1 Samuel 4:9
in 1 Samuel 4Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
KJV
Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.
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This verse in 1 Samuel 4
Commentary
7 notes on this verseA commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
In short, the shout raised in the Hebrew camp, on the arrival of the ark, indicated very plainly the prevalence among the Israelites at this time of a belief in national deities--whose influence was local, and whose interest was especially exerted in behalf of the people who adored them.
This site's exposition
The gods have entered their camp
on 1 Samuel 4:7-9
The Philistines speak of Israel's God in the plural, “these mighty gods” who “struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues”, remembering the exodus by report generations later. Their fear names the real danger, the presence of God, while Israel carries the ark as a weapon. Their dread drives them to fight harder, and verse 9 turns it into resolve: “Take courage and be men”.
This site's exposition
Take courage and be men
The Philistines turn their fear into a rallying cry. Adam Clarke read the words as an address to the whole army: fight, or become servants to the Hebrews and bear their revenge for past cruelty. The Hebrews had long served them.
The record, by era
The Medieval Church1 voice
A commentator
Gregory the DialogistCommentary on 1 Kings, Book 3, Chapter 2 · Written before 604.
proposed
11. Against the vain assertions of the Jews, the doctors of holy Church prepare nothing stronger anew, precisely because whatever is falsely asserted by the Jews concerning contempt of the Redeemer they consider as nothing. For they would be strengthened against their encounter and would fight as if with manly courage, if they had feared that the defenses of their assertion were being broken down by wiser and more rationally arguing opponents.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
The Defeat of the Israelites. 10 And the Philistines fought, and Israel was smitten, and they fled every man into his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen. 11 And the ark of God was taken; and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were slain.
quarantine:scripture (2026-07-29) — scripture-overlap:96%@v10-12
Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
Be strong, etc. - This was the address to the whole army, and very forcible it was. “If ye do not fight, and acquit yourselves like men, ye will be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you; and you may expect that they will avenge themselves of you for all the cruelty you have exercised towards them.”
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
On the verses either side of this one
And the Philistines did wage war. And Israel was shattered, and they retreated, every man to his city.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
13 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| הִֽתְחַזְּק֞וּ | hitchazeku | show yourselves strong | H2388 → | 291 times |
| וִֽהְי֤וּ | vihyu | and become | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| לַֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ | laanashim | <into> men | H582 → | 566 times |
| פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים | pelishtim | O Philistines | H6430 → | 287 times |
| פֶּ֚ן | pen | lest | H6435 → | 133 times |
| תַּעַבְד֣וּ | taavdu | you should serve | H5647 → | 288 times |
| לָעִבְרִ֔ים | laivrim | <to> the Hebrews | H5680 → | 34 times |
| כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר | kaasher | just as | H834 → | 5497 times |
| עָבְד֖וּ | ʾavedu | they have served | H5647 → | 288 times |
| לָכֶ֑ם | lakhem | <to> <the> you | ||
| וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם | vihyitem | and you will become | H1961 → | 3559 times |
| לַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים | laanashim | <into> men | H582 → | 566 times |
| וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם׃ | venilchamtem | and you will fight | H3898 → | 177 times |
הִֽתְחַזְּק֞וּshow yourselves strong
hitchazekuH2388 →291 times
וִֽהְי֤וּand become
vihyuH1961 →3559 times
לַֽאֲנָשִׁים֙<into> men
laanashimH582 →566 times
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםO Philistines
pelishtimH6430 →287 times
פֶּ֚ןlest
penH6435 →133 times
תַּעַבְד֣וּyou should serve
taavduH5647 →288 times
לָעִבְרִ֔ים<to> the Hebrews
laivrimH5680 →34 times
כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רjust as
kaasherH834 →5497 times
עָבְד֖וּthey have served
ʾaveduH5647 →288 times
לָכֶ֑ם<to> <the> you
lakhem
וִהְיִיתֶ֥םand you will become
vihyitemH1961 →3559 times
לַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים<into> men
laanashimH582 →566 times
וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם׃and you will fight
venilchamtemH3898 →177 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
1 Corinthians 16:13Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
it leads to
- Joshua 1:9
Have I not commanded you to be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”
- Ephesians 6:13–18
Therefore take up the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you will be able to stand your ground, and having done everything, to stand.
- Ephesians 6:10
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
- 1 Corinthians 15:58
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast and immovable. Always excel in the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.
- 2 Corinthians 12:9–10
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of…
- Joshua 1:9
Through
2 Samuel 10:12Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
it leads to
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
- Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid or terrified of them, for it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
- 1 Corinthians 16:13
Through
Isaiah 33:1Woe to you, O destroyer never destroyed, O traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, you will be betrayed.
it leads to
- Matthew 7:2
For with the same judgment you pronounce, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
- Matthew 7:2
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies2
On this verse
On this chapter
About 1 Samuel
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Gregory the Dialogist, Commentary on 1 Kings, Book 3, Chapter 2; Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament and Matthew Henry, Commentary on the Whole Bible.