The Meaning of 1 Samuel 4:7 Explained

1 Samuel 4:7

KJV: And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

YLT: And the Philistines are afraid, for they said, 'God hath come in unto the camp;' and they say, 'Woe to us, for there hath not been like this heretofore.

Darby: And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there has not been such a thing heretofore.

ASV: And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

Discover 1 Samuel 4:7

CONTEXT: What is the Context of 1 Samuel 4:7?

MEANING: What does 1 Samuel 4:7 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 4:7 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in 1 Samuel 4:7?

What is the context of 1 Samuel 4:7?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the Philistines were afraid, for they said, God is come into the camp. And they said, Woe unto us! for there hath not been such a thing heretofore.

What does 1 Samuel 4:7 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 4:1-11 - Trusting In The Ark, Not In God

The predictions against Eli's house now begin to be fulfilled. It was fitting for Israel to institute an inquiry into the causes of defeat. This is always the first step toward victory. There was no doubt as to the ancient Covenant with Israel; the one question was to ascertain what had suddenly neutralized that divine assistance which in former days had always been forthcoming. Failure often indicates that something has happened to cut off the supply of God's saving help.

In this instance, however, Israel did not carry the inquiry into God's presence, but endeavored to supply the lapse of divine help by introducing the symbol of the Covenant. "Fetch the Ark!" they cried. They supposed that, in some mysterious way, it would bring God into their camp and ally Him with their arms. In the same manner a brigand might expect an amulet or charm to preserve his life, while violating the laws of God and man. These materialized views of the Israelites' relations with God had to be corrected; and hence defeat ensued. Our only safety lies, not in an outward act or token, but in simple, pure-hearted and unbroken fellowship with God. Then we become invincible. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 4

¹ The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Ebenezer
³ They fetch the ark unto the terror of the Philistines
¹⁰ They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain
¹² Eli at the news, falling backward, breaks his neck
¹⁹ Phinehas's wife, discouraged in her travail with Ichabod, dies

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 4:7 mean?

So were afraid the Philistines for they said has come God into the camp And they said Woe to us has never happened been such as this before now

וַיִּֽרְאוּ֙ הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים כִּ֣י אָמְר֔וּ בָּ֥א אֱלֹהִ֖ים אֶל־ הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה וַיֹּאמְרוּ֙ א֣וֹי לָ֔נוּ לֹ֥א הָיְתָ֛ה כָּזֹ֖את אֶתְמ֥וֹל שִׁלְשֹֽׁם

וַיִּֽרְאוּ֙	So were afraid
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural Root: יָרֵא Sense: to fear, revere, be afraid.
הַפְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים	the Philistines
Parse: Article, 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.
אָמְר֔וּ	they said
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
בָּ֥א	has come
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person masculine singular Root: בֹּוא Sense: to go in, enter, come, go, come in.
אֱלֹהִ֖ים	God
Parse: Noun, masculine plural Root: אֱלֹהִים Sense: (plural).
אֶל־	into
Parse: Preposition Root: אֶל Sense: to, toward, unto (of motion).
הַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה	the camp
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular Root: מַחֲנֶה Sense: encampment, camp.
וַיֹּאמְרוּ֙	And they said
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural Root: אָמַר Sense: to say, speak, utter.
א֣וֹי	Woe
Parse: Interjection Root: אֹוי Sense: woe! alas! oh!.
לָ֔נוּ	to us
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
לֹ֥א	has never happened
Parse: Adverb, Negative particle Root: הֲלֹא Sense: not, no.
כָּזֹ֖את	such as this
Parse: Preposition-k, Pronoun, feminine singular Root: זׄאת Sense: this, this one, here, which, this … that, the one … the other, such.
אֶתְמ֥וֹל	before
Parse: Adverb Root: אֶתְמֹול Sense: yesterday, recently, formerly.
שִׁלְשֹֽׁם	now
Parse: Adverb Root: שִׁלְשֹׁום Sense: day before yesterday, three days ago.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 4:7?

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Similar Scriptures for 1 Samuel 4:7

		Exodus 14:25 [2]
		Deuteronomy 32:30 [2]
		Exodus 15:14-16 [2]