And the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were restored to Israel, from Ekron even unto Gath; and the coasts thereof did Israel deliver out of the hands of the Philistines. And there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

1 SAMUEL 7:14KJV
Know the Bible

1 Samuel 7:14 (KJV)

What does 1 Samuel 7:14 mean?

1 Samuel 7:14 says that the cities which the Philistines had taken from Israel were given back to Israel, from Ekron to Gath, and Israel also freed the surrounding areas from Philistine control. The verse ends by noting that there was peace between Israel and the Amorites.

Samuel is leading Israel after a period of Philistine oppression. This verse marks a turning point: Israel regains lost territory (specific cities and their surrounding borders) and enjoys a time of peace with a neighboring group, the Amorites. The verse highlights a restoration of security and stability for Israel after years of conflict.

The Hebrew behind 1 Samuel 7:14

  • "Restored" (שׁוּב, shuv): This word means to return or bring back. Its use here emphasizes that the cities were not just captured but returned to their rightful owners, highlighting a sense of justice and reversal of past losses.
  • "Coasts" (גְּבוּל, gevul): This term refers to boundaries or borders. The mention of Israel delivering the "coasts" out of Philistine hands shows that not only cities but also the surrounding territories were reclaimed, pointing to a fuller restoration of Israel's land.
  • "Peace" (שָׁלוֹם, shalom): This word means more than just the absence of war; it carries the sense of wholeness, safety, and well-being. The peace with the Amorites suggests a broader stability in the region, not just a ceasefire.

Why 1 Samuel 7:14 matters

  • 1 Samuel 7:14 clarifies that Israel’s victory under Samuel was not just military but also territorial, as it involved the actual return of land and cities.
  • The verse shows that Israel’s restoration included peaceful relations with other groups like the Amorites, not just the end of conflict with the Philistines.
  • This verse connects to the wider passage by showing the results of Israel’s renewed faithfulness and Samuel’s leadership, setting the stage for a period of national security.

Where else these words appear

“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.

“Gath” Hebrew H1661 · used in 31 verses

  • Joshua 11:22 There was none of the Anakims left in the land of the children of Israel: only in Gaza, in Gath, and in Ashdod, there remained.
  • 1 Samuel 27:4 And it was told Saul that David was fled to Gath: and he sought no more again for him.
  • 1 Chronicles 7:21 And Zabad his son, and Shuthelah his son, and Ezer, and Elead, whom the men of Gath that were born in that land slew, because they came down to take away their cattle.

“Amorites” Hebrew H567 · used in 86 verses

  • Genesis 10:16 And the Jebusite, and the Amorite, and the Girgasite,
  • Deuteronomy 1:27 And ye murmured in your tents, and said, Because the LORD hated us, he hath brought us forth out of the land of Egypt, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, to destroy us.
  • Joshua 24:12 And I sent the hornet before you, which drave them out from before you, even the two kings of the Amorites; but not with thy sword, nor with thy bow.