1 Samuel 4 · Verse 3

1 Samuel 4:3

And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.
1 Samuel 4:3, King James Version

1 Samuel 4:3 in other translations

BSBWhen the troops returned to the camp, the elders of Israel asked, “Why has the LORD brought defeat on us before the Philistines today? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from Shiloh, so that it may go with us to save us from the hand of our enemies.”
WEBWhen the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, “Why has the LORD defeated us today before the Philistines? Let’s get the ark of the LORD’s covenant out of Shiloh and bring it to us, that it may come among us and save us out of the hand of our enemies.”
ASVAnd when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of Shiloh unto us, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.
YLTAnd the people cometh in unto the camp, and the elders of Israel say, ‘Why hath Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philistines? we take unto us from Shiloh the ark of the covenant of Jehovah, and it cometh into our midst, and He doth save us out of the hand of our enemies.'
DARBYAnd the people came into the camp; and the elders of Israel said, Why has Jehovah smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us fetch ourselves the ark of the covenant of Jehovah out of Shiloh, that it may come among us, and save us out of the hand of our enemies.
BBEAnd when the people came back to their tents, the responsible men of Israel said, Why has the Lord let the Philistines overcome us today? Let us get the ark of the Lord's agreement here from Shiloh, so that it may be with us and give us salvation from the hands of those who are against us.
WebsterAnd when the people had come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Why hath the LORD smitten us to-day before the Philistines? Let us bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD out of Shiloh to us, that when it cometh among us, it may save us from the hand of our enemies.

What does 1 Samuel 4:3 mean?

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown on 1 Samuel 4:3-9
3-9. Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us--Strange that they were so blind to the real cause of the disaster and that they did not discern, in the great and general corruption of religion and morals (1Sa 2:22-25; 7:3; Psa 78:58), the reason why the presence and aid of God were not extended to them. Their first measure for restoring the national spirit and energy ought to have been a complete reformation--a universal return to purity of worship and morals. But, instead of cherishing a spirit of deep humiliation and sincere repentance, instead of resolving on the abolition of existing abuses, and the re-establishing of the pure faith, they adopted what appeared an easier and speedier course--they put their trust in ceremonial observances, and doubted not but that the introduction of the ark into the battlefield would ensure their victory. In recommending this extraordinary step, the elders might recollect the confidence it imparted to their ancestors (Nu 10:35; 14:44), as well as what had been done at Jericho. But it is more probable that they were influenced by the heathenish ideas of their idolatrous neighbors, who carried their idol Dagon, or his sacred symbols, to their wars, believing that the power of their divinities was inseparably associated with, or residing in, their images. In short, the shout raised in the Hebrew camp, on the arrival of the ark, indicated very plainly the prevalence among the Israelites at this time of a belief in national deities--whose influence was local, and whose interest was especially exerted in behalf of the people who adored them. The joy of the Israelites was an emotion springing out of the same superstitious sentiments as the corresponding dismay of their enemies; and to afford them a convincing, though painful proof of their error, was the ulterior object of the discipline to which they were now subjected--a discipline by which God, while punishing them for their apostasy by allowing the capture of the ark, had another end in view--that of signally vindicating His supremacy over all the gods of the nations. 1Sa 4:12-22. Eli Hearing the Tidings.

Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown, 1871 · public domain

Adam Clarke's Commentary
Verse 3 Let us fetch the ark - They vainly supposed that the ark could save them, when the God of it had departed from them because of their wickedness. They knew that in former times their fathers had been beaten by their enemies, when they took not the ark with them to battle; as in the case of their wars with the Canaanites, Num 14:44, Num 14:45; and that they had conquered when they took this with them, as in the case of the destruction of Jericho, Jos 6:4. From the latter clause they took confidence; but the cause of their miscarriage in the former they laid not to heart. It was customary with all the nations of the earth to take their gods and sacred ensigns with them to war. The Persians, Indians, Greeks, Romans, Germans, Philistines, etc., did so. Consecrated crosses, blessing and hallowing of colors and standards, are the modern remains of those ancient superstitions.

Adam Clarke, 1831 · public domain

Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on 1 Samuel 4:1-9

Israel is smitten before the Philistines. Sin, the accursed thing, was in the camp, and gave their enemies all the advantage they could wish for. They own the hand of God in their trouble; but, instead of submitting, they speak angrily, as not aware of any just provocation they had given him. The foolishness of man perverts his way, and then his heart frets against the Lord, Pr 19:3, and finds fault with him. They…

Read the full comment on 1 Samuel 4:1-9 →

1 Samuel 4:3 in the original Hebrew

Word-by-word with transliteration, English gloss and Strong's number. Tap a number for the full definition and every place the word is used.

