1 Samuel 4:9 net — Be strong and act like men, you Philistines, or else you will wind up serving the Hebrews the way they have served you!…

NET Bible

"Be strong and act like men, you Philistines, or else you will wind up serving the Hebrews the way they have served you! Act like men and fight!”"

— 1 Samuel 4:9, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 4:9 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 4 — Context

6

When the Philistines heard the sound of the shout, they said,“What is this loud shout in the camp of the Hebrews?” Then they realized that the ark of the LORD had arrived at the camp.

7

The Philistines were scared because they thought that gods had come to the camp. They said,“Woe to us! We’ve never seen anything like this!

8

Woe to us! Who can deliver us from the hand of these mighty gods? These are the gods who struck the Egyptians with all sorts of plagues in the desert!

9

Be strong and act like men, you Philistines, or else you will wind up serving the Hebrews the way they have served you! Act like men and fight!”

10

So the Philistines fought. Israel was defeated; they all ran home. The slaughter was very great; thirty thousand foot soldiers from Israel fell in battle.

11

The ark of God was taken, and the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phineas, were killed.

12

Eli Dies On that day a Benjaminite ran from the battle lines and came to Shiloh. His clothes were torn and dirt was on his head.

1 Samuel 4:9 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 4:9 say?
1 Samuel 4:9 in the NET Bible reads: “Be strong and act like men, you Philistines, or else you will wind up serving the Hebrews the way they have served you! Act like men and fight!””
Where is 1 Samuel 4:9 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 4:9 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 4, verse 9.
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 4:9.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 4:9 in?
1 Samuel 4:9 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 4:9?
1 Samuel 4:9 reads (NET): “Be strong and act like men, you Philistines, or else you will wind up serving the Hebrews the way they have served you! Act like men and fight!”” 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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