Verse (Click for Chapter) New International Version They answered, “If you return the ark of the god of Israel, do not send it back to him without a gift; by all means send a guilt offering to him. Then you will be healed, and you will know why his hand has not been lifted from you.” New Living Translation “Send the Ark of the God of Israel back with a gift,” they were told. “Send a guilt offering so the plague will stop. Then, if you are healed, you will know it was his hand that caused the plague.” English Standard Version They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand does not turn away from you.” Berean Standard Bible They replied, “If you return the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you.” Berean Literal Bible And they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty. But you⁺ shall by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you⁺ will be healed, and it will be known to you⁺ why His hand has not turned aside from you⁺.” King James Bible And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. New King James Version So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but by all means return it to Him with a trespass offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.” New American Standard Bible And they said, “If you are going to send the ark of the God of Israel away, do not send it empty; but you shall certainly return to Him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be revealed to you why His hand does not leave you.” NASB 1995 They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but you shall surely return to Him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.” NASB 1977 And they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but you shall surely return to Him a guilt offering. Then you shall be healed and it shall be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.” Legacy Standard Bible So they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty; but you shall surely return to Him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not turned away from you.” Amplified Bible They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty [without a gift]; but be sure to return [it] to Him [together with] a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.” Berean Annotated Bible They replied, “If you return the ark of the God {Elohe} of Israel (he wrestles with God), do not send it away empty, but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you⁺ will be healed, and you⁺ will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you⁺.” Christian Standard Bible They replied, “If you send the ark of Israel’s God away, do not send it without an offering. Send back a guilt offering to him, and you will be healed. Then the reason his hand hasn’t been removed from you will be revealed.” Holman Christian Standard Bible They replied, “If you send the ark of Israel’s God away, you must not send it without an offering. You must send back a restitution offering to Him, and you will be healed. Then the reason His hand hasn’t been removed from you will be revealed.” American Standard Version And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but by all means return him a trespass-offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. Contemporary English Version "Don't send it back without a gift," the priests and fortunetellers answered. "Send along something to Israel's God to make up for taking the chest in the first place. Then you will be healed, and you will find out why the LORD was causing you so much trouble." English Revised Version And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a guilt offering: then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. GOD'S WORD® Translation The priests answered, "If you're returning the ark of the God of Israel, don't send it away empty, but by all means return it to its [proper] place with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will know why he would not turn his anger away from you." Good News Translation They answered, "If you return the Covenant Box of the God of Israel, you must, of course, send with it a gift to him to pay for your sin. The Covenant Box must not go back without a gift. In this way you will be healed, and you will find out why he has kept on punishing you." International Standard Version They said, "If you send the Ark of the God of Israel back, don't send it empty, but rather be sure to send back to him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed and will know why his oppression has not been removed from you." NET Bible They replied, "If you are going to send the ark of the God of Israel back, don't send it away empty. Be sure to return it with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why his hand is not removed from you." New Heart English Bible And they said, "If you are going to send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty. But return to him a reparation, then you shall be healed and he will be reconciled to you. Will not, then, his hand be removed from you?" Webster's Bible Translation And they said, If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass-offering: then ye