1 Samuel 4:7 web — The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." They said, "Woe to us! For there has not been…

World English Bible

"The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." They said, "Woe to us! For there has not been such a thing before."

— 1 Samuel 4:7, World English Bible

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1 Samuel 4:7 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 4 — Context

4

So the people sent to Shiloh; and they brought from there the ark of the covenant of Yahweh of Armies, who sits [above] the cherubim: and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were there with the ark of the covenant of God.

5

When the ark of the covenant of Yahweh came into the camp, all Israel shouted with a great shout, so that the earth rang again.

6

When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" They understood that the ark of Yahweh had come into the camp.

7

The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." They said, "Woe to us! For there has not been such a thing before.

8

Woe to us! Who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods that struck the Egyptians with all kinds of plagues in the wilderness.

9

Be strong, and behave like men, O you Philistines, that you not be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been to you. Strengthen yourselves like men, and fight!"

10

The Philistines fought, and Israel was struck, and they fled every man to his tent: and there was a very great slaughter; for there fell of Israel thirty thousand footmen.

1 Samuel 4:7 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 4:7 say?
1 Samuel 4:7 in the World English Bible reads: “The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." They said, "Woe to us! For there has not been such a thing before.”
Where is 1 Samuel 4:7 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 4:7 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 4, verse 7.
Who wrote 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel is traditionally attributed to Anonymous (traditionally Samuel, Nathan, and Gad). It was written c. 930–722 BC.
What is the book of 1 Samuel about?
1 Samuel marks Israel's transition from judges to kings. It traces the births and ministries of the prophet Samuel, the rise and tragic fall of Saul as Israel's first king, and the anointing of the shepherd boy David, whose faith makes him a man after God's own heart.
What are the major themes of 1 Samuel?
1 Samuel explores themes including Kingship, Prophet, Faith vs. Fear, God's Sovereign Choice, Anointing. These themes shape the meaning and context of 1 Samuel 4:7.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 4:7 in?
1 Samuel 4:7 is available on GodsGoodBook in the King James Version (KJV), American Standard Version (ASV), World English Bible (WEB), NET Bible, Young's Literal Translation, Darby Bible, Douay-Rheims Bible, and the Bible in Basic English. Each translation reflects different translation philosophies — use the translation picker on this page to compare them, or browse our full translations directory.
How can I memorize 1 Samuel 4:7?
1 Samuel 4:7 reads (WEB): “The Philistines were afraid, for they said, "God has come into the camp." They said, "Woe to us! For there has not been such a thing before.” Read it aloud, break it into short phrases, repeat each phrase three times before adding the next, then put the phrases together. Reading it in multiple translations (above) often helps the meaning settle.
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