And when they of Ashdod arose early on the morrow, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the earth before the ark of the LORD. And they took Dagon, and set him in his place again.

1 SAMUEL 5:3KJV
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1 Samuel 5:3 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 5:3 mean?

1 Samuel 5:3 describes how the people of Ashdod found their idol, Dagon, fallen face down on the ground before the ark of the LORD when they got up early the next day. They picked Dagon up and put him back in his place, restoring the idol to its usual position.

The verse takes place after the Philistines captured the ark of the covenant and placed it in the temple of their god Dagon in Ashdod. The next morning, the people discovered that Dagon had toppled over in front of the ark, which would have been seen as a sign of defeat or submission. The people of Ashdod responded by physically setting their god back up, showing both their devotion and the powerless state of their idol compared to the ark of the LORD.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 5:3

  • "Fallen" (נָפַל, nafal) means to fall or collapse. The use of this word emphasizes that Dagon did not simply tip over by accident but was brought low, suggesting a forceful or significant event.
  • "Face" (פָּנִים, panim) here refers to Dagon's front or face being on the ground, highlighting a posture of submission or defeat before the ark.
  • "Set...again" (שׁוּב, shuv) means to return or restore. The people had to put Dagon back in place, underlining the contrast between the living God and an idol that needs human help.

Why 1 Samuel 5:3 matters

  • This verse highlights the powerlessness of idols compared to the God of Israel, as Dagon must be helped by his own worshipers.
  • The detail that Dagon fell "before the ark of the LORD" connects to the theme that God's presence cannot be controlled or rivaled by other gods, even in foreign territory.
  • The verse sets up the following events, where the situation with Dagon becomes even more dramatic, emphasizing the ongoing conflict between the LORD and false gods.

Where else these words appear

“Ashdod” Hebrew H796 · used in 5 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 5:6 But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with emerods, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.
  • Nehemiah 4:7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,

“Dagon” Hebrew H1712 · used in 7 verses

  • Judges 16:23 Then the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
  • 1 Samuel 5:4 And when they arose early on the morrow morning, behold, Dagon was fallen upon his face to the ground before the ark of the LORD; and the head of Dagon and both the palms of his hands were cut off upon the threshold; only the stump of Dagon was left to him.
  • 1 Samuel 5:7 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.

“morrow” Hebrew H4283 · used in 32 verses

  • Genesis 19:34 And it came to pass on the morrow, that the firstborn said unto the younger, Behold, I lay yesternight with my father: let us make him drink wine this night also; and go thou in, and lie with him, that we may preserve seed of our father.
  • Numbers 11:32 And the people stood up all that day, and all that night, and all the next day, and they gathered the quails: he that gathered least gathered ten homers: and they spread them all abroad for themselves round about the camp.
  • 1 Samuel 11:11 And it was so on the morrow, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the host in the morning watch, and slew the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it came to pass, that they which remained were scattered, so that two of them were not left together.

“early” Hebrew H7925 · used in 64 verses

  • Genesis 19:2 And he said, Behold now, my lords, turn in, I pray you, into your servant's house, and tarry all night, and wash your feet, and ye shall rise up early, and go on your ways. And they said, Nay; but we will abide in the street all night.
  • Judges 6:38 And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the fleece, a bowl full of water.
  • 2 Chronicles 36:15 And the LORD God of their fathers sent to them by his messengers, rising up betimes, and sending; because he had compassion on his people, and on his dwelling place: