Lexical Summary sathar: To hide, conceal, cover Original Word: שָׂתַר Strong's Exhaustive Concordance have in one's secret parts A primitive root; to break out (as an eruption) -- have in (one's) secret parts. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. root Definition to burst or break out NASB Translation broke (1). Brown-Driver-Briggs [שָׂתַר] verb Niph`al burst or break out, of tumours (Arabic  have inverted, or cracked, eyelids, or lower lips; Ethiopic  lacerate; Assyrian [šatâru] II. tear down; Syriac  destroy, so Sabean שתר SabDenkmNo. 48, 1. 2, Biblical Aramaic סְתַר Ezra 5:12); — Niph`al Imperfect וַיִּשָּֽׂתְרוּ לָהֶם עפלים 1 Samuel 5:9 and tumours brake out to them. Topical Lexicon Biblical Setting The word appears once, in 1 Samuel 5:9, during the episode in which the Philistines have seized the ark of the covenant and moved it from Ashdod to Gath and then Ekron. Each relocation intensifies the divine judgment, culminating in what Scripture calls “tumors” that “broke out on them” (1 Samuel 5:9). The sudden eruption strikes “both young and old,” underscoring the impartial reach of the Lord’s hand against idolatry and covenant violation. Historical Background After the defeat of Israel at Ebenezer, the Philistines brought the ark into the temple of Dagon (1 Samuel 5:1–2). The humiliation of Dagon and the subsequent plagues mirror the Exodus plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7–12) and later judgments on Israel (Deuteronomy 28:27). In near-eastern warfare, capturing a nation’s cult object was thought to prove the superiority of its deity. By sending a plague that none of their gods could stop, the LORD vindicates His glory and reasserts covenant sovereignty. Theological Significance 1. Divine Holiness and Exclusivity The outbreak dramatizes the incompatibility of the holy ark with pagan worship. Where the ark rests in defilement, judgment follows swiftly, affirming that the LORD “will not yield His glory to another” (Isaiah 42:8). 2. Covenant Faithfulness Although Israel has sinned, God’s covenant name is still bound to the ark (1 Samuel 4:3–4). His discipline of the Philistines safeguards the sacred testimony, showing that even enemy nations are accountable to His revealed presence. 3. Typology of Gospel Warning The sudden, bodily affliction foreshadows New Testament warnings that rejection of divine grace leads to greater judgment (Hebrews 10:29–31). The Philistines’ physical suffering prefigures the spiritual peril of resisting the true God. Usage in Scripture Because the verb is unique to this verse, its force is entirely shaped by the surrounding narrative. The movement of the ark parallels the spread of affliction. Each transport produces heightened dread, illustrating that physical relocation cannot escape divine justice. The narrative highlights three escalating elements: This triad portrays judgment that is active (“hand”), psychological (“panic”), and physical (“tumors”). Related Themes and Cross-References • Exodus 9:10 – Boils on Egypt anticipate the Philistine plague. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Underscoring God’s Nearness The narrative teaches that sacred things cannot be treated as trophies. In worship and ministry, the living presence of God must never be reduced to ritual or superstition. 2. Evangelism among Idolatrous Cultures Mission contexts that confront entrenched idols can draw from this passage to show God’s power over all rival deities, while also offering the mercy later shown when the ark is returned and the plague lifted (1 Samuel 6:1–18). 3. Encouraging Reverent Stewardship Church leaders handling Word, sacrament, or sacred trust should heed the gravity displayed in 1 Samuel 5:9. Casual treatment of holy matters invites discipline (1 Corinthians 11:27–30). Reflections for Today The lone occurrence of this verb magnifies its impact: divine wrath can break out suddenly and decisively wherever His holiness is violated. Yet behind the severity lies a redemptive purpose—driving the Philistines to acknowledge the LORD and return the ark, and ultimately pointing all nations to the One who bore our judgment so that we might find mercy (1 Peter 2:24). Forms and Transliterations וַיִּשָּׂתְר֥וּ וישתרו vaiyissateRu way·yiś·śā·ṯə·rū wayyiśśāṯərūLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Samuel 5:9 HEB: וְעַד־ גָּד֑וֹל וַיִּשָּׂתְר֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם [עֳפָלִים NAS: so that tumors broke out on them. KJV: and they had emerods in their secret parts. INT: against and old broke stronghold 1 Occurrence |
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