1 Samuel 5:9 Meaning and Explanation
“And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had emerods in their secret parts.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →At Gath the Lord's hand brings great affliction as well, striking young and old alike with the same painful plague.
What Does 1 Samuel 5:9 Mean?
The ark reaches Gath, and the outcome is the same — worse, even. The Lord's hand turns against this city too, bringing great panic and striking its people, both small and great, with the painful affliction. No one is exempt by rank or age; the judgment falls across the whole population.
Moving the ark solved nothing, because the issue was never location but the Lord Himself. His reach is not bound by walls or borders. The phrase 'both small and great' shows that before God all human distinctions level out; the high and the low stand alike under His hand. There is no city far enough, and no status safe enough, to escape the God of Israel.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 5:9
What does 1 Samuel 5:9 mean?
At Gath the Lord's hand brings great affliction as well, striking young and old alike with the same painful plague.