And when the five lords of the Philistines had seen it, they returned to Ekron the same day.

1 SAMUEL 6:16KJV
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1 Samuel 6:16 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 6:16 mean?

1 Samuel 6:16 describes how the five rulers of the Philistines, after witnessing what happened with the Ark of the Covenant, returned to their city of Ekron on the same day. The verse marks the end of the Philistine leaders’ involvement with the Ark after they saw it safely returned to Israelite territory.

The setting is after the Philistines had captured the Ark and suffered various troubles, leading them to send it back to Israel with a guilt offering. The five Philistine lords—leaders of their main cities—watched to see what would happen, and once they saw the Ark arrive safely, they left. This verse shows their relief and the conclusion of their direct role in the story.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 6:16

  • "lords" (סָרְנֵי, sarnei): This word refers to the specific rulers or chiefs of the Philistines, not just generic leaders. It highlights that all five main Philistine cities were officially represented.
  • "Ekron" (עֶקְרוֹן, ʿeqron): Naming Ekron shows the specific city to which these leaders returned, underlining the historical and geographical detail in the narrative.
  • "seen" (רָאָה, ra’ah): The verb here means more than just looking; it often carries the sense of witnessing or verifying something important, emphasizing that the Philistine lords personally confirmed the Ark’s return.

Why 1 Samuel 6:16 matters

  • This verse clarifies that the Philistine leaders were actively involved and personally witnessed the outcome, not just sending the Ark away and hoping for the best.
  • It connects to the wider passage by marking the transition point: the Ark’s troubles among the Philistines are over, and the focus shifts back to Israel.
  • The detail that all five lords returned together to Ekron shows a united decision and relief, hinting at the seriousness with which they treated the Ark’s return.

Where else these words appear

“lords” Hebrew H5633 · 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:
  • Judges 16:27 Now the house was full of men and women; and all the lords of the Philistines were there; and there were upon the roof about three thousand men and women, that beheld while Samson made sport.
  • 1 Samuel 6:18 And the golden mice, according to the number of all the cities of the Philistines belonging to the five lords, both of fenced cities, and of country villages, even unto the great stone of Abel, whereon they set down the ark of the LORD: which stone remaineth unto this day in the field of Joshua, the Bethshemite.

“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 5:10 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.
  • 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.