וַיָּבֹ֣אvai.ya.Vo'and it cameH935
הָעָם֮ha.'Amthe peopleH5971
אֶל\־'el-intoH413
הַֽמַּחֲנֶה֒ha.ma.cha.Nehthe campH4264
וַיֹּֽאמְרוּ֙vai.yo.me.Ruand they saidH559
זִקְנֵ֣יzik.Nei[the] elders ofH2205
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔לYis.ra.'ElIsraelH3478
לָ֣מָּהLa.mah<to> why?H4100
נְגָפָ֧נוּne.ga.Fa.nuhas he defeated usH5062
יְהוָ֛הYah.wehYahwehH3068
הַיּ֖וֹםhai.Yomthis dayH3117
לִפְנֵ֣יlif.Nei<to> beforeH6440
פְלִשְׁתִּ֑יםfe.lish.Tim[the] PhilistinesH6430
נִקְחָ֧הnik.Chahlet us bringH3947
אֵלֵ֣ינוּ'e.Lei.nuto ourselvesH413
מִשִּׁלֹ֗הmi.shi.Lohfrom ShilohH7887
אֶת\־'et-<obj.>H853
אֲרוֹן֙'a.rOn[the] ark ofH727
בְּרִ֣יתbe.Rit[the] covenant ofH1285
יְהוָ֔הYah.wehYahwehH3068
וְיָבֹ֣אve.ya.Vo'so it may comeH935
בְקִרְבֵּ֔נוּve.kir.Be.nuin midst ourH7130
וְיֹשִׁעֵ֖נוּve.yo.shi.'E.nuso it may deliver usH3467
מִכַּ֥ףmi.Kaffrom [the] hand ofH3709
אֹיְבֵֽינוּ\׃'o.ye.Vei.nuenemies ourH341

Source: STEPBible TAHOT/TAGNT (Tyndale House, CC BY 4.0).

Cross references for 1 Samuel 4:3

  • 2 Timothy 3:5

    Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

  • Numbers 10:35

    And it came to pass, when the ark set forward, that Moses said, Rise up, Lord, and let thine enemies be scattered; and let them that hate thee flee before thee.

  • Numbers 31:6

    And Moses sent them to the war, a thousand of every tribe, them and Phinehas the son of Eleazar the priest, to the war, with the holy instruments, and the trumpets to blow in his hand.

  • 1 Corinthians 10:1-5

    Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; And did all eat the same spiritual meat; And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. …

  • 2 Samuel 15:25

    And the king said unto Zadok, Carry back the ark of God into the city: if I shall find favour in the eyes of the Lord, he will bring me again, and shew me both it, and his habitation:

  • Matthew 3:9-10

    And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

  • Numbers 10:33

    And they departed from the mount of the Lord three days’ journey: and the ark of the covenant of the Lord went before them in the three days’ journey, to search out a resting place for them.

  • Isaiah 58:3

    Wherefore have we fasted, say they, and thou seest not? wherefore have we afflicted our soul, and thou takest no knowledge? Behold, in the day of your fast ye find pleasure, and exact all your labours.

  • Psalms 74:11

    Why withdrawest thou thy hand, even thy right hand? pluck it out of thy bosom.

  • 1 Peter 3:21

    The like figure whereunto even baptism doth also now save us (not the putting away of the filth of the flesh, but the answer of a good conscience toward God,) by the resurrection of Jesus Christ:

  • Hebrews 9:4

    Which had the golden censer, and the ark of the covenant overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden pot that had manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded, and the tables of the covenant;

  • Romans 2:28-29

    For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

Ranked by reader votes · OpenBible.info cross references (CC BY).

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Wherefore.
De 29:24; Ps 74:1,11; Isa 50:1; 58:3
Let us.
14:18; Nu 31:6; Jos 6:4,5; 2Sa 15:25; Isa 1:11-15; Jer 7:4,8-15
Mt 3:9,10
fetch. Heb. take unto us. the ark.
Nu 10:33; De 31:26; Jos 4:7; 1Ch 17:1; Jer 3:16; Heb 9:4
it may save.
Jer 7:8-11; Am 5:21,22; Mt 23:25-28; Ro 2:28,29; 1Co 10:1-5
2Ti 3:5; 1Pe 3:21; Jude 1:5

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge (Samuel Bagster, c. 1836) · public domain

Context

  • 1 Samuel 4:2

    And the Philistines put themselves in array against Israel: and when they joined battle, Israel was smitten before the Philistines: and they slew of the army in the field about four thousand men.

  • 1 Samuel 4:3

    And when the people were come into the camp, the elders of Israel said, Wherefore hath the Lord smitten us to day before the Philistines? Let us fetch the ark of the covenant of the Lord out of Shiloh unto us, that, when it cometh among us, it may save us out of the hand of our enemies.

  • 1 Samuel 4:4

    So the people sent to Shiloh, that they might bring from thence the ark of the covenant of the Lord of hosts, which dwelleth between the cherubims: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

Read all of 1 Samuel 4

1 Samuel 4:3 in other languages

Spanish
Reina-Valera 1909
Y vuelto que hubo el pueblo al campamento, los ancianos de Israel dijeron: ¿Por qué nos ha herido hoy Jehová delante de los Filisteos? Traigamos á nosotros de Silo el arca del pacto de Jehová, para que viniendo entre nosotros nos salve de la mano de nuestros enemigos.
French
Bible J.N. Darby 1885
Et le peuple rentra dans le camp, et les anciens d’Israël dirent: Pourquoi l’ Éternel nous a-t-il battus aujourd’hui devant les Philistins? Prenons à nous, de Silo, l’arche de l’alliance de l’ Éternel, et qu’elle vienne au milieu de nous et nous sauve de la main de nos ennemis.
German
Elberfelder 1871
Und als das Volk ins Lager zurückkam, da sprachen die Ältesten von Israel: Warum hat Jehova uns heute vor den Philistern geschlagen? Laßt uns von Silo die Lade des Bundes Jehovas zu uns holen, daß sie in unsere Mitte komme und uns rette aus der Hand unserer Feinde.
Latin
Clementine Vulgate
Et reversus est populus ad castra: dixeruntque majores natu de Israël: Quare percussit nos Dominus hodie coram Philisthiim? afferamus ad nos de Silo arcam fœderis Domini, et veniat in medium nostri, ut salvet nos de manu inimicorum nostrorum.