The Meaning of 1 Samuel 4:9 Explained

1 Samuel 4:9

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.

YLT: Strengthen yourselves, and become men, O Philistines, lest ye do service to Hebrews, as they have done to you -- then ye have become men, and have fought.'

Darby: Shew yourselves valiant and be men, ye Philistines, that ye may not have to be servants to the Hebrews, as they have been servants to you: be men, and fight.

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 Reverse Interlinear

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. 

What does 1 Samuel 4:9 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 4:9 mean?

Be strong and conduct yourselves like men you Philistines that you do not become servants of the Hebrews as they have been to you Conduct yourselves like men and fight
הִֽתְחַזְּק֞וּ וִֽהְי֤וּ לַֽאֲנָשִׁים֙ פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים פֶּ֚ן תַּעַבְד֣וּ לָעִבְרִ֔ים כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר עָבְד֖וּ לָכֶ֑ם וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם לַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם

הִֽתְחַזְּק֞וּ  Be  strong 
Parse: Verb, Hitpael, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: חָזַק  
Sense: to strengthen, prevail, harden, be strong, become strong, be courageous, be firm, grow firm, be resolute, be sore.
וִֽהְי֤וּ  and  conduct  yourselves 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Imperative, masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לַֽאֲנָשִׁים֙  like  men 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔ים  you  Philistines 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: פְּלִשְׁתִּי  
Sense: an inhabitant of Philistia; descendants of Mizraim who immigrated from Caphtor (Crete?) to the western seacoast of Canaan.
פֶּ֚ן  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: פֶּן  
Sense: lest, not, beware lest adv.
תַּעַבְד֣וּ  you  do  not  become  servants 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine plural
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
לָעִבְרִ֔ים  of  the  Hebrews 
Parse: Preposition-l, Proper Noun, masculine plural
Root: עִבְרִי  
Sense: a designation of the patriarchs and the Israelites adj.
עָבְד֖וּ  they  have  been 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
לָכֶ֑ם  to  you 
Parse: Preposition, second person masculine plural
וִהְיִיתֶ֥ם  Conduct  yourselves 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: אֶהְיֶה 
Sense: to be, become, come to pass, exist, happen, fall out.
לַאֲנָשִׁ֖ים  like  men 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine plural
Root: אִישׁ 
Sense: man.
וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם  and  fight 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Nifal, Conjunctive perfect, second person masculine plural
Root: לָחַם 
Sense: to fight, do battle, make war.