King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 4:3 Mean?

1 Samuel 4:3 in the King James Version says “And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 4 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. fetch: Heb. take unto us

1 Samuel 4:3 · KJV


Context

1

And the word of Samuel came to all Israel. Now Israel went out against the Philistines to battle, and pitched beside Ebenezer: and the Philistines pitched in Aphek. came: or, came to pass: Hebr. was

2

And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men. they joined: Heb. the battle was spread army: Heb. array

3

And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the LORD smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies. fetch: Heb. take unto us

4

So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the LORD of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5

And when the ark of the covenant of the LORD came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The elders' statement reveals both right and wrong. Rightly, they acknowledge the LORD 'smote us.' Wrongly, they conclude that bringing the Ark will guarantee deliverance. The phrase 'when it cometh among us, it may save us' treats the Ark as an independent power source. Notice the shift from 'the LORD' to 'it' - the object has replaced the Person. This theological error - trusting symbols rather than the God they represent - recurs throughout Israel's history and into the church age.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The Ark's military function in Israel's early history (crossing Jordan, conquering Jericho) created precedent for expecting victory in its presence. But those victories came with covenant faithfulness; the Ark alone guaranteed nothing.

Reflection Questions

  1. How do religious symbols sometimes replace genuine relationship with God?
  2. What objects or practices might function as 'magic talismans' in contemporary Christianity?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 25 words
וְיָבֹ֣א1 of 25

unto us that when it cometh

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

הָעָם֮2 of 25

And when the people

H5971

a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock

אֶל3 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֒4 of 25

into the camp

H4264

an encampment (of travellers or troops); hence, an army, whether literal (of soldiers) or figurative (of dancers, angels, cattle, locusts, stars; or e

וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙5 of 25

said

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

זִקְנֵ֣י6 of 25

the elders

H2205

old

יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל7 of 25

of Israel

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

לָ֣מָּה8 of 25
H4100

properly, interrogative what? (including how? why? when?); but also exclamation, what! (including how!), or indefinitely what (including whatever, and

נְגָפָ֧נוּ9 of 25

smitten

H5062

to push, gore, defeat, stub (the toe), inflict (a disease)

יְהוָ֔ה10 of 25

Wherefore hath the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

הַיּ֖וֹם11 of 25

us to day

H3117

a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an asso

לִפְנֵ֣י12 of 25

before

H6440

the face (as the part that turns); used in a great variety of applications (literally and figuratively); also (with prepositional prefix) as a preposi

פְלִשְׁתִּ֑ים13 of 25

the Philistines

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

נִקְחָ֧ה14 of 25

Let us fetch

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

אֵלֵ֣ינוּ15 of 25
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מִשִּׁלֹ֗ה16 of 25

out of Shiloh

H7887

shiloh, a place in palestine

אֶת17 of 25
H853

properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely)

אֲרוֹן֙18 of 25

the ark

H727

a box

בְּרִ֣ית19 of 25

of the covenant

H1285

a compact (because made by passing between pieces of flesh)

יְהוָ֔ה20 of 25

Wherefore hath the LORD

H3068

(the) self-existent or eternal; jeho-vah, jewish national name of god

וְיָבֹ֣א21 of 25

unto us that when it cometh

H935

to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)

בְקִרְבֵּ֔נוּ22 of 25

among

H7130

properly, the nearest part, i.e., the center, whether literal, figurative or adverbial (especially with preposition)

וְיֹֽשִׁעֵ֖נוּ23 of 25

us it may save

H3467

properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e., (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor

מִכַּ֥ף24 of 25

us out of the hand

H3709

the hollow hand or palm (so of the paw of an animal, of the sole, and even of the bowl of a dish or sling, the handle of a bolt, the leaves of a palm-

אֹֽיְבֵֽינוּ׃25 of 25

of our enemies

H341

hating; an adversary


Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of 1 Samuel. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

1 Samuel 4:3 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to 1 Samuel 4:3 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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