1 Samuel

1 Samuel 6:7–14

⁷Now, therefore, prepare one new cart with two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. ⁸Take the ark of the LORD, set it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending back to Him as a guilt offering.

Then send the ark on its way, ⁹but keep watching it. If it goes up the road to its homeland, toward Beth-shemesh, it is the LORD who has brought on us this great disaster. But if it does not, then we will know that it was not His hand that punished us and that it happened by chance.”

¹⁰So the men did as instructed. They took two milk cows, hitched them to the cart, and penned up their calves. ¹¹Then they put the ark of the LORD on the cart, along with the chest containing the gold rats and the images of the tumors.

¹²And the cows headed straight up the road toward Beth-shemesh, staying on that one highway and lowing as they went, never straying to the right or to the left. The rulers of the Philistines followed behind them to the border of Beth-shemesh.

¹³Now the people of Beth-shemesh were harvesting wheat in the valley, and when they looked up and saw the ark, they were overjoyed at the sight.

¹⁴The cart came to the field of Joshua of Beth-shemesh and stopped there near a large rock. The people chopped up the cart and offered the cows as a burnt offering to the LORD.

Read all of 1 Samuel 6

Word by word

Each English word or phrase beside the Hebrew it translates, in the order of the English. Choose a number to open that word’s study.

1 Samuel 6:7

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now	וְעַתָּ֗ה	wə·‘at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H6258 now
therefore	וְעַתָּ֗ה	wə·‘at·tāh	Conjunctive waw; Adverb	H6258 now
prepare	וַעֲשׂ֜וּ	wa·‘ă·śū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural	H6213 do, make
one	אֶחָ֔ת	’e·ḥāṯ	Number - feminine singular	H259 one
new	חֲדָשָׁה֙	ḥă·ḏā·šāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H2319 new
cart	עֲגָלָ֤ה	‘ă·ḡā·lāh	Noun - feminine singular	H5699 cart
with two	וּשְׁתֵּ֤י	ū·šə·tê	Conjunctive waw; Number - feminine dual construct	H8147 two
milk	עָל֔וֹת	‘ā·lō·wṯ	Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural	H5763 give suck
cows	פָרוֹת֙	p̄ā·rō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H6510 heifer, cow
that	אֲשֶׁ֛ר	’ă·šer	Pronoun - relative	H834 particle of relation
have never	לֹא־	lō-	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
been yoked	עָלָ֥ה	‘ā·lāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
Hitch	וַאֲסַרְתֶּ֤ם	wa·’ă·sar·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H631 tie, bind, imprison
the cows	הַפָּרוֹת֙	hap·pā·rō·wṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H6510 heifer, cow
to the cart	בָּעֲגָלָ֔ה	bā·‘ă·ḡā·lāh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5699 cart
but take their calves	בְּנֵיהֶ֛ם	bə·nê·hem	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H1121 son
away	וַהֲשֵׁיבֹתֶ֧ם	wa·hă·šê·ḇō·ṯem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H7725 turn back, return
and pen them up	הַבָּֽיְתָה׃	hab·bā·yə·ṯāh	Article; Noun - masculine singular; third person feminine singular	H1004 house

1 Samuel 6:8

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Take	וּלְקַחְתֶּ֞ם	ū·lə·qaḥ·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H3947 take
the ark	אֲר֣וֹן	’ă·rō·wn	Noun - common singular construct	H727 chest, ark
of the LORD	יְהוָ֗ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
set	וּנְתַתֶּ֤ם	ū·nə·ṯat·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H5414 give, put, set
it	אֹתוֹ֙	’ō·ṯōw	Direct object marker; third person masculine singular	H853 mark of the accusative
on	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the cart	הָ֣עֲגָלָ֔ה	hā·‘ă·ḡā·lāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5699 cart
and	וְאֵ֣ת׀	wə·’êṯ	Conjunctive waw; Direct object marker	H853 mark of the accusative
in a chest	בָאַרְגַּ֖ז	ḇā·’ar·gaz	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H712 box, chest
beside it	מִצִּדּ֑וֹ	miṣ·ṣid·dōw	Preposition-m; Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H6654 side
put	תָּשִׂ֥ימוּ	tā·śî·mū	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - second person masculine plural	H7760 put, place, set
the gold	הַזָּהָ֗ב	haz·zā·hāḇ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2091 gold
objects	כְּלֵ֣י	kə·lê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H3627 article, utensil, vessel
you are sending back	הֲשֵׁבֹתֶ֥ם	hă·šê·ḇō·ṯem	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - second person masculine plural	H7725 turn back, return
to Him	לוֹ֙	lōw	Preposition; third person masculine singular
as a guilt offering	אָשָׁ֔ם	’ā·šām	Noun - masculine singular	H817 offence, guilt
Then send	וְשִׁלַּחְתֶּ֥ם	wə·šil·laḥ·tem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H7971 send
on its way	וְהָלָֽךְ׃	wə·hā·lāḵ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - third person masculine singular	H1980 go, come, walk

1 Samuel 6:9

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
but keep watching it	וּרְאִיתֶ֗ם	ū·rə·’î·ṯem	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural	H7200 see
If	אִם־	’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
it goes up	יַֽעֲלֶה֙	ya·‘ă·leh	Verb - Qal - Imperfect - third person masculine singular	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
the road	דֶּ֨רֶךְ	de·reḵ	Noun - common singular construct	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
to its homeland	גְּבוּל֤וֹ	gə·ḇū·lōw	Noun - masculine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H1366 border, boundary, territory
toward Beth-shemesh	שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ	še·meš	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1053 Beth-Shemesh
it is the LORD	ה֚וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
who has brought	עָ֣שָׂה	‘ā·śāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H6213 do, make
on us	לָ֔נוּ	lā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
this	הַזֹּ֑את	haz·zōṯ	Article; Pronoun - feminine singular	H2063 this
great	הַגְּדוֹלָ֖ה	hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh	Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H1419 great
disaster	הָרָעָ֥ה	hā·rā·‘āh	Article; Adjective - feminine singular	H7451 bad, evil
But if	וְאִם־	wə·’im-	Conjunction	H518 if
it does not	לֹ֗א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
then we will know	וְיָדַ֙עְנוּ֙	wə·yā·ḏa‘·nū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - first person common plural	H3045 know
that	כִּ֣י	kî	Conjunction	H3588 burning, branding
it was not	לֹ֤א	lō	Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
His hand	יָדוֹ֙	yā·ḏōw	Noun - feminine singular construct; third person masculine singular	H3027 hand
that punished	נָ֣גְעָה	nā·ḡə·‘āh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H5060 touch, reach, strike
us	בָּ֔נוּ	bā·nū	Preposition; first person common plural
and that it	ה֖וּא	hū	Pronoun - third person masculine singular	H1931 he, she
happened	הָ֥יָה	hā·yāh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular	H1961 fall out, come to pass, become, be
by chance	מִקְרֶ֥ה	miq·reh	Noun - masculine singular	H4745 accident, chance, fortune

1 Samuel 6:10

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
So the men	הָאֲנָשִׁים֙	hā·’ă·nā·šîm	Article; Noun - masculine plural	H582 man, mankind
did	וַיַּעֲשׂ֤וּ	way·ya·‘ă·śū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H6213 do, make
They took	וַיִּקְח֗וּ	way·yiq·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H3947 take
two	שְׁתֵּ֤י	šə·tê	Number - feminine dual construct	H8147 two
milk	עָל֔וֹת	‘ā·lō·wṯ	Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural	H5763 give suck
cows	פָרוֹת֙	p̄ā·rō·wṯ	Noun - feminine plural	H6510 heifer, cow
hitched them	וַיַּאַסְר֖וּם	way·ya·’as·rūm	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural; third person masculine plural	H631 tie, bind, imprison
to the cart	בָּעֲגָלָ֑ה	bā·‘ă·ḡā·lāh	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5699 cart
and penned up	כָּל֥וּ	kā·lū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H3607 shut up, restrain, withhold
their calves	בְּנֵיהֶ֖ם	bə·nê·hem	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H1121 son

1 Samuel 6:11

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Then they put	וַיָּשִׂ֛מוּ	way·yā·śi·mū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7760 put, place, set
the ark	אֲר֥וֹן	’ă·rō·wn	Noun - common singular construct	H727 chest, ark
of the LORD	יְהוָ֖ה	Yah·weh	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh
on	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the cart	הָעֲגָלָ֑ה	hā·‘ă·ḡā·lāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5699 cart
along with the chest	הָאַרְגַּ֗ז	hā·’ar·gaz	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H712 box, chest
containing the gold	הַזָּהָ֔ב	haz·zā·hāḇ	Article; Noun - masculine singular	H2091 gold
rats	עַכְבְּרֵ֣י	‘aḵ·bə·rê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H5909 mouse
and the images	צַלְמֵ֥י	ṣal·mê	Noun - masculine plural construct	H6754 image
of the tumors	טְחֹרֵיהֶֽם׃	ṭə·ḥō·rê·hem	Noun - masculine plural construct; third person masculine plural	H2914 tumours

