1 Samuel 6:7
New International Version
“Now then, get a new cart ready, with two cows that have calved and have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.

New Living Translation
“Now build a new cart, and find two cows that have just given birth to calves. Make sure the cows have never been yoked to a cart. Hitch the cows to the cart, but shut their calves away from them in a pen.

English Standard Version
Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milk cows on which there has never come a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them.

Berean Standard Bible
Now, therefore, prepare one new cart with two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.

King James Bible
Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

New King James Version
Now therefore, make a new cart, take two milk cows which have never been yoked, and hitch the cows to the cart; and take their calves home, away from them.

New American Standard Bible
Now then, take and prepare a new cart and two milk cows on which there has never been a yoke; and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves back home, away from them.

NASB 1995
“Now therefore, take and prepare a new cart and two milch cows on which there has never been a yoke; and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves home, away from them.

NASB 1977
“Now therefore take and prepare a new cart and two milch cows on which there has never been a yoke; and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves home, away from them.

Legacy Standard Bible
So now, take and make a new cart and two milch cows on which there has never been a yoke; and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves home, away from them.

Amplified Bible
Now then, make a new cart and prepare two milk cows on which a yoke has never been placed; and hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves back home, away from them.

Christian Standard Bible
“Now then, prepare one new cart and two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.

Holman Christian Standard Bible
“Now then, prepare one new cart and two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.

American Standard Version
Now therefore take and prepare you a new cart, and two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke; and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;

Contemporary English Version
Get a new cart and two cows that have young calves and that have never pulled a cart. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take the calves back to their barn.

English Revised Version
Now therefore take and prepare you a new cart, and two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

GOD'S WORD® Translation
Now get a new cart ready for two dairy cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart. Take their calves away, and leave them in their stall.

Good News Translation
So prepare a new wagon and two cows that have never been yoked; hitch them to the wagon and drive their calves back to the barn.

International Standard Version
"So make a new cart, and take two milk cows that have never had a yoke on them. Hitch the cows to the cart and take their calves away from them and back to the house.

Majority Standard Bible
Now, therefore, prepare one new cart with two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up.

NET Bible
So now go and make a new cart. Get two cows that have calves and that have never had a yoke placed on them. Harness the cows to the cart and take their calves from them back to their stalls.

New Heart English Bible
"Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart, and two milk cows, on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and take their calves from them back home;

Webster's Bible Translation
Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch-cows on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

World English Bible
“Now therefore take and prepare yourselves a new cart and two milk cows on which there has come no yoke; and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And now, take and make one new cart, and two suckling cows, on which a yoke has not gone up, and you have bound the cows in the cart, and caused their young ones to turn back from after them to the house,

Young's Literal Translation
'And now, take and make one new cart, and two suckling kine, on which a yoke hath not gone up, and ye have bound the kine in the cart, and caused their young ones to turn back from after them to the house,

Smith's Literal Translation
And now take and make one new wagon, and two heifers giving milk, which a yoke came not up upon them, and make fast the heifers upon the wagon, and turn back their young from after them to the house.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
Now therefore take and make a new cart: and two kine that have calved, on which there hath come no yoke, tie to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.

Catholic Public Domain Version
Now therefore, fashion and take a new cart, with two cows that have given birth, but on which no yoke has been imposed. And yoke them to the cart, but retain their calves at home.

New American Bible
So now set to work and make a new cart. Then take two milk cows that have not borne the yoke; hitch them to the cart, but drive their calves indoors away from them.

New Revised Standard Version
Now then, get ready a new cart and two milch cows that have never borne a yoke, and yoke the cows to the cart, but take their calves home, away from them.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milch cows upon which there has come no yoke, and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them;

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
Now take and make one new wagon and two cows that are nursing on which a yoke has not fallen, and bind the cows to the wagons, and return their offspring after them to the house
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
Now therefore take and prepare you a new cart, and two milch kine, on which there hath come no yoke, and tie the kine to the cart, and bring their calves home from them.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And now take wood and make a new wagon, and take two cows, that have calved for the first time, without their calves; and do ye yoke the cows to the wagon, and lead away the calves from behind them home.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Ark Returned to Israel
6Why harden your hearts as the Egyptians and Pharaoh hardened theirs? When He afflicted them, did they not send the people on their way as they departed? 7Now, therefore, prepare one new cart with two milk cows that have never been yoked. Hitch the cows to the cart, but take their calves away and pen them up. 8Take the ark of the LORD, set it on the cart, and in a chest beside it put the gold objects you are sending Him as a guilt offering. Then send the ark on its way,…

Cross References
Exodus 25:22
And I will meet with you there above the mercy seat, between the two cherubim that are over the ark of the Testimony; I will speak with you about all that I command you regarding the Israelites.

