1 Samuel 5:12 Meaning and Explanation
“And the men that died not were smitten with the emerods: and the cry of the city went up to heaven.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Those who survived were stricken with the plague, and the city's anguished cry rose up to heaven.
What Does 1 Samuel 5:12 Mean?
The chapter closes on a scene of widespread suffering. Those not killed are struck with the painful affliction, and the cry of the whole city rises up to heaven. The same heaven the Philistines had defied with their idol now hears the sound of their distress; their suffering ascends to the very throne of the God they tried to defeat.
A cry going up to heaven is a recurring note in Scripture, the sound of human need reaching toward God. Here it comes from people brought low by their own rebellion. The Lord had displayed both His holiness and His patience, toppling a false god and humbling a proud nation, all while waiting to be sought. The story leaves us asking whether our own cry will be merely one of pain, or also one of turning to Him.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 5:12
What does 1 Samuel 5:12 mean?
Those who survived were stricken with the plague, and the city's anguished cry rose up to heaven.