King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 5:8 Mean?

1 Samuel 5:8 in the King James Version says “They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of ... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 5 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.

1 Samuel 5:8 · KJV


Context

6

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.

7

And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god.

8

They sent therefore and gathered all the lords of the Philistines unto them, and said, What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel? And they answered, Let the ark of the God of Israel be carried about unto Gath. And they carried the ark of the God of Israel about thither.

9

And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.

10

Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people. us, to: Heb. me to slay me and my


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
The Philistine lords gather to decide the Ark's fate. Their question 'What shall we do with the ark of the God of Israel?' acknowledges inability to simply return or destroy it. The decision to move it to Gath suggests hope that local factors caused Ashdod's problems. The phrase 'they carried the ark...about' (Hebrew: sabab, to go around, transfer) pictures the Ark making a circuit of Philistine cities, bringing judgment to each. The Ark becomes an instrument of comprehensive Philistine affliction.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

The Philistine pentapolis (five cities) was governed by lords (seranim) who functioned as a council. Their collective decision-making explains why the Ark visited multiple cities. Gath was another major Philistine city, located inland from Ashdod.

Reflection Questions

  1. Why might the Philistines have thought moving the Ark would solve their problem?
  2. What does the collective decision-making of Philistine lords suggest about their political structure?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
וַיִּשְׁלְח֡וּ1 of 24

They sent

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

וַיַּֽאַסְפוּ֩2 of 24

therefore and gathered

H622

to gather for any purpose; hence, to receive, take away, i.e., remove (destroy, leave behind, put up, restore, etc.)

אֶת3 of 24
H853

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

כָּל4 of 24
H3605

properly, the whole; hence, all, any or every (in the singular only, but often in a plural sense)

סַרְנֵ֨י5 of 24

all the lords

H5633

an axle

פְלִשְׁתִּ֜ים6 of 24

of the Philistines

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

אֲלֵיהֶ֗ם7 of 24
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ8 of 24

And they answered

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

מַֽה9 of 24
H4100

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

נַּעֲשֶׂ֗ה10 of 24

What shall we do

H6213

to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application

אֲר֖וֹן11 of 24

Let the ark

H727

a box

אֱלֹהֵ֥י12 of 24

of the God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃13 of 24

of Israel

H3478

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

וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ14 of 24

And they answered

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

גַּ֣ת15 of 24

unto Gath

H1661

gath, a philistine city

וַיַּסֵּ֕בּוּ16 of 24

And they carried

H5437

to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively

אֲר֖וֹן17 of 24

Let the ark

H727

a box

אֱלֹהֵ֥י18 of 24

of the God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃19 of 24

of Israel

H3478

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

וַיַּסֵּ֕בּוּ20 of 24

And they carried

H5437

to revolve, surround, or border; used in various applications, literally and figuratively

אֶת21 of 24
H853

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

אֲר֖וֹן22 of 24

Let the ark

H727

a box

אֱלֹהֵ֥י23 of 24

of the God

H430

gods in the ordinary sense; but specifically used (in the plural thus, especially with the article) of the supreme god; occasionally applied by way of

יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃24 of 24

of Israel

H3478

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


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 5:8 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 5:8 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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