1 Samuel 4:6
New International Version
Hearing the uproar, the Philistines asked, “What’s all this shouting in the Hebrew camp?” When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,

New Living Translation
“What’s going on?” the Philistines asked. “What’s all the shouting about in the Hebrew camp?” When they were told it was because the Ark of the LORD had arrived,

English Standard Version
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” And when they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp,

Berean Standard Bible
On hearing the noise of the shout, the Philistines asked, “What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?” And when they realized that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp,

King James Bible
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

New King James Version
Now when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the sound of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

New American Standard Bible
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

NASB 1995
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

NASB 1977
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then the Philistines heard the noise of the shout and said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they knew that the ark of Yahweh had come into the camp.

Amplified Bible
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” Then they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

Christian Standard Bible
The Philistines heard the sound of the war cry and asked, “What’s this loud shout in the Hebrews’ camp? ” When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp,

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The Philistines heard the sound of the war cry and asked, “What’s this loud shout in the Hebrews’ camp?” When the Philistines discovered that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp,

American Standard Version
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of Jehovah was come into the camp.

Contemporary English Version
The Philistines heard the noise and said, "What are those Hebrews shouting about?" When the Philistines learned that the sacred chest had been brought into the camp,

English Revised Version
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
As the Philistines heard the noise, they asked, "What's [all] this shouting in the Hebrew camp?" The Philistines found out that the LORD's ark had come into the camp.

Good News Translation
The Philistines heard the shouting and said, "Listen to all that shouting in the Hebrew camp! What does it mean?" When they found out that the LORD's Covenant Box had arrived in the Hebrew camp,

International Standard Version
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they asked, "What is this noise coming from shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?" Then they realized that the Ark of the LORD had come into the camp,

Majority Standard Bible
On hearing the noise of the shout, the Philistines asked, ?What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?? And when they realized that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp,

NET Bible
When the Philistines heard the sound of the shout, they said, "What is this loud shout in the camp of the Hebrews?" Then they realized that the ark of the LORD had arrived at the camp.

New Heart English Bible
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, "What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?" They understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

Webster's Bible Translation
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

World English Bible
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, “What does the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” They understood that Yahweh’s ark had come into the camp.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And the Philistines hear the noise of the shouting, and say, “What [is] the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?” And they perceive that the Ark of YHWH has come into the camp.

Young's Literal Translation
And the Philistines hear the noise of the shouting, and say, 'What is the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?' and they perceive that the ark of Jehovah hath come in unto the camp.

Smith's Literal Translation
And Philisteim will hear the voice of the shout, and they will say, What the voice of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? and they knew that the ark of Jehovah came into the camp.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, and they said: What is this noise of a great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And the Philistines heard the voice of the clamor, and they said, “What is this voice of a great clamor in the camp of the Hebrews?” And they realized that the ark of the Lord had arrived in the camp.

New American Bible
The Philistines, hearing the uproar, asked, “What does this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” On learning that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp,

New Revised Standard Version
When the Philistines heard the noise of the shouting, they said, “What does this great shouting in the camp of the Hebrews mean?” When they learned that the ark of the LORD had come to the camp,
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And when the Philistines heard the noise, they said, What is this noise of shouting in the camp of the Hebrews? And they learned that the ark of the LORD had come into the camp.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And the Philistines heard the sound of shouting and they said: “What is this sound of shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?” And they knew that the Ark of LORD JEHOVAH had come to the encampment
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said: 'What meaneth the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews?' And they knew that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And the Philistines heard the cry, and the Philistines said, What is this great cry in the camp of the Hebrews: and they understood that the ark of the Lord was come into the camp.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
The Philistines Capture the Ark
5When the ark of the covenant of the LORD entered the camp, all the Israelites raised such a great shout that it shook the ground. 6On hearing the noise of the shout, the Philistines asked, “What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?” And when they realized that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp, 7the Philistines were afraid. “The gods have entered their camp!” they said. “Woe to us, for nothing like this has happened before.…

Cross References
Joshua 6:5
And when there is a long blast of the ram’s horn and you hear its sound, have all the people give a mighty shout. Then the wall of the city will collapse and all your people will charge straight into the city.”

Exodus 15:14-16
The nations will hear and tremble; anguish will grip the dwellers of Philistia. / Then the chiefs of Edom will be dismayed; trembling will seize the leaders of Moab; those who dwell in Canaan will melt away, / and terror and dread will fall on them. By the power of Your arm they will be as still as a stone until Your people pass by, O LORD, until the people You have bought pass by.

Numbers 23:21-22
He considers no disaster for Jacob; He sees no trouble for Israel. The LORD their God is with them, and the shout of the King is among them. / God brought them out of Egypt with strength like a wild ox.

Judges 2:18
Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for the Israelites, He was with that judge and saved them from the hands of their enemies while the judge was still alive; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning under those who oppressed them and afflicted them.

1 Samuel 7:10
As the Philistines drew near to fight against Israel, Samuel was offering up the burnt offering. But that day the LORD thundered loudly against the Philistines and threw them into such confusion that they fled before Israel.

