The Meaning of 1 Samuel 6:17 Explained

1 Samuel 6:17

KJV: 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;

YLT: And these are the golden emerods which the Philistines have sent back -- a guilt-offering to Jehovah: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

Darby: And these are the golden sores which the Philistines returned as a trespass-offering to Jehovah: for Ashdod one, for Gazah one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

ASV: And these are the golden tumors which the Philistines returned for a trespass-offering unto Jehovah: for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Ashkelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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; 

What does 1 Samuel 6:17 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 6:13-21 - Rashness Punished Reverence Blessed
The new cart, with its precious burden, must have come upon the men of Beth-shemesh like an apparition. The Ark was welcomed by them, after its seven months of absence, with great joy. But privilege entails responsibility; and their wanton curiosity and irreverence could not be permitted. Reverence for God Himself demanded the most careful behavior toward the Ark of His Presence, and when this was lacking, swift judgment ensued. See Numbers 1:50-51; Numbers 4:5; Numbers 4:16-30.
It is interesting to notice that when the Israelites were weaned from the Ark, their hearts lamented after the Lord, 1 Samuel 7:2. We cannot be permanently happy without God. Seasons of apathy and irreligion will sooner or later be succeeded by faith and love, as the frost of winter yields to the touch of spring. In this case, the revival was due to the patient labor of Samuel, and he did splendid service in urging the people to deal drastically with the idols of Canaan, which had cut them off from God as clouds hide the sun. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 6

1  After seven months the Philistines take counsel how to send back the ark
10  They bring it on a new cart with an offering unto Beth Shemesh
19  The people are smitten for looking into the ark
21  They send to them of Kiriath Jearim to fetch it

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 6:17 mean?

And these [are] tumors the golden which returned the Philistines [as] a trespass offering to Yahweh: for Ashdod one for Gaza one for Ashkelon for Gath one for Ekron one -
וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙ טְחֹרֵ֣י הַזָּהָ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֵשִׁ֧יבוּ פְלִשְׁתִּ֛ים אָשָׁ֖ם לַֽיהוָ֑ה לְאַשְׁדּ֨וֹד אֶחָ֜ד לְעַזָּ֤ה אֶחָד֙ לְאַשְׁקְל֣וֹן לְגַ֥ת אֶחָ֖ד לְעֶקְר֥וֹן אֶחָֽד ס

וְאֵ֙לֶּה֙  And  these  [are] 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Pronoun, common plural
Root: אֵהֶל 
Sense: these.
טְחֹרֵ֣י  tumors 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: טְחֹרִים  
Sense: tumours, haemorrhoids.
הַזָּהָ֔ב  the  golden 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: זָהָב  
Sense: gold.
הֵשִׁ֧יבוּ  returned 
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שׁוּב  
Sense: to return, turn back.
פְלִשְׁתִּ֛ים  the  Philistines 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: פְּלִשְׁתִּי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan.
אָשָׁ֖ם  [as]  a  trespass  offering 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָשָׁם  
Sense: guilt, offense, guiltiness.
לַֽיהוָ֑ה  to  Yahweh: 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְאַשְׁדּ֨וֹד  for  Ashdod 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַשְׁדֹּוד  
Sense: a major Philistine city on the Mediterranean Sea west from Jerusalem, modern Esdud.
אֶחָ֜ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
לְעַזָּ֤ה  for  Gaza 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עַזָּה  
Sense: another name for ‘Gaza’, a city of the Philistines located in the extreme southwest of Palestine close to the Mediterranean.
אֶחָד֙  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
לְאַשְׁקְל֣וֹן  for  Ashkelon 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: אַשְׁקְלֹון  
Sense: a maritime city of the Philistines, southwest of Jerusalem.
לְגַ֥ת  for  Gath 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: גַּת  
Sense: one of the five royal or chief cities of the Philistines and the native city of Goliath.
אֶחָ֖ד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
לְעֶקְר֥וֹן  for  Ekron 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עֶקְרֹון  
Sense: the most northerly of the 5 principal cities of the Philistines; located in the lowlands of Judah and later given to Dan.
אֶחָֽד  one 
Parse: Number, masculine singular
Root: אֶחָד  
Sense: one (number).
ס    - 
Parse: Punctuation