1 Samuel 6:21
New International Version
Then they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to your town.”

New Living Translation
So they sent messengers to the people at Kiriath-jearim and told them, “The Philistines have returned the Ark of the LORD. Come here and get it!”

English Standard Version
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to you.”

Berean Standard Bible
So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you.”

King James Bible
And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.

New King James Version
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up with you.”

New American Standard Bible
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up to yourselves.”

NASB 1995
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up to you.”

NASB 1977
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up to you.”

Legacy Standard Bible
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back the ark of Yahweh; come down and take it up to you.”

Amplified Bible
So they sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to you.”

Christian Standard Bible
They sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and get it.”

Holman Christian Standard Bible
They sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and get it.”

American Standard Version
And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of Jehovah; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.

Contemporary English Version
They sent messengers to tell the people of Kiriath-Jearim, "The Philistines have sent back the sacred chest. Why don't you take it and keep it there with you?"

English Revised Version
And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They sent messengers to the people living at Kiriath Jearim to say, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD. Come and take it back with you."

Good News Translation
They sent messengers to the people of Kiriath Jearim to say, "The Philistines have returned the LORD's Covenant Box. Come down and get it."

International Standard Version
They sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath-jearim, who told them, "The Philistines have returned the Ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you."

Majority Standard Bible
So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you.”

NET Bible
So they sent messengers to the residents of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down here and take it back home with you."

New Heart English Bible
They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, "The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down, and bring it up to yourselves."

Webster's Bible Translation
And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-jearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and bring it up to you.

World English Bible
They sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have brought back Yahweh’s ark. Come down and bring it up to yourselves.”
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they send messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjath-Jearim, saying, “The Philistines have sent back the Ark of YHWH; come down, take it up with you.”

Young's Literal Translation
And they send messengers unto the inhabitants of Kirjath-Jearim, saying, 'The Philistines have sent back the ark of Jehovah; come down, take it up unto you.'

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will send messengers to the inhabitants of the City of Forests, saying, Philisteim turned back the ark of Jehovah; come down, bring it up to you.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Cariathiarim, saying: The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord, come ye down and fetch it up to you.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying: “The Philistines have returned the ark of the Lord. Descend and lead it back to you.”

New American Bible
They then sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD; come down and get it.”

New Revised Standard Version
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up to you.”
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
So they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Koriath-narin, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come down and take it up to you.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they sent Messengers to the dwellers of Quryath Narayn, and they said: “The Philistines have returned the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH. Go down, carry it up for yourselves!”
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kiriath-jearim, saying: 'The Philistines have brought back the ark of the LORD; come ye down, and fetch it up to you.'

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they send messengers to the inhabitants of Cariathiarim, saying, The Philistines have brought back the ark of the Lord, go down and take it home to yourselves.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Ark Returned to Israel
20The men of Beth-shemesh asked, “Who can stand in the presence of the LORD, this holy God? To whom should the ark go up from here?” 21So they sent messengers to the people of Kiriath-jearim, saying, “The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD. Come down and take it up with you.”

Cross References
2 Samuel 6:2-5
And he and all his troops set out for Baale of Judah to bring up from there the ark of God, which is called by the Name—the name of the LORD of Hosts, who is enthroned between the cherubim that are on it. / They set the ark of God on a new cart and brought it from the house of Abinadab, which was on the hill. Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, were guiding the new cart, / bringing with it the ark of God. And Ahio was walking in front of the ark. ...

1 Chronicles 13:5-8
So David assembled all Israel, from the River Shihor in Egypt to Lebo-hamath, to bring the ark of God from Kiriath-jearim. / David and all Israel went up to Baalah of Judah (that is, Kiriath-jearim) to bring up from there the ark of God the LORD, who is enthroned between the cherubim—the ark that is called by the Name. / So they carried the ark of God from the house of Abinadab on a new cart, with Uzzah and Ahio guiding the cart. ...

1 Chronicles 15:25-28
So David, the elders of Israel, and the commanders of thousands went with rejoicing to bring the ark of the covenant of the LORD from the house of Obed-edom. / And because God helped the Levites who were carrying the ark of the covenant of the LORD, they sacrificed seven bulls and seven rams. / Now David was dressed in a robe of fine linen, as were all the Levites who were carrying the ark, as well as the singers and Chenaniah, the director of music for the singers. David also wore a linen ephod. ...

2 Samuel 6:12-15
Now it was reported to King David, “The LORD has blessed the house of Obed-edom and all that belongs to him, because of the ark of God.” So David went and had the ark of God brought up from the house of Obed-edom into the City of David with rejoicing. / When those carrying the ark of the LORD had advanced six paces, he sacrificed an ox and a fattened calf. / And David, wearing a linen ephod, danced with all his might before the LORD, ...

