The Meaning of 1 Samuel 4:8 Explained

1 Samuel 4:8

KJV: Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these are the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

YLT: Woe to us, who doth deliver us out of the hand of these honourable gods? these are the gods who are smiting the Egyptians with every plague in the wilderness.

Darby: Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with every plague in the wilderness.

ASV: Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty gods? these are the gods that smote the Egyptians with all manner of plagues in the wilderness.

Discover 1 Samuel 4:8

CONTEXT: What is the Context of 1 Samuel 4:8?

MEANING: What does 1 Samuel 4:8 Mean?

WORDS: What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 4:8 mean?

RELATIONS: What do the major concepts mean in 1 Samuel 4:8?

What is the context of 1 Samuel 4:8?

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Woe unto us! who shall deliver us out of the hand of these mighty Gods? these [are] the Gods that smote the Egyptians with all the plagues in the wilderness.

What does 1 Samuel 4:8 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 4:1-11 - Trusting In The Ark, Not In God

The predictions against Eli's house now begin to be fulfilled. It was fitting for Israel to institute an inquiry into the causes of defeat. This is always the first step toward victory. There was no doubt as to the ancient Covenant with Israel; the one question was to ascertain what had suddenly neutralized that divine assistance which in former days had always been forthcoming. Failure often indicates that something has happened to cut off the supply of God's saving help.

In this instance, however, Israel did not carry the inquiry into God's presence, but endeavored to supply the lapse of divine help by introducing the symbol of the Covenant. "Fetch the Ark!" they cried. They supposed that, in some mysterious way, it would bring God into their camp and ally Him with their arms. In the same manner a brigand might expect an amulet or charm to preserve his life, while violating the laws of God and man. These materialized views of the Israelites' relations with God had to be corrected; and hence defeat ensued. Our only safety lies, not in an outward act or token, but in simple, pure-hearted and unbroken fellowship with God. Then we become invincible. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 4

¹ The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Ebenezer
³ They fetch the ark unto the terror of the Philistines
¹⁰ They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain
¹² Eli at the news, falling backward, breaks his neck
¹⁹ Phinehas's wife, discouraged in her travail with Ichabod, dies

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 4:8 mean?

Woe to us who will deliver us of from the hand gods mighty these these are the gods who struck - Egypt with all the plagues in the wilderness

א֣וֹי לָ֔נוּ מִ֣י יַצִּילֵ֔נוּ מִיַּ֛ד ؟ הָאֱלֹהִ֥ים הָאַדִּירִ֖ים הָאֵ֑לֶּה אֵ֧לֶּה הֵ֣ם הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים הַמַּכִּ֧ים אֶת־ מִצְרַ֛יִם בְּכָל־ מַכָּ֖ה בַּמִּדְבָּֽר

א֣וֹי	Woe
Parse: Interjection Root: אֹוי Sense: woe! alas! oh!.
לָ֔נוּ	to us
Parse: Preposition, first person common plural
יַצִּילֵ֔נוּ	will deliver us of
Parse: Verb, Hifil, Imperfect, third person masculine singular, first person common plural Root: נָצַל Sense: to snatch away, deliver, rescue, save, strip, plunder.
מִיַּ֛ד	from the hand
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct Root: יָד Sense: hand.
؟ הָאֱלֹהִ֥ים	gods
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural Root: אֱלֹהִים Sense: (plural).
הָאַדִּירִ֖ים	mighty
Parse: Article, Adjective, masculine plural Root: אַדִּיר Sense: great, majestic.
הָאֵ֑לֶּה	these
Parse: Article, Pronoun, common plural Root: אֵהֶל Sense: these.
אֵ֧לֶּה	these
Parse: Pronoun, common plural Root: אֵהֶל Sense: these.
הָאֱלֹהִ֗ים	the gods
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural Root: אֱלֹהִים Sense: (plural).
הַמַּכִּ֧ים	who struck
Parse: Article, Verb, Hifil, Participle, masculine plural Root: נָכָה Sense: to strike, smite, hit, beat, slay, kill.
אֶת־	-
Parse: Direct object marker Root: אֹות Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
מִצְרַ֛יִם	Egypt
Parse: Proper Noun, feminine singular Root: מִצְרַיִם Sense: a country at the northeastern section of Africa, adjacent to Palestine, and through which the Nile flows adj Egyptians = “double straits”.
בְּכָל־	with all
Parse: Preposition-b, Noun, masculine singular construct Root: כֹּל Sense: all, the whole.
מַכָּ֖ה	the plagues
Parse: Noun, feminine singular Root: מַכָּה Sense: blow, wound, slaughter.
בַּמִּדְבָּֽר	in the wilderness
Parse: Preposition-b, Article, Noun, masculine singular Root: מִדְבָּר Sense: wilderness.

What are the major concepts related to 1 Samuel 4:8?

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Similar Scriptures for 1 Samuel 4:8

		Exodus 9:14 [2]
		Psalms 78:43-51 [2]
		Exodus 7:5 [2]