1 Samuel 6:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And the men of Bethshemesh said, Who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? and to whom shall he go up from us?”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →Shaken, the men of Bethshemesh ask who can stand before so holy a God, and where the ark should be sent next.
What Does 1 Samuel 6:20 Mean?
In the wake of the calamity the people cry out a question heavy with awe: who is able to stand before this holy LORD God? Overwhelmed, they wonder where the ark should go, away from them, longing to pass the sacred presence on rather than risk further sorrow. Their words confess both the holiness of God and their own unworthiness before it.
Their question is the right one, and it echoes through all Scripture: no one can stand before the holy God in their own strength. Yet the Bible answers that very cry with hope, for God Himself makes a way for sinful people to stand in His presence, cleansed and unafraid. The terror of holiness is real, but it is not the final word; God opens the way to draw near through His own gracious provision.
1 Samuel 6:20 in the Original Language
qadosh (קָדוֹשׁ), 'holy' -- set apart, utterly pure; God's holiness is His unapproachable greatness apart from all that is common or defiled.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 6:20
What does 1 Samuel 6:20 mean?
Shaken, the men of Bethshemesh ask who can stand before so holy a God, and where the ark should be sent next.