1 Samuel 6:20 net — The residents of Beth Shemesh asked,“Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up fr…

NET Bible

"The residents of Beth Shemesh asked,“Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?”"

— 1 Samuel 6:20, NET Bible

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1 Samuel 6:20 in Other Translations

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1 Samuel 6 — Context

17

These are the gold sores that the Philistines brought as a guilt offering to the LORD– one for each of the following cities: Ashdod, Gaza, Ashkelon, Gath, and Ekron.

18

The gold mice corresponded in number to all the Philistine cities of the five leaders, from the fortified cities to hamlet villages, to greater Abel, where they positioned the ark of the LORD until this very day in the field of Joshua who was from Beth Shemesh.

19

But the LORD struck down some of the people of Beth Shemesh because they had looked into the ark of the LORD; he struck down 50,070 of the men. The people grieved because the LORD had struck the people with a hard blow.

20

The residents of Beth Shemesh asked,“Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?”

21

So they sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath Jearim, saying,“The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down here and take it back home with you.”

1 Samuel 6:20 — Frequently Asked Questions

7 questions
What does 1 Samuel 6:20 say?
1 Samuel 6:20 in the NET Bible reads: “The residents of Beth Shemesh asked,“Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?””
Where is 1 Samuel 6:20 in the Bible?
1 Samuel 6:20 is found in the Old Testament, in the book of 1 Samuel, chapter 6, verse 20.
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 6:20.
What translation should I read 1 Samuel 6:20 in?
1 Samuel 6:20 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 6:20?
1 Samuel 6:20 reads (NET): “The residents of Beth Shemesh asked,“Who is able to stand before the LORD, this holy God? To whom will the ark go up from here?”” 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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