Numbers 7:89
When Moses entered the Tent of Meeting to speak with the LORD, he heard the voice speaking to him from between the two cherubim above the mercy seat on the ark of the Testimony. Thus the LORD spoke to him.

2 Samuel 6:3
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,

1 Chronicles 13:7
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 15:13-15
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.” / So the priests and Levites consecrated themselves to bring up the ark of the LORD, the God of Israel. / And the Levites carried the ark of God on their shoulders with the poles, as Moses had commanded in accordance with the word of the LORD.

2 Kings 2:24
Then he turned around, looked at them, and called down a curse on them in the name of the LORD. Suddenly two female bears came out of the woods and mauled forty-two of the boys.

2 Kings 6:6
“Where did it fall?” asked the man of God. And when he showed him the place, the man of God cut a stick, threw it there, and made the iron float.

Isaiah 46:1-2
Bel crouches; Nebo cowers. Their idols weigh down beasts and cattle. The images you carry are burdensome, a load to the weary animal. / The gods cower; they crouch together, unable to relieve the burden; but they themselves go into captivity.

Jeremiah 10:5
Like scarecrows in a cucumber patch, their idols cannot speak. They must be carried because they cannot walk. Do not fear them, for they can do no harm, and neither can they do any good.”

Jeremiah 50:2
“Announce and declare to the nations; lift up a banner and proclaim it; hold nothing back when you say, ‘Babylon is captured; Bel is put to shame; Marduk is shattered, her images are disgraced, her idols are broken in pieces.’

Matthew 21:2-3
saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt beside her. Untie them and bring them to Me. / If anyone questions you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

Matthew 21:5
“Say to the Daughter of Zion, ‘See, your King comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”

Mark 11:2-3
and said to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as soon as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. / If anyone asks, ‘Why are you doing this?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it and will return it shortly.’”

Mark 11:7
Then they led the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, and He sat on it.

Luke 19:30-31
saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one has ever sat. Untie it and bring it here. / If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.’”


Treasury of Scripture

Now therefore make a new cart, and take two milk cows, on which there has come no yoke, and tie the cows to the cart, and bring their calves home from them:

new cart

2 Samuel 6:3
And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzzah and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

1 Chronicles 13:7
And they carried the ark of God in a new cart out of the house of Abinadab: and Uzza and Ahio drave the cart.

on which

Numbers 19:2
This is the ordinance of the law which the LORD hath commanded, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring thee a red heifer without spot, wherein is no blemish, and upon which never came yoke:

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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














Now, therefore
This phrase indicates a conclusion or a directive based on prior events. In the context of 1 Samuel, the Philistines are responding to the calamities that have befallen them since capturing the Ark of the Covenant. The use of "therefore" suggests a logical step forward, emphasizing the need for action based on divine intervention. Historically, this reflects the Philistines' recognition of the power of the God of Israel, acknowledging that their troubles were not mere coincidences but acts of divine will.

prepare a new cart
The instruction to prepare a "new cart" signifies purity and respect. In ancient cultures, new or unused items were often reserved for sacred purposes. The Hebrew word for "new" (חָדָשׁ, chadash) implies something fresh or unused, symbolizing the reverence due to the Ark. This reflects a broader biblical principle of offering God the best and unblemished, as seen in sacrificial laws.

and two milk cows
The choice of "milk cows" (Hebrew: פָּרוֹת, parot) is significant. These are cows that are actively nursing calves, which would naturally resist leaving their young. This choice sets the stage for a test of divine intervention, as only a supernatural influence would cause them to abandon their maternal instincts. This highlights the theme of God's sovereignty over nature and His ability to direct His creation according to His will.

that have never been yoked
Cows "that have never been yoked" (Hebrew: אֲשֶׁר לֹא־עָלָה עֲלֵיהֶן עֹל, asher lo-alah aleihen ol) indicates animals that are untrained and unaccustomed to pulling a cart. This detail underscores the miraculous nature of the task, as these cows would not naturally work together or follow a path. It serves as a testament to God's power to guide and control even the most unlikely of circumstances.

