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 5:4KJVWhat does 1 Samuel 5:4 mean?
1 Samuel 5:4 describes how, on the morning after the Philistines placed the ark of the LORD in the temple of their god Dagon, they found Dagon’s statue fallen face down before the ark, with its head and hands broken off and lying on the threshold, leaving only the main part of the statue. This scene shows the defeat or humiliation of Dagon in the presence of the ark of the LORD.
The verse is set in the Philistine city of Ashdod, where the Philistines had captured the ark of the covenant from Israel and put it in Dagon’s temple as a trophy. The next morning, the people discovered that Dagon’s idol had not only fallen again before the ark but was now broken, with its head and hands separated from the body. This event is presented as a sign that the God of Israel is greater than the Philistine god Dagon.
The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 5:4
- דָּגוֹן (Dagon, H1712): This is the name of the Philistine god. The repeated mention of דָּגוֹן (Dagon) in the verse highlights the focus on the idol itself and its humiliation.
- פָּנִים (panim, H6440): Meaning "face," this word is used to describe Dagon falling "upon his face" before the ark. The image is one of submission or defeat, as if Dagon is bowing before the LORD.
- אֲרוֹן (aron, H727): This is the word for "ark," referring to the ark of the covenant, the sacred chest representing the presence of the LORD. The contrast between the ark and Dagon’s statue is central to the story.
- כָּרַת (karat, H3772): Translated as "cut off," this word describes how Dagon’s head and hands were separated from the rest of the statue. This detail emphasizes the total defeat of Dagon, not just a simple fall.
Why 1 Samuel 5:4 matters
- 1 Samuel 5:4 makes it clear that the God of Israel is not just another local god but is shown as superior to the Philistine deity, even in a foreign temple.
- The verse explains why later in the chapter, the Philistines treat the threshold of Dagon’s temple with special reverence, because that is where the broken pieces were found.
- This verse sets the stage for the troubles that follow for the Philistines, showing that possessing the ark does not bring them power but instead brings misfortune.