1 Samuel 6:9 Meaning and Explanation
“And see, if it goeth up by the way of his own coast to Bethshemesh, then he hath done us this great evil: but if not, then we shall know that it is not his hand that smote us: it was a chance that happened to us.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →If the cart travels toward Bethshemesh in Israel, the LORD caused their suffering; if not, it was mere coincidence.
What Does 1 Samuel 6:9 Mean?
The test is spelled out. If the cows head for Bethshemesh, a Levitical town just across the border in Israel, the Philistines will know the LORD Himself sent the plagues. If the animals wander, they will conclude their troubles were random misfortune. They suspend final judgment on a single, unmistakable sign.
Behind their cautious wager lies a question every person faces: is the hand of God behind events, or is life only chance? The Philistines are honest enough to put it to the test and to accept the answer. Scripture steadily insists there is no realm of pure accident beyond God's reach; even unbelievers, watching closely, are led toward the truth that the living God governs all things.
1 Samuel 6:9 in the Original Language
miqreh (מִקְרֶה), 'chance' -- a happening or accident; the very category the unfolding sign will overturn.
Frequently Asked Questions About 1 Samuel 6:9
What does 1 Samuel 6:9 mean?
If the cart travels toward Bethshemesh in Israel, the LORD caused their suffering; if not, it was mere coincidence.