1 Samuel 7 10

1 Samuel 7:10 kjv

And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them; and they were smitten before Israel.

1 Samuel 7:10 nkjv

Now as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel. But the LORD thundered with a loud thunder upon the Philistines that day, and so confused them that they were overcome before Israel.

1 Samuel 7:10 niv

While Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to engage Israel in battle. But that day the LORD thundered with loud thunder against the Philistines and threw them into such a panic that they were routed before the Israelites.

1 Samuel 7:10 esv

As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the LORD thundered with a mighty sound that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel.

1 Samuel 7:10 nlt

Just as Samuel was sacrificing the burnt offering, the Philistines arrived to attack Israel. But the LORD spoke with a mighty voice of thunder from heaven that day, and the Philistines were thrown into such confusion that the Israelites defeated them.

1 Samuel 7 verses

1 Samuel 7 10 Meaning

1 Samuel 7:10 describes a pivotal moment when God directly intervenes on behalf of Israel. As Samuel offered a burnt offering and the Philistine army approached for battle, the LORD thundered mightily from heaven. This divine, supernatural display caused great confusion and panic among the Philistines, rendering them powerless, and enabling Israel to smite and decisively defeat them before God's very presence. It signifies God fighting for His repentant people, demonstrating His power and sovereignty over nature and their enemies.

1 Samuel 7 10 Context

1 Samuel 7 marks a significant turning point in Israel's history after years of Philistine oppression and national spiritual decline. Leading up to this verse, Israel had repented of their idolatry and returned to the LORD under Samuel's leadership (1 Sam 7:3-6). As they gathered at Mizpah for a period of national lamentation and renewal, the Philistines perceived this assembly as a threat and mobilized their forces for an attack (1 Sam 7:7). Faced with this imminent danger, the Israelites pleaded with Samuel to intercede for them (1 Sam 7:8). In response, Samuel offered a burnt offering and cried out to the LORD on Israel's behalf (1 Sam 7:9). It is precisely at this critical juncture, as Samuel completed the sacrifice and the Philistines were "drawing near," that the divine intervention described in verse 10 occurred. This miraculous victory establishes Samuel as a true leader and prophet and sets the stage for a period of peace for Israel (1 Sam 7:13-14), cementing the efficacy of repentance and the power of intercessory prayer before the living God.

1 Samuel 7 10 Word analysis

• And as Samuel was offering up: Samuel acts in a priestly role, preparing and presenting the burnt offering. The Hebrew verb for "offering up" (עָלָה, ʻalah) literally means "to go up," signifying the ascending smoke of the sacrifice as a spiritual ascent of the gift to God. This demonstrates Samuel's authority as both prophet and spiritual leader, leading Israel in national repentance.
• the burnt offering: (עוֹלָה, ʻolah). This sacrifice was typically one of full dedication, signifying complete consecration and atonement. Its timing here emphasizes Israel's complete reliance on God for deliverance, recognizing their spiritual reconciliation as prerequisite for physical salvation.
• the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel: The Hebrew verb nagash (נָגַשׁ), "drew near," conveys the aggressive approach of the enemy, highlighting the immediate and dire threat. This emphasizes the critical timing of God's intervention – it was precisely when Israel was most vulnerable, engaged in spiritual worship, and militarily exposed.
• but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines:
  • but the LORD thundered: (יְהוָה הִרְעִים, YHWH hirʻîm). This is a key action. The verb raʻam (רָעַם) specifically means "to thunder" or "cause to roar." This is not a mere natural storm; it is an active, volitional, and targeted act by Yahweh. It highlights God's sovereignty over creation and His direct engagement in human affairs. The Philistine deities, such as Dagon or Baal (a storm god), were impotent against the God of Israel, who demonstrated His control over thunder and storm. This serves as a direct polemic against their gods.
  • with a great thunder: (קוֹל גָּדוֹל, qôl gādôl). qôl can mean "voice" or "sound," and gādôl means "great" or "mighty." This wasn't faint background noise but a powerful, overwhelming manifestation of God's voice, terrifying in its might and precisely aimed at the enemy. It's Yahweh speaking in judgment.
  • on that day: Emphasizes the specific, immediate, and miraculous nature of the event, linking it directly to the context of Samuel's offering and prayer.
• and discomfited them: (וַיְהֻמֵּם, wayyahummem). The Hebrew verb hamam (הָמַם) means "to throw into confusion," "to rout," "to discomfit." It denotes a divine panic, a supernatural terror that leads to disarray and collapse, more than just physical defeat. This panic unnerves the enemy, making them ineffective even before battle.
• and they were smitten before Israel: (וַיִּנָּגְפוּ, wayyinagfû - from nagaph, to strike, smite, plague). This refers to their actual military defeat, following the psychological terror. "Before Israel" implies the battle was fought under Israel's direct observation and God's active presence, leading to their success in the rout that followed the divine discomfiture.