1 Samuel 6:12

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
And the cows	הַפָּר֜וֹת	hap·pā·rō·wṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H6510 heifer, cow
headed straight	וַיִשַּׁ֨רְנָה	wa·yiš·šar·nå̄h	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine plural	H3474 be smooth, straight, right
up the road	בַּדֶּ֗רֶךְ	bad·de·reḵ	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - common singular	H1870 way, road, distance, journey, manner
toward	עַל־	‘al-	Preposition	H5921 height
Beth-shemesh	שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ	še·meš	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1053 Beth-Shemesh
staying on that one	אַחַ֗ת	’a·ḥaṯ	Number - feminine singular	H259 one
highway	בִּמְסִלָּ֣ה	bim·sil·lāh	Preposition-b; Noun - feminine singular	H4546 highway
and lowing	וְגָע֔וֹ	wə·ḡā·‘ōw	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Infinitive absolute	H1600 low
as they went	הָלְכ֤וּ	hā·lə·ḵū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H1980 go, come, walk
never	וְלֹא־	wə·lō-	Conjunctive waw; Adverb - Negative particle	H3808 not
straying	סָ֖רוּ	sā·rū	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person common plural	H5493 turn aside
to the right	יָמִ֣ין	yā·mîn	Noun - feminine singular	H3225 right hand
or to the left	וּשְׂמֹ֑אול	ū·śə·mō·wl	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine singular	H8040 the left
The rulers	וְסַרְנֵ֤י	wə·sar·nê	Conjunctive waw; Noun - masculine plural construct	H5633 tyrant, lord
of the Philistines	פְלִשְׁתִּים֙	p̄ə·liš·tîm	Noun - proper - masculine plural	H6430 Philistine
followed	הֹלְכִ֣ים	hō·lə·ḵîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H1980 go, come, walk
behind them	אַחֲרֵיהֶ֔ם	’a·ḥă·rê·hem	Preposition; third person masculine plural	H310 behind
to	עַד־	‘aḏ-	Preposition	H5704 as far as, even to, up to, until, while
the border	גְּב֖וּל	gə·ḇūl	Noun - masculine singular construct	H1366 border, boundary, territory
of Beth-shemesh	שָֽׁמֶשׁ׃	šā·meš	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1053 Beth-Shemesh

1 Samuel 6:13

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
Now	שֶׁ֔מֶשׁ	še·meš	Conjunctive waw; Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1053 Beth-Shemesh
were harvesting	קֹצְרִ֥ים	qō·ṣə·rîm	Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural	H7114 be short
wheat	חִטִּ֖ים	ḥiṭ·ṭîm	Noun - feminine plural	H2406 wheat
in the valley	בָּעֵ֑מֶק	bā·‘ê·meq	Preposition-b, Article; Noun - masculine singular	H6010 vale
and when they looked up	וַיִּשְׂא֣וּ	way·yiś·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H5375 lift, take, carry
and saw	וַיִּרְאוּ֙	way·yir·’ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H7200 see
the ark	הָ֣אָר֔וֹן	hā·’ā·rō·wn	Article; Noun - common singular	H727 chest, ark
they were overjoyed	וַֽיִּשְׂמְח֖וּ	way·yiś·mə·ḥū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H8055 rejoice, be glad
at the sight	לִרְאֽוֹת׃	lir·’ō·wṯ	Preposition-l; Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct	H7200 see

1 Samuel 6:14

English	Hebrew	Sounds like	Grammar	Word study
The cart	וְהָעֲגָלָ֡ה	wə·hā·‘ă·ḡā·lāh	Conjunctive waw, Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5699 cart
came	בָּ֠אָה	bā·’āh	Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person feminine singular	H935 come in, come, go in, go
to	אֶל־	’el-	Preposition	H413 motion to
the field	שְׂדֵ֨ה	śə·ḏêh	Noun - masculine singular construct	H7704 id.
of Joshua	יְהוֹשֻׁ֤עַ	yə·hō·wō·šu·a‘	Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3091 Jehoshua
of Beth-shemesh	הַשִּׁמְשִׁי֙	haš·šim·šî	Noun - proper - feminine singular	H1030 Beth-shimshite
and stopped	וַתַּעֲמֹ֣ד	wat·ta·‘ă·mōḏ	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person feminine singular	H5975 take one's stand, stand
there	שָׁ֔ם	šām	Adverb	H8033 there, thither
near a large	גְּדוֹלָ֑ה	gə·ḏō·w·lāh	Adjective - feminine singular	H1419 great
rock	אֶ֣בֶן	’e·ḇen	Noun - feminine singular	H68 stone
The people chopped up	וַֽיְבַקְּעוּ֙	way·ḇaq·qə·‘ū	Conjunctive waw; Verb - Piel - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural	H1234 cleave, break open or through
the cart	הָעֲגָלָ֔ה	hā·‘ă·ḡā·lāh	Article; Noun - feminine singular	H5699 cart
and offered	הֶעֱל֥וּ	he·‘ĕ·lū	Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural	H5927 go up, ascend, climb
the cows	הַ֨פָּר֔וֹת	hap·pā·rō·wṯ	Article; Noun - feminine plural	H6510 heifer, cow
as a burnt offering	עֹלָ֖ה	‘ō·lāh	Noun - feminine singular	H5930 whole burnt-offering
to the LORD	לַיהוָֽה׃ס	Yah·weh	Preposition-l; Noun - proper - masculine singular	H3068 Yahweh