The Meaning of 1 Samuel 7:4 Explained

1 Samuel 7:4

KJV: Then the children of Israel did put away Baalim and Ashtaroth, and served the LORD only.

YLT: And the sons of Israel turn aside the Baalim and Ashtaroth, and serve Jehovah alone;

Darby: And the children of Israel put away the Baals and the Ashtoreths and served Jehovah only.

ASV: Then the children of Israel did put away the Baalim and the Ashtaroth, and served Jehovah only.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Then the children  of Israel  did put away  Baalim  and Ashtaroth,  and served  the LORD  only. 

What does 1 Samuel 7:4 Mean?

Context Summary

1 Samuel 7:1-4 - Rashness Punished Reverence Blessed
The new cart, with its precious burden, must have come upon the men of Beth-shemesh like an apparition. The Ark was welcomed by them, after its seven months of absence, with great joy. But privilege entails responsibility; and their wanton curiosity and irreverence could not be permitted. Reverence for God Himself demanded the most careful behavior toward the Ark of His Presence, and when this was lacking, swift judgment ensued. See Numbers 1:50-51; Numbers 4:5; Numbers 4:16-30.
It is interesting to notice that when the Israelites were weaned from the Ark, their hearts lamented after the Lord, 1 Samuel 7:2. We cannot be permanently happy without God. Seasons of apathy and irreligion will sooner or later be succeeded by faith and love, as the frost of winter yields to the touch of spring. In this case, the revival was due to the patient labor of Samuel, and he did splendid service in urging the people to deal drastically with the idols of Canaan, which had cut them off from God as clouds hide the sun. [source]

Chapter Summary: 1 Samuel 7

1  They of Kiriath Jearim bring the ark to Abinadab, and sanctify Eleazar as guard
2  After twenty years,
3  the Israelites, by Samuel's means, solemnly repent at Mizpeh
7  While Samuel prays and sacrifices,
10  the Lord thwarts the Philistines by thunder at Ebenezer
13  The Philistines are subdued
15  Samuel judges Israel

What do the individual words in 1 Samuel 7:4 mean?

So put away the sons of Israel - the Baals and the Ashtoreths and served Yahweh only -
וַיָּסִ֙ירוּ֙ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל אֶת־ הַבְּעָלִ֖ים וְאֶת־ הָעַשְׁתָּרֹ֑ת וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ יְהוָ֖ה לְבַדּֽוֹ פ

וַיָּסִ֙ירוּ֙  So  put  away 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: סוּר 
Sense: to turn aside, depart.
בְּנֵ֣י  the  sons 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל  of  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
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.
הַבְּעָלִ֖ים  the  Baals 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine plural
Root: בַּעַל  
Sense: supreme male divinity of the Phoenicians or Canaanites.
הָעַשְׁתָּרֹ֑ת  the  Ashtoreths 
Parse: Article, Proper Noun, feminine singular
Root: עַשְׁתָּרֹת  
Sense: false goddesses in the Canaanite religion, usually related to fertility cult.
וַיַּעַבְד֥וּ  and  served 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural
Root: עָבַד  
Sense: to work, serve.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לְבַדּֽוֹ  only 
Parse: Preposition-l, Noun, masculine singular construct, third person masculine singular
Root: בַּד 
Sense: alone, by itself, besides, a part, separation, being alone.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation