King James Version

What Does 1 Samuel 7:14 Mean?

1 Samuel 7:14 in the King James Version says “And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the c... — study this verse from 1 Samuel chapter 7 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

1 Samuel 7:14 · KJV


Context

12

Then Samuel took a stone, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us. Ebenezer: that is, The stone of help

13

So the Philistines were subdued, and they came no more into the coast of Israel: and the hand of the LORD was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

14

And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

15

And Samuel judged Israel all the days of his life.

16

And he went from year to year in circuit to Bethel, and Gilgal, and Mizpeh, and judged Israel in all those places. in circuit: Heb. and he circuited


Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

Territorial restoration accompanied military victory. The cities 'from Ekron even unto Gath' - Philistine heartland - returned to Israelite control, with surrounding territories ('coasts') similarly reclaimed. The Hebrew 'natsal' (deliver) emphasizes rescue from enemy grasp. This reversal of decades of loss demonstrated God's comprehensive restoration: not merely defensive survival but offensive recovery. The surprising note about 'peace between Israel and the Amorites' indicates normalized relations with other regional peoples - Philistine weakness removed pressure that had defined the entire judges period. Samuel's era inaugurated unprecedented stability. Yet this golden age depended on spiritual conditions: covenant faithfulness, prophetic leadership, and corporate repentance. When Israel later demanded a king 'like all the nations,' they traded this divinely-mediated peace for militaristic monarchy with mixed results.

KJV Study — Public Domain

Historical & Cultural Context

Ekron and Gath were inner Philistine cities; their restoration to Israel represents significant territorial gain. 'Amorites' sometimes serves as a general term for pre-Israelite Canaanite peoples. Peace with surrounding nations fulfilled covenant promises contingent on obedience (Leviticus 26:6). Samuel's judgeship represents the period's high point.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does God's restoration often exceed mere survival to include recovery of what was lost?
  2. What does the connection between spiritual renewal and external peace teach about addressing contemporary conflicts?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 23 words
וַתָּשֹׁ֣בְנָה1 of 23

were restored

H7725

to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point);

הֶֽעָרִ֡ים2 of 23

And the cities

H5892

a city (a place guarded by waking or a watch) in the widest sense (even of a mere encampment or post)

אֲשֶׁ֣ר3 of 23
H834

who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because, in order that, etc

לָֽקְחוּ4 of 23

had taken

H3947

to take (in the widest variety of applications)

פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים5 of 23

of the Philistines

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

מֵאֵ֨ת6 of 23
H853

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

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל7 of 23

between Israel

H3478

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

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל8 of 23

between Israel

H3478

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

מֵֽעֶקְר֣וֹן9 of 23

from Ekron

H6138

ekron, a place in palestine

וְעַד10 of 23
H5704

as far (or long, or much) as, whether of space (even unto) or time (during, while, until) or degree (equally with)

גַּ֔ת11 of 23

even unto Gath

H1661

gath, a philistine city

וְאֶ֨ת12 of 23
H853

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

גְּבוּלָ֔ן13 of 23

and the coasts

H1366

properly, a cord (as twisted), i.e., (by implication) a boundary; by extension the territory inclosed

הִצִּ֥יל14 of 23

deliver

H5337

to snatch away, whether in a good or a bad sense

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל15 of 23

between Israel

H3478

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

מִיַּ֣ד16 of 23

out of the hands

H3027

a hand (the open one [indicating power, means, direction, etc.], in distinction from h3709, the closed one); used (as noun, adverb, etc.) in a great v

פְּלִשְׁתִּ֑ים17 of 23

of the Philistines

H6430

a pelishtite or inhabitant of pelesheth

וַיְהִ֣י18 of 23
H1961

to exist, i.e., be or become, come to pass (always emphatic, and not a mere copula or auxiliary)

שָׁל֔וֹם19 of 23

And there was peace

H7965

safe, i.e., (figuratively) well, happy, friendly; also (abstractly) welfare, i.e., health, prosperity, peace

בֵּ֥ין20 of 23
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל21 of 23

between Israel

H3478

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

וּבֵ֥ין22 of 23
H996

between (repeated before each noun, often with other particles); also as a conjunction, either...or

הָֽאֱמֹרִֽי׃23 of 23

and the Amorites

H567

an emorite, one of the canaanitish tribes


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 7:14 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 7:14 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

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