King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 6:19 Mean?

1 Samuel 6:19 in the King James Version says “And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 6 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

1 Samuel 6:19 · KJV


Context

17

And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

18

And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite. great: or, great stone

19

And he smote the men of Bethshemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

20

And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?

21

And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And he smote the men of Beth-shemesh, because they had looked into the ark of the LORD, even he smote of the people fifty thousand and threescore and ten men: and the people lamented, because the LORD had smitten many of the people with a great slaughter.

The narrative takes a devastating turn. The Hebrew 'ra'ah' (to look, gaze) combined with the preposition 'be' (into) suggests more than casual glancing - this was intrusive inspection, perhaps opening the Ark to view its contents. Such presumption violated explicit commands (Numbers 4:20) that even Levites must not look upon holy objects. The number 'fifty thousand and seventy' has puzzled interpreters - Beth-shemesh likely could not have supported such a population. Some Hebrew manuscripts read 'seventy men, fifty of a thousand' (seventy leading men), while others suggest textual corruption. Regardless of the exact count, the 'great slaughter' (makkah gedolah) demonstrated that proximity to holiness without proper reverence brings death, not blessing. The same Ark that defeated Dagon now strikes Israelites who treat it casually.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Beth-shemesh was a modest town; population estimates for Israelite villages rarely exceed a few thousand. The textual difficulty with the number has generated various solutions: scribal error, idiomatic expression, or cumulative plague deaths over time. The Septuagint omits 'fifty thousand,' reading simply 'seventy men.'

Reflection Questions

  1. What does this judgment teach about the relationship between God's grace and His holiness?
  2. How do believers today sometimes treat sacred things with dangerous casualness?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
הִכָּ֧ה1 of 23

And he smote

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

בְּאַנְשֵׁ֣י2 of 23

men

H582

properly, a mortal (and thus differing from the more dignified h0120); hence, a man in general (singly or collectively)

בֵֽית3 of 23
H0
שֶׁ֗מֶשׁ4 of 23

of Bethshemesh

H1053

beth-shemesh, a place in palestine

כִּ֤י5 of 23
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

רָאוּ֙6 of 23

because they had looked

H7200

to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative)

בַּֽאֲר֣וֹן7 of 23

into the ark

H727

a box

יְהוָ֛ה8 of 23

because the LORD

H3068

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

הִכָּ֧ה9 of 23

And he smote

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

בָּעָ֖ם10 of 23

and the people

H5971

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

שִׁבְעִ֣ים11 of 23

and threescore and ten

H7657

seventy

אִ֑ישׁ12 of 23

the men

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

חֲמִשִּׁ֥ים13 of 23

fifty

H2572

fifty

אֶ֖לֶף14 of 23

thousand

H505

hence (the ox's head being the first letter of the alphabet, and this eventually used as a numeral) a thousand

אִ֑ישׁ15 of 23

the men

H376

a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation)

וַיִּֽתְאַבְּל֣וּ16 of 23

lamented

H56

to bewail

בָּעָ֖ם17 of 23

and the people

H5971

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

כִּֽי18 of 23
H3588

(by implication) very widely used as a relative conjunction or adverb (as below); often largely modified by other particles annexed

הִכָּ֧ה19 of 23

And he smote

H5221

to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively)

יְהוָ֛ה20 of 23

because the LORD

H3068

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

בָּעָ֖ם21 of 23

and the people

H5971

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

מַכָּ֥ה22 of 23

slaughter

H4347

a blow (in 2 chronicles 2:10, of the flail); by implication, a wound; figuratively, carnage, also pestilence

גְדוֹלָֽה׃23 of 23

with a great

H1419

great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent


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 6:19 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 6:19 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Places in This Verse

Test Your Knowledge

Continue Your Study