Words-group by words-group analysis:

• "And as Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to battle against Israel": This highlights the divine timing of God's intervention. It occurred at the very moment of sacrifice and worship, demonstrating that true spiritual devotion and reliance on God precedes and empowers physical deliverance. Israel's weakness and the Philistines' strength make God's intervention more evident.
• "but the LORD thundered with a great thunder on that day upon the Philistines, and discomfited them": This entire phrase encapsulates God's miraculous, active, and specific involvement. The "great thunder" signifies His overwhelming power and presence. The "discomfiture" indicates a supernatural psychological and tactical collapse inflicted by God, demonstrating that the battle was His, not Israel's. It contrasts the natural noise of thunder with a divine act of war.
• "and they were smitten before Israel": This confirms the result of God's intervention. Israel's subsequent "smiting" was a follow-up action, effectively executing the rout initiated by God. The phrase "before Israel" underlines God's vindication of His people, visible for all to witness.

1 Samuel 7 10 Bonus section

The account of God thundering from heaven in 1 Samuel 7:10 aligns with ancient Near Eastern divine warrior motifs, yet it radically redefines them by attributing ultimate power and effective action to Yahweh alone, often in direct challenge to pagan deities who supposedly controlled storms or warfare. While many ancient myths featured storm gods, Yahweh's thunder is a sovereign, deliberate act of justice and deliverance, precisely timed and perfectly effective, contrasting sharply with capricious or limited pagan powers. This event is unique in its specific context, linking national repentance directly to immediate and miraculous deliverance, a clear demonstration of the covenant God acting on behalf of His people. The memory of this thunder would have resonated strongly through Israelite history, shaping their understanding of God as their ultimate defender.

1 Samuel 7 10 Commentary

1 Samuel 7:10 stands as a profound testament to God's readiness to intervene supernaturally for His people when they turn to Him in repentance and faithful prayer. The scene is set with immense tension: Israel, having newly rededicated themselves to the LORD at Mizpah through repentance and sacrifice, finds themselves facing a massive, unprovoked Philistine army. This spiritual awakening immediately attracts enemy opposition, highlighting a timeless truth that renewed commitment to God often precedes conflict.

Samuel's burnt offering and his "crying out" to the LORD symbolize Israel's total surrender and dependence. They were not trusting in their own military strength, which was clearly inferior, but in the living God. It is precisely as the Philistines draw near, at the very peak of the crisis and during a moment of profound worship, that God responds. His "great thunder" is far more than a meteorological event; it is Yahweh's "voice" (as suggested by the Hebrew qol) acting as a weapon of war. It embodies His power, His presence, and His judgment. This targeted divine act completely demoralizes the Philistines, creating panic and disarray (discomfiture), allowing Israel, the much weaker party, to achieve a decisive victory.

This event strongly discredits the Philistine gods, particularly Dagon and any storm deity they might have invoked, demonstrating Yahweh's supreme control over nature and battles. It marks God's endorsement of Samuel's leadership and underscores the principle that true victory comes from divine enablement, not human might. The stone "Ebenezer" (1 Sam 7:12), meaning "stone of help," erected after this battle, serves as a lasting memorial to God's powerful help.

Practical examples:

• When facing overwhelming challenges (like the Philistine army), our first and best recourse is turning to God in repentance and prayer, just as Samuel and Israel did.
• God's intervention may not always be a visible thunderbolt, but His timing and methods are perfect, often arriving at the eleventh hour when human effort seems to have failed.
• We can trust that God fights for those who align with His will and seek Him wholeheartedly, empowering them against spiritual or physical opposition.