1 Chronicles 15:1-3
David constructed buildings for himself in the City of David, and he prepared a place for the ark of God and pitched a tent for it. / Then David said, “No one but the Levites may carry the ark of God, because the LORD has chosen them to carry the ark of the LORD and to minister before Him forever.” / And David assembled all Israel in Jerusalem to bring up the ark of the LORD to the place he had prepared for it.

1 Chronicles 15:11-15
David summoned the priests Zadok and Abiathar and the Levites Uriel, Asaiah, Joel, Shemaiah, Eliel, and Amminadab. / And he said to them, “You are the heads of the Levitical families. You and your relatives must consecrate yourselves so that you may bring the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel, to the place I have prepared for it. / It was because you Levites were not with us the first time that the LORD our God burst forth in anger against us. For we did not consult Him about the proper order.” ...

1 Chronicles 16:1-3
So they brought the ark of God and placed it inside the tent that David had pitched for it. And they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings before God. / When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD. / Then he distributed to every man and woman of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake.

2 Samuel 6:17-19
So they brought the ark of the LORD and set it in its place inside the tent that David had pitched for it. Then David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the LORD. / When David had finished sacrificing the burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the LORD of Hosts. / Then he distributed to every man and woman among the multitude of Israel a loaf of bread, a date cake, and a raisin cake. And all the people departed, each to his own home.

1 Chronicles 16:4-6
David appointed some of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, to celebrate, to give thanks, and to praise the LORD, the God of Israel. / Asaph was the chief, Zechariah was second, then Jeiel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Mattithiah, Eliab, Benaiah, Obed-edom, and Jeiel. They were to play the harps and lyres, while Asaph sounded the cymbals / and the priests Benaiah and Jahaziel blew the trumpets regularly before the ark of the covenant of God.

1 Chronicles 16:37-43
So David left Asaph and his associates there before the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to minister there regularly according to the daily requirements, / along with Obed-edom and his sixty-eight relatives. Obed-edom son of Jeduthun, and also Hosah, were to be gatekeepers. / And David left Zadok the priest and his fellow priests before the tabernacle of the LORD at the high place in Gibeon ...

1 Chronicles 15:16-24
David also told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers to lift up their voices with joy, accompanied by musical instruments—harps, lyres, and cymbals. / So the Levites appointed Heman son of Joel; from his brothers, Asaph son of Berechiah; from their brothers the Merarites, Ethan son of Kushaiah; / and with them their brothers next in rank: Zechariah, Jaaziel, Shemiramoth, Jehiel, Unni, Eliab, Benaiah, Maaseiah, Mattithiah, Eliphelehu, Mikneiah, and the gatekeepers Obed-edom and Jeiel. ...

1 Chronicles 13:1-4
Then David conferred with all his leaders, the commanders of thousands and of hundreds. / And he said to the whole assembly of Israel, “If it seems good to you, and if this is of the LORD our God, let us send word far and wide to the rest of our brothers in all the land of Israel, and also to the priests and Levites in their cities and pasturelands, so that they may join us. / Then let us bring back the ark of our God, for we did not inquire of Him in the days of Saul.” ...

1 Chronicles 15:29
As the ark of the covenant of the LORD was entering the City of David, Saul’s daughter Michal looked down from a window and saw King David dancing and celebrating, and she despised him in her heart.

2 Samuel 6:20-23
When David returned home to bless his own household, Saul’s daughter Michal came out to meet him. “How the king of Israel has distinguished himself today!” she said. “He has uncovered himself today in the sight of the maidservants of his subjects, like a vulgar person would do.” / But David said to Michal, “I was dancing before the LORD, who chose me over your father and all his house when He appointed me ruler over the LORD’s people Israel. I will celebrate before the LORD, / and I will humiliate and humble myself even more than this. Yet I will be honored by the maidservants of whom you have spoken.” ...

1 Chronicles 16:7-36
On that day David first committed to Asaph and his associates this song of thanksgiving to the LORD: / “Give thanks to the LORD; call upon His name; make known His deeds among the nations. / Sing to Him, sing praises to Him; tell of all His wonders. ...


Treasury of Scripture

And they sent messengers to the inhabitants of Kirjathjearim, saying, The Philistines have brought again the ark of the LORD; come you down, and fetch it up to you.

Kirjath-jearim

Joshua 18:14
And the border was drawn thence, and compassed the corner of the sea southward, from the hill that lieth before Bethhoron southward; and the goings out thereof were at Kirjathbaal, which is Kirjathjearim, a city of the children of Judah: this was the west quarter.

Judges 18:12
And they went up, and pitched in Kirjathjearim, in Judah: wherefore they called that place Mahanehdan unto this day: behold, it is behind Kirjathjearim.