will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. Majority Text Translations Majority Standard BibleThey replied, “If you return the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you.” World English Bible They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, don’t send it empty; but by all means return a trespass offering to him. Then you will be healed, and it will be known to you why his hand is not removed from you.” Literal Translations Literal Standard VersionAnd they say, “If you are sending the Ark of the God of Israel away, you do not send it away empty; for you certainly send back a guilt-offering to Him; then you are healed, and it has been known to you why His hand does not turn aside from you.” Berean Literal Bible And they said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty. But you⁺ shall by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you⁺ will be healed, and it will be known to you⁺ why His hand has not turned aside from you⁺.” Young's Literal Translation And they say, 'If ye are sending away the ark of the God of Israel, ye do not send it away empty; for ye do certainly send back to Him a guilt-offering; then ye are healed, and it hath been known to you why His hand doth not turn aside from you.' Smith's Literal Translation And they will say, If sending away the ark of the God of Israel, ye shall not send it away empty; for turning back, ye shall turn back a trespass: then ye shall be healed and we shall make known to you why his hand shall not be removed from you. Catholic Translations Douay-Rheims BibleIf you send back the ark of the God of Israel, send it not away empty, but render unto him what you owe for sin, and then you shall be healed: and you shall know why his hand departeth not from you. Catholic Public Domain Version “If you send back the ark of the God of Israel, do not choose to release it empty. Instead, repay to him what you owe because of sin. And then you will be cured. And you will know why his hand did not withdraw from you.” New American Bible They replied: “If you intend to send back the ark of the God of Israel, you must not send it alone, but must, by all means, make amends to God through a reparation offering. Then you will be healed, and will learn why God continues to afflict you.” New Revised Standard Version They said, “If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it empty, but by all means return him a guilt offering. Then you will be healed and will be ransomed; will not his hand then turn from you?” Translations from Aramaic Lamsa BibleAnd they said, If you send away the ark of the LORD God of Israel, do not send it away empty; but you must surely bring trespass offerings to it; then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. Peshitta Holy Bible Translated And they said: “If you send the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH God of Israel, you shall not send it empty, but certainly bring him offerings, and then you shall be healed and it will be made known to you why the hand of LORD JEHOVAH would not turn away from you” OT Translations JPS Tanakh 1917And they said: 'If ye send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return Him a guilt-offering; then ye shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why His hand is not removed from you.' Brenton Septuagint Translation And they said, If ye send away the ark of the covenant of the Lord God of Israel, do not on any account send it away empty, but by all means render to it an offering for the plague; and then shall ye be healed, and an atonement shall be made for you: should not his hand be thus stayed from off you? Additional Translations ... Audio Bible Context The Ark Returned to Israel…2the Philistines summoned the priests and diviners, saying, “What shall we do with the ark of the LORD? Tell us how to send it back to its place.” 3They replied, “If you return the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you.” 4“What guilt offering should we send back to Him?” asked the Philistines. “Five gold tumors and five gold rats,” they said, “according to the number of rulers of the Philistines, since the same plague has struck both you and your rulers.… Cross References They replied, 1 Kings 12:6-7 Then King Rehoboam consulted with the elders who had served his father Solomon during his lifetime. “How do you advise me to respond to these people?” he asked. / They replied, “If you will be a servant to these people and serve them this day, and if you will respond by speaking kind words to them, they will be your servants forever.” Proverbs 15:22 Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed. Proverbs 11:14 For lack of guidance, a nation falls, but with many counselors comes deliverance. “If you return the ark of the God of Israel, 1 Samuel 5:11 Then the Ekronites called together all the rulers of the Philistines and said, “Send away the ark of the God of Israel. It must return to its place, so that it will not kill us and our people!” For a deadly confusion had pervaded the city; the hand of God was very heavy upon it. 1 Chronicles 13:3 Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him in the days of Saul.” 2 Samuel 6:2 And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. do not send it away empty, Exodus 23:15 You are to keep the Feast of Unleavened Bread as I commanded you: At the appointed time in the month of Abib you are to eat unleavened bread for seven days, because that was the month you came out of Egypt. No one may appear before Me empty-handed. Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times a year all your men are to appear before the LORD your God in the place He will choose: at the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the Feast of Weeks, and the Feast of Tabernacles. No one should appear before the LORD empty-handed. 2 Samuel 24:24 “No,” replied the king, “I insist on paying a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing.” So David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver. but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Leviticus 5:15-16 “If someone acts unfaithfully and sins unintentionally against any of the LORD’s holy things, he must bring his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram from the flock, of proper value in silver shekels according to the sanctuary shekel; it is a guilt offering. / Regarding any holy thing he has harmed, he must make restitution by adding a fifth of its value to it and giving it to the priest, who will make atonement on his behalf with the ram as a guilt offering, and he will be forgiven. Leviticus 6:6-7 Then he must bring to the priest his guilt offering to the LORD: an unblemished ram of proper value from the flock. / In this way the priest will make atonement for him before the LORD, and he will be forgiven for anything he may have done to incur guilt.” Numbers 5:7-8 and must confess the sin he has committed. He must make full restitution, add a fifth to its value, and give all this to the one he has wronged. / But if the man has no relative to whom restitution can be made for the wrong, the restitution belongs to the LORD and must be given to the priest along with the ram of atonement, by which the atonement is made for him. Then you will be healed, Jeremiah 30:17 But I will restore your health and heal your wounds, declares the LORD, because they call you an outcast, Zion, for whom no one cares.” Jeremiah 17:14 Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me, and I will be saved, for You are my praise. Hosea 14:4 I will heal their apostasy; I will freely love them, for My anger has turned away from them. and you will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you.” Psalm 32:4-5 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was drained as in the summer heat. Selah / Then I acknowledged my sin to You and did not hide my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD,” and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah Treasury of Scripture And they said, If you send away the ark of the God of Israel, send it not empty; but in any wise return him a trespass offering: then you shall be healed, and it shall be known to you why his hand is not removed from you. empty Exodus 23:15 Thou shalt keep the feast of unleavened bread: (thou shalt eat unleavened bread seven days, as I commanded thee, in the time appointed of the month Abib; for in it thou camest out from Egypt: and none shall appear before me empty:) Exodus 34:20 But the firstling of an ass thou shalt redeem with a lamb: and if thou redeem him not, then shalt thou break his neck. All the firstborn of thy sons thou shalt redeem. And none shall appear before me empty. Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times in a year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which he shall choose; in the feast of unleavened bread, and in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of tabernacles: and they shall not appear before the LORD empty: a trespass Leviticus 5:6,15-19 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD for his sin which he hath sinned, a female from the flock, a lamb or a kid of the goats, for a sin offering; and the priest shall make an atonement for him concerning his sin… Leviticus 6:6 And he shall bring his trespass offering unto the LORD, a ram without blemish out of the flock, with thy estimation, for a trespass offering, unto the priest: Leviticus 7:1-7 Likewise this is the law of the trespass offering: it is most holy… know 1 Samuel 6:9 And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us; it was a chance that happened to us. 1 Samuel 5:7,9,11 And when the men of Ashdod saw that it was so, they said, The ark of the God of Israel shall not abide with us: for his hand is sore upon us, and upon Dagon our god… Job 10:2 I will say unto God, Do not condemn me; shew me wherefore thou contendest with me. Jump to Previous Ark Clear Empty Hand Healed Israel Means Offering Peace Removed Sending Sin-Offering Surely Trespass Trespass-Offering Turn WiseJump to Next Ark Clear Empty Hand Healed Israel Means Offering Peace Removed Sending Sin-Offering Surely Trespass Trespass-Offering Turn Wise1 Samuel 6 1. After seven months the Philistines take counsel how to send back the ark10. 