1 samuel 6:5 - Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.
Select Bible Verse
Filter Categories
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
R
S
T
U
V
W
What does "1 samuel 6:5" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 6:5 is part of the story of the Philistines returning the Ark of the Covenant to the Israelites after it brought plagues upon them. Let's break down the meaning:
"Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land...": The Philistines had suffered plagues after capturing the Ark. The Bible describes these afflictions in terms of "tumors" (likely bubonic plague symptoms) and a plague of mice that were ravaging the land's crops. Philistine priests and diviners advised them to craft golden images (likely small statues) of these plagues – the tumors and the mice.
"...and you shall give glory to the God of Israel.": By creating these images and returning the Ark, the Philistines were acknowledging the power and might of the Israelite God. It was a form of forced submission and recognition of his superior power over their own gods.
"Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.": This reveals the Philistines' motive. They were hoping that by taking these actions – making images of their plagues, giving glory to God, and returning the Ark – the Israelite God would stop punishing them and lift the plagues from their people, their gods (acknowledging their impotence against this plague), and their land.
In essence, the verse is about a pagan culture resorting to a combination of superstitious practices and pragmatic appeasement to try and stop a divine curse they believed was afflicting them. They were hoping to propitiate the God of Israel, whom they believed was responsible for the plagues, by acknowledging his power and making symbolic offerings related to their suffering. The golden images, while strange to modern readers, were intended as a form of votive offering, a symbolic representation of the affliction they wanted to be relieved of.
1 samuel 6:5 - Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.
What does "1 samuel 6:5" mean?
This verse from 1 Samuel 6:5 is part of the story of the Philistines returning the Ark of the Covenant to the Israelites after it brought plagues upon them. Let's break down the meaning:
"Therefore you shall make images of your tumors, and images of your mice that mar the land...": The Philistines had suffered plagues after capturing the Ark. The Bible describes these afflictions in terms of "tumors" (likely bubonic plague symptoms) and a plague of mice that were ravaging the land's crops. Philistine priests and diviners advised them to craft golden images (likely small statues) of these plagues – the tumors and the mice.
"...and you shall give glory to the God of Israel.": By creating these images and returning the Ark, the Philistines were acknowledging the power and might of the Israelite God. It was a form of forced submission and recognition of his superior power over their own gods.
"Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.": This reveals the Philistines' motive. They were hoping that by taking these actions – making images of their plagues, giving glory to God, and returning the Ark – the Israelite God would stop punishing them and lift the plagues from their people, their gods (acknowledging their impotence against this plague), and their land.
In essence, the verse is about a pagan culture resorting to a combination of superstitious practices and pragmatic appeasement to try and stop a divine curse they believed was afflicting them. They were hoping to propitiate the God of Israel, whom they believed was responsible for the plagues, by acknowledging his power and making symbolic offerings related to their suffering. The golden images, while strange to modern readers, were intended as a form of votive offering, a symbolic representation of the affliction they wanted to be relieved of.