Hitch the cows to the cart
The act of hitching the cows to the cart is a practical step in the Philistines' plan to return the Ark. It symbolizes submission and service, as the cows are being prepared to carry a holy burden. This action reflects the broader biblical theme of being yoked to God's service, where believers are called to bear His presence and follow His leading.

but send their calves away, pen them up
This instruction to "send their calves away" and "pen them up" (Hebrew: הָשִׁיבוּ בֵּיתָה מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶן, hashibu beitah me'achareihen) is crucial for the test of divine will. By removing the calves, the natural inclination of the cows would be to return to their young. The fact that the cows proceed on the path to Israel despite this separation is a clear sign of God's intervention. This act serves as a powerful reminder of God's ability to override natural instincts and direct His creation according to His purposes.

(7) Now therefore make a new cart.--The note here in the Speaker's Commentary is interesting. "This was so ordered in reverence to the Ark, and was a right and true feeling. (See Numbers 19:2; 2Samuel 6:3.) So our Lord rode on an ass 'whereon never man sat' (Mark 11:2), and His holy body was laid in Joseph's 'new tomb, wherein never man before was laid' (Matthew 27:60; Luke 23:53). For the supposed peculiar virtue of new things, see Judges 16:7-11." . . . Verse 7. - Make a new cart, and take, etc. The Hebrew is, "Now take and make you a new cart, and two milch kine." The transposition of the A.V. throws undue stress upon the verb make, whereas the Hebrew simply means that both the cart was to be new, and the heifers untrained and unbroken to the yoke. Both these were marks of reverence. Nothing was to be employed in God's service which had been previously used for baser purposes (comp. Mark 11:2). No animal was deemed fit for sacrifice which had laboured in the field. The separation of the kine from their calves was for the purpose of demonstrating whether the plague after all was supernatural, and it is remarkable what great care the Philistine priests take against confounding the extraordinary with the Divine. If, however, the kine act in a manner contrary to nature, their last doubt will be removed.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
Now, therefore,
וְעַתָּ֗ה (wə·‘at·tāh)
Conjunctive waw | Adverb
Strong's 6258: At this time

prepare
וַעֲשׂ֜וּ (wa·‘ă·śū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Imperative - masculine plural
Strong's 6213: To do, make

one
אֶחָ֔ת (’e·ḥāṯ)
Number - feminine singular
Strong's 259: United, one, first

new
חֲדָשָׁה֙ (ḥă·ḏā·šāh)
Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 2319: New

cart
עֲגָלָ֤ה (‘ă·ḡā·lāh)
Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5699: Something revolving, a wheeled vehicle

with two
וּשְׁתֵּ֤י (ū·šə·tê)
Conjunctive waw | Number - fdc
Strong's 8147: Two (a cardinal number)

milk
עָל֔וֹת (‘ā·lō·wṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - feminine plural
Strong's 5763: To suckle, give milk

cows
פָרוֹת֙ (p̄ā·rō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6510: A heifer, cow

that
אֲשֶׁ֛ר (’ă·šer)
Pronoun - relative
Strong's 834: Who, which, what, that, when, where, how, because, in order that

have never
לֹא־ (lō-)
Adverb - Negative particle
Strong's 3808: Not, no

been yoked.
עָלָ֥ה (‘ā·lāh)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 5927: To ascend, in, actively

Hitch
וַאֲסַרְתֶּ֤ם (wa·’ă·sar·tem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 631: To yoke, hitch, to fasten, to join battle

the cows
הַפָּרוֹת֙ (hap·pā·rō·wṯ)
Article | Noun - feminine plural
Strong's 6510: A heifer, cow

to the cart,
בָּעֲגָלָ֔ה (bā·‘ă·ḡā·lāh)
Preposition-b, Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5699: Something revolving, a wheeled vehicle

but take their calves
בְּנֵיהֶ֛ם (bə·nê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 1121: A son

away
וַהֲשֵׁיבֹתֶ֧ם (wa·hă·šê·ḇō·ṯem)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Hifil - Conjunctive perfect - second person masculine plural
Strong's 7725: To turn back, in, to retreat, again

and pen them up.
הַבָּֽיְתָה׃ (hab·bā·yə·ṯāh)
Article | Noun - masculine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 1004: A house


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OT History: 1 Samuel 6:7 Now therefore take and prepare yourselves (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 6:6
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