffering. Their motivation is pragmatic: to end the affliction ("then you will be healed") and gain clear evidence ("it will be known to you why His hand has not departed from you") of the cause-and-effect relationship between their actions and God's judgment. It's a profound, if reluctant, testimony to Yahweh's unparalleled might and presence, even outside the borders of Israel.

For practical application, this illustrates that God, in His sovereignty, can reveal His power and demand obedience even from those who do not overtly worship Him, demonstrating His control over all nations. It shows that even those outside of covenant may experience the consequences of divine judgment, and a proper acknowledgment of wrong and offering of restitution, however basic, is sometimes a pathway to relief. It reinforces the biblical principle that all people, regardless of their background, are accountable to God (Rom 1:20).