Therefore they sent the ark of God to Ekron. And it came to pass, as the ark of God came to Ekron, that the Ekronites cried out, saying, They have brought about the ark of the God of Israel to us, to slay us and our people.

1 SAMUEL 5:10KJV
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1 Samuel 5:10 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 5:10 mean?

1 Samuel 5:10 describes how the Philistines sent the ark of God to the city of Ekron, and when the people of Ekron saw it arriving, they panicked and cried out in fear, believing the ark would bring death to them and their people. The verse shows the deep anxiety and dread the Philistines felt about the ark, which they associated with disaster.

The setting is after the Philistines captured the ark of God from Israel and moved it from city to city because each place suffered plagues or trouble when the ark was present. In this verse, the people of Ekron are not speaking to God or Israel, but to each other and possibly to the leaders who brought the ark. Their reaction highlights the reputation of the ark and the sense of danger it carried among Israel’s enemies.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 5:10

  • אֶקְרוֹן (ʾEqron, H6138) and עֶקְרוֹנִי (ʿEqroni, H6139): These words refer to the city of Ekron and its inhabitants. Ekron was one of the five major Philistine cities, and its people’s reaction helps show the widespread fear among the Philistines.
  • זָעַק (tsaʿaq, H2199): Translated as “cried out,” this word often means to cry for help or in distress. The strong language emphasizes the panic and desperation of the Ekronites.
  • סָבַב (savav, H5437): Translated as “brought about” or “turned,” this word suggests that the ark was intentionally sent or redirected to Ekron, not by accident, but as a deliberate action by the other Philistines.

Why 1 Samuel 5:10 matters

  • This verse clears up that the Philistines did not see the ark as a trophy, but as a dangerous burden that brought suffering wherever it went.
  • The reaction of the Ekronites shows how the reputation of the God of Israel and His ark spread even among Israel’s enemies, causing fear and respect.
  • The verse connects to the larger story of the ark’s journey through Philistine territory and sets up the decision to eventually return the ark to Israel, as no Philistine city wanted to keep it.

Where else these words appear

“Ekronites” Hebrew H6139 · used in 2 verses

  • Joshua 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:

“Ekron” Hebrew H6138 · used in 20 verses

  • Joshua 13:3 From Sihor, which is before Egypt, even unto the borders of Ekron northward, which is counted to the Canaanite: five lords of the Philistines; the Gazathites, and the Ashdothites, the Eshkalonites, the Gittites, and the Ekronites; also the Avites:
  • 1 Samuel 6:16 And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.
  • 2 Kings 1:6 And they said unto him, There came a man up to meet us, and said unto us, Go, turn again unto the king that sent you, and say unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Is it not because there is not a God in Israel, that thou sendest to enquire of Baalzebub the god of Ekron? therefore thou shalt not come down from that bed on which thou art gone up, but shalt surely die.

“out” Hebrew H2199 · used in 73 verses

  • Exodus 2:23 And it came to pass in process of time, that the king of Egypt died: and the children of Israel sighed by reason of the bondage, and they cried, and their cry came up unto God by reason of the bondage.
  • 2 Samuel 13:19 And Tamar put ashes on her head, and rent her garment of divers colours that was on her, and laid her hand on her head, and went on crying.
  • Isaiah 30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee.

“about” Hebrew H5437 · used in 147 verses

  • Genesis 2:11 The name of the first is Pison: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold;
  • 2 Samuel 20:12 And Amasa wallowed in blood in the midst of the highway. And when the man saw that all the people stood still, he removed Amasa out of the highway into the field, and cast a cloth upon him, when he saw that every one that came by him stood still.
  • Psalms 48:12 Walk about Zion, and go round about her: tell the towers thereof.