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 They replied, This phrase indicates a response from the Philistine priests and diviners to the rulers of the Philistines. The Philistines were seeking guidance on how to return the Ark of the Covenant to Israel after it had brought plagues upon them. This reflects the ancient practice of consulting religious leaders for divine insight. “If you return the ark of the God of Israel, do not send it away empty, but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering. Then you will be healed, and you will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you.” Persons / Places / Events 1. PhilistinesA group of people who captured the Ark of the Covenant and experienced divine retribution as a result. 2. Ark of the Covenant A sacred chest representing God's presence, captured by the Philistines and causing them great distress. 3. Guilt Offering A sacrificial offering made to atone for wrongdoing, suggested by the Philistine priests and diviners to appease the God of Israel. 4. Priests and Diviners Philistine religious leaders who advised on how to return the Ark to Israel. 5. God of Israel The one true God, whose power and holiness were demonstrated through the events surrounding the Ark. Teaching Points Understanding God's HolinessThe Philistines' experience with the Ark underscores the holiness of God and the seriousness of approaching Him with reverence and respect. The Importance of Repentance The suggestion to send a guilt offering reflects a recognition of wrongdoing and the need for repentance, a principle applicable to all who seek reconciliation with God. God's Sovereignty Over Nations The events demonstrate God's control over all nations, not just Israel, and His ability to reveal His power and will to those who do not know Him. The Role of Sacrifice in Atonement The concept of a guilt offering points to the broader biblical theme of sacrifice as a means of atonement, ultimately fulfilled in Christ's sacrifice. Seeking God's Guidance The Philistines sought advice from their religious leaders, reminding believers of the importance of seeking godly counsel and wisdom in times of uncertainty. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of 1 Samuel 6:3?2. What does 1 Samuel 6:3 teach about respecting God's holiness and offerings? 3. How can we apply the principle of restitution in our lives today? 4. Why is it important to seek God's guidance before making decisions, as in 1 Samuel 6:3? 5. How does 1 Samuel 6:3 connect with the concept of repentance in Scripture? 6. What lessons on obedience to God can be drawn from 1 Samuel 6:3? 7. What is the significance of the guilt offering in 1 Samuel 6:3? 8. How does 1 Samuel 6:3 reflect God's justice and mercy? 9. Why did the Philistines consult priests and diviners in 1 Samuel 6:3? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from 1 Samuel 6? 11. What are emerods in the Bible? 12. What does it mean Jesus became sin for us? 13. In 1 Samuel 6:4, why are golden tumors and rats treated as valid offerings for atonement? 14. Psalm 63:2 speaks of seeing God's power in the sanctuary--how could David witness this if he was exiled from the sanctuary? What Does 1 Samuel 6:3 Mean They repliedThe Philistine priests and diviners answer their rulers (1 Samuel 6:2). • They acknowledge that the calamity afflicting their people—tumors and panic (1 Samuel 5:6–12)—comes from “the God of Israel.” • Even pagan counselors realize they must respond to a holy God who has proven His supremacy over Dagon (1 Samuel 5:3–4). Cross references: 1 Samuel 5:11; 1 Kings 8:42–43. If you return the ark of the God of Israel The ark is the visible throne of the LORD, where He said, “There I will meet with you” (Exodus 25:22). • Returning it recognizes God’s ownership and Israel’s covenant privileges (Numbers 4:5–6). • It also admits that taking the ark as a war trophy was a direct offense against the living God (1 Samuel 4:11; Psalm 78:61). Cross references: Joshua 3:11; 2 Samuel 6:2. do not send it away empty Approaching God without an offering dishonors Him (Exodus 23:15; Deuteronomy 16:16). • Throughout Scripture, gifts accompany repentance or requests for favor (Genesis 43:11; 2 Samuel 24:24). • The instruction signals that restitution is required, not mere relocation of holy objects. Cross references: Proverbs 3:9–10; Malachi 1:7–8. but by all means return it to Him with a guilt offering A guilt (reparation) offering atones for specific wrongdoing and includes restitution plus added value (Leviticus 5:15–16; 7:1–7). • The Philistines will send five golden tumors and five golden mice, matching their cities and the dual plagues (1 Samuel 6:4–5). • Even pagans sense that sin incurs debt before God; tangible payment acknowledges His justice. Cross references: Leviticus 6:5; Isaiah 53:10. Then you will be healed God alone can lift the plague (Exodus 15:26). Their obedience places them under His mercy. • Healing here is physical relief and social restoration—tumors gone, panic ended (Psalm 103:3). • The promise echoes the covenant pattern: repentance leads to deliverance (2 Chronicles 7:14). Cross references: Psalm 30:2–3; Mark 5:34. and you will understand why His hand has not been lifted from you “Hand” pictures God’s active power (1 Samuel 5:9). • If the suffering stops after the ark and offering are sent, they will know the LORD was the cause all along (1 Samuel 6:9). • Recognition of God’s sovereignty is itself a purpose of the ordeal (Psalm 46:10). Cross references: Psalm 32:4; James 4:10. summary 1 Samuel 6:3 shows pagan leaders grasping core biblical truths: God is holy, sin demands restitution, and genuine repentance brings healing. By ordering a guilt offering with the ark, they acknowledge their offense and seek mercy. The verse underscores that the LORD’s hand disciplines until sin is owned and addressed, but He stands ready to heal when His justice is honored. (3) Send it not empty.