1 Chronicles 13:5,6
So David gathered all Israel together, from Shihor of Egypt even unto the entering of Hemath, to bring the ark of God from Kirjathjearim…

Jump to Previous
Ark Inhabitants Jearim Kiriath Kiriath-Jearim Kir'iath-Je'arim Kirjathjearim Kirjath-Jearim Messengers Philistines
Jump to Next
Ark Inhabitants Jearim Kiriath Kiriath-Jearim Kir'iath-Je'arim Kirjathjearim Kirjath-Jearim Messengers Philistines
1 Samuel 6
1. After seven months the Philistines take counsel how to send back the ark
10. They bring it on a new cart with an offering unto Beth Shemesh
19. The people are smitten for looking into the ark
21. They send to them of Kiriath Jearim to fetch it














They sent messengers
The act of sending messengers reflects the urgency and importance of the message. In ancient times, messengers were vital for communication, especially in conveying significant news. The Hebrew root for "sent" (שָׁלַח, shalach) often implies a mission or purpose, indicating the gravity of the situation. The Israelites were eager to ensure the Ark's safe return, highlighting their reverence and the Ark's central role in their worship and identity.

to the residents of Kiriath-jearim
Kiriath-jearim, meaning "City of Forests," was a significant location in the tribal territory of Judah. Historically, it was a Gibeonite city, and its selection as the Ark's temporary resting place underscores its strategic and spiritual importance. The residents were likely chosen due to their proximity and perhaps their perceived ability to safeguard the Ark, reflecting God's providential care in selecting those who would honor His presence.

saying, 'The Philistines have returned the ark of the LORD
This phrase captures a moment of divine intervention and fulfillment of God's promise to protect His covenant symbol. The Philistines, who had captured the Ark, were compelled to return it due to the plagues God sent upon them. The term "ark of the LORD" (אֲרוֹן יְהוָה, aron YHWH) emphasizes the Ark's sacredness as the dwelling place of God's presence among His people. This return signifies God's sovereignty and the futility of opposing His will.

Come down and take it up with you
The invitation to "come down" suggests a geographical descent, possibly indicating Kiriath-jearim's location relative to the messengers' origin. The phrase "take it up" (עָלָה, alah) is often used in a liturgical context, implying an act of worship or reverence. This call to action is not merely logistical but spiritual, inviting the residents to participate in the sacred duty of caring for the Ark. It reflects the communal responsibility and privilege of hosting God's presence, a reminder of the covenant relationship between God and His people.

(21) Kirjath-jearim.--Kirjath-jearim should be spelt and pronounced Kirjatb-jearim, the "city of woods" (wood-ville, wood-town, wooton). Its modern name is Kurzet-el-Erab, "the city of grapes," the woods being in later days replaced by vines.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So they sent
וַֽיִּשְׁלְחוּ֙ (way·yiš·lə·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 7971: To send away, for, out

messengers
מַלְאָכִ֔ים (mal·’ā·ḵîm)
Noun - masculine plural
Strong's 4397: A messenger, of God, an angel

to
אֶל־ (’el-)
Preposition
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to

the people
יוֹשְׁבֵ֥י (yō·wō·šə·ḇê)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine plural construct
Strong's 3427: To sit down, to dwell, to remain, to settle, to marry

of Kiriath-jearim,
יְעָרִ֖ים (yə·‘ā·rîm)
Noun - proper - feminine singular
Strong's 7157: Kiriath-jearim -- 'city of forests', a city given to Judah, then to Benjamin

saying,
לֵאמֹ֑ר (lê·mōr)
Preposition-l | Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“The Philistines
פְלִשְׁתִּים֙ (p̄ə·liš·tîm)
Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 6430: Philistines -- inhabitants of Philistia

have returned
הֵשִׁ֤בוּ (hê·ši·ḇū)
Verb - Hifil - Perfect - third person common plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

the ark
אֲר֣וֹן (’ă·rō·wn)
Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 727: A chest, ark

of the LORD.
יְהוָ֔ה (Yah·weh)
Noun - proper - masculine singular
Strong's 3068: LORD -- the proper name of the God of Israel

Come down
רְד֕וּ (rə·ḏū)
Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 3381: To come or go down, descend

[and] take it up
הַעֲל֥וּ (ha·‘ă·lū)
Verb - Hifil - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

with you.”
אֲלֵיכֶֽם׃ (’ă·lê·ḵem)
Preposition | second person masculine plural
Strong's 413: Near, with, among, to


Links
1 Samuel 6:21 NIV
1 Samuel 6:21 NLT
1 Samuel 6:21 ESV
1 Samuel 6:21 NASB
1 Samuel 6:21 KJV

1 Samuel 6:21 BibleApps.com
1 Samuel 6:21 Biblia Paralela
1 Samuel 6:21 Chinese Bible
1 Samuel 6:21 French Bible
1 Samuel 6:21 Catholic Bible

OT History: 1 Samuel 6:21 They sent messengers to the inhabitants (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 6:20
Top of Page
Top of Page