--The advice was to propitiate with gifts the powerful Hebrew Deity, whom they imagined was offended and angry at the insult offered Him--the being placed in an inferior position in the Dagon temple.The priests and diviners evidently thought that the Hebrew Deity, in some way resident in the "golden chest," was a childish, capricious deity, like one of their own loved gods--Dagon, or Beelzebub, lord of flies. Their people had insulted Him; He had shown Himself powerful enough, however, to injure His captors, so the insults must cease, and He must be appeased with rich offerings. Verses 3, 4. - A trespass offering. The offering that was to be made when the offence had been unintentional (Leviticus 5:15). Why his hand is not removed from you. A euphemism for "why your punishment continues to be so severe, without sign of abatement." If healing follows the gift, you will know that the malady was Jehovah's doing. The trespass offering was to consist of five golden emerods, and five golden mice, it being an old heathen custom, still constantly practised abroad, of presenting to the deity tokens representing the deliverance wrought for such as had implored his aid. Thus Horace ('Carm.,' 1:5) speaks of the custom of hanging up in the temple of Neptune the clothes in which a man had escaped from shipwreck. Slaves when manumitted offered their chains to the Lares; and the idea is so natural that we cannot wonder at its prevalence. One plague was on you all. Rather, "is on you all." It did not cease until the ark had been restored. The Hebrew has on them all; but as all the versions and several MSS. read you all, the substitution of them is probably the mistake of some transcriber.Parallel Commentaries ... Hebrew They replied,וַיֹּאמְר֗וּ (way·yō·mə·rū) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural Strong's 559: To utter, say “If אִֽם־ (’im-) Conjunction Strong's 518: Lo!, whether?, if, although, Oh that!, when, not you return מְשַׁלְּחִ֞ים (mə·šal·lə·ḥîm) Verb - Piel - Participle - masculine plural Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out the ark אֲר֨וֹן (’ă·rō·wn) Noun - common singular construct Strong's 727: A chest, ark of the God אֱלֹהֵ֤י (’ĕ·lō·hê) Noun - masculine plural construct Strong's 430: gods -- the supreme God, magistrates, a superlative of Israel, יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ (yiś·rā·’êl) Noun - proper - masculine singular Strong's 3478: Israel -- 'God strives', another name of Jacob and his desc do not אַל־ (’al-) Adverb Strong's 408: Not send it away תְּשַׁלְּח֤וּ (tə·šal·lə·ḥū) Verb - Piel - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out empty, רֵיקָ֔ם (rê·qām) Adverb Strong's 7387: Emptily, ineffectually, undeservedly but כִּֽי־ (kî-) Conjunction Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction by all means הָשֵׁ֥ב (hā·šêḇ) Verb - Hifil - Infinitive absolute Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again return [it] תָּשִׁ֛יבוּ (tā·šî·ḇū) Verb - Hifil - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again to Him ל֖וֹ (lōw) Preposition | third person masculine singular Strong's Hebrew with a guilt offering. אָשָׁ֑ם (’ā·šām) Noun - masculine singular Strong's 817: Guilt, a fault, a sin-offering Then אָ֤ז (’āz) Adverb Strong's 227: At that time, place, therefore you will be healed, תֵּרָֽפְאוּ֙ (tê·rā·p̄ə·’ū) Verb - Nifal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural Strong's 7495: To mend, to cure and you will understand וְנוֹדַ֣ע (wə·nō·w·ḏa‘) Conjunctive waw | Verb - Nifal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular Strong's 3045: To know why לָ֛מָּה (lām·māh) Interrogative Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what His hand יָד֖וֹ (yā·ḏōw) Noun - feminine singular construct | third person masculine singular Strong's 3027: A hand has not לֹא־ (lō-) Adverb - Negative particle Strong's 3808: Not, no been lifted תָס֥וּר (ṯā·sūr) Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person feminine singular Strong's 5493: To turn aside from מִכֶּֽם׃ (mik·kem) Preposition | second person masculine plural Strong's 4480: A part of, from, out of you.” לָכֶ֔ם (lā·ḵem) Preposition | second person masculine plural Strong's Hebrew Links 1 Samuel 6:3 NIV1 Samuel 6:3 NLT 1 Samuel 6:3 ESV 1 Samuel 6:3 NASB 1 Samuel 6:3 KJV 1 Samuel 6:3 BibleApps.com 1 Samuel 6:3 Biblia Paralela 1 Samuel 6:3 Chinese Bible 1 Samuel 6:3 French Bible 1 Samuel 6:3 Catholic Bible OT History: 1 Samuel 6:3 They said If you send away (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa) |
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