2 Samuel 5:24
As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the balsam trees, move quickly, because this will mean that the LORD has gone out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.”

Psalm 78:61-62
He delivered His strength to captivity, and His splendor to the hand of the adversary. / He surrendered His people to the sword because He was enraged by His heritage.

Psalm 114:1-2
When Israel departed from Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of foreign tongue, / Judah became God’s sanctuary, Israel His dominion.

Isaiah 37:36
Then the angel of the LORD went out and struck down 185,000 men in the camp of the Assyrians. When the people got up the next morning, there were all the dead bodies!

Jeremiah 10:6-7
There is none like You, O LORD. You are great, and Your name is mighty in power. / Who would not fear You, O King of nations? This is Your due. For among all the wise men of the nations, and in all their kingdoms, there is none like You.

Matthew 21:10
When Jesus had entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

Mark 11:9-10
The ones who went ahead and those who followed were shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” / “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

Luke 19:37-38
And as He approached the descent from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of disciples began to praise God joyfully in a loud voice for all the miracles they had seen: / “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

John 12:12-13
The next day the great crowd that had come to the feast heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. / They took palm branches and went out to meet Him, shouting: “Hosanna!” “Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the King of Israel!”

Acts 2:6
And when this sound rang out, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard them speaking his own language.


Treasury of Scripture

And when the Philistines heard the noise of the shout, they said, What means the noise of this great shout in the camp of the Hebrews? And they understood that the ark of the LORD was come into the camp.

What meaneth

Exodus 32:17,18
And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp…

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1 Samuel 4
1. The Israelites are overcome by the Philistines at Ebenezer
3. They fetch the ark unto the terror of the Philistines
10. They are smitten again, the ark taken, and Hophni and Phinehas are slain
12. Eli at the news, falling backward, breaks his neck
19. Phinehas's wife, discouraged in her travail with Ichabod, dies














On hearing the noise of the shouting
The phrase begins with the Philistines' reaction to a significant auditory event. The Hebrew word for "noise" (קוֹל, qol) often denotes a sound that demands attention, such as a voice or a cry. In the context of ancient warfare, such noise would typically signal either a victory or a rallying cry. The Philistines, as seasoned warriors, would have been attuned to the implications of such sounds, indicating a moment of heightened alertness and potential threat.

the Philistines asked
The Philistines, a seafaring people known for their conflicts with Israel, are depicted here as inquisitive and perhaps anxious. The Hebrew root for "asked" (שָׁאַל, sha'al) implies seeking understanding or clarification. This reflects a moment of uncertainty and concern among the Philistines, as they are confronted with an unexpected development in the battle dynamics.

What is this loud shouting in the camp of the Hebrews?
The Philistines' question underscores their unfamiliarity with the cause of the commotion. The term "Hebrews" (עִבְרִים, Ivrim) is used here to describe the Israelites, emphasizing their identity as descendants of Eber and their distinctiveness from the surrounding nations. The "loud shouting" suggests a significant event, possibly a divine intervention or a morale-boosting occurrence, which the Philistines are eager to understand.

When they learned that the ark of the LORD had entered the camp
The ark of the LORD, a sacred chest containing the tablets of the covenant, represents the presence and power of God among His people. The Hebrew word for "ark" (אֲרוֹן, aron) signifies a chest or box, but in this context, it is a symbol of divine authority and holiness. The Philistines' realization that the ark has entered the camp would have been alarming, as it signified that the Israelites believed they had divine favor and protection. Historically, the ark's presence in battle was seen as a guarantee of victory, reflecting the Israelites' reliance on God's power rather than their own military might.

Verse 6. - But they, sure of its talismanic influence, shout for joy as they see its approach, and the Philistines ask the meaning of the great shout in the camp of the Hebrews. This name is constantly given to the Israelites by those not belonging to them, and probably has a certain amount of animosity in it, as showing that they were foreigners; literally, passers over, people who in the person of Abraham had come from the other side of the Euphrates, and having began as feeble immigrants, had ended in obtaining possession of the land, and ousting the rightful inhabitants.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
On hearing
וַיִּשְׁמְע֤וּ (way·yiš·mə·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 8085: To hear intelligently

the noise
ק֣וֹל (qō·wl)
Noun - masculine singular construct
Strong's 6963: A voice, sound

of the shout,
הַתְּרוּעָ֔ה (hat·tə·rū·‘āh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8643: Clamor, acclamation of joy, a battle-cry, clangor, of trumpets, as an alarum

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

asked,
וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ (way·yō·mə·rū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 559: To utter, say

“What is
מֶ֠ה (meh)
Interrogative
Strong's 4100: What?, what!, indefinitely what

this
הַזֹּ֖את (haz·zōṯ)
Article | Pronoun - feminine singular
Strong's 2063: Hereby in it, likewise, the one other, same, she, so much, such deed, that,

loud
הַגְּדוֹלָ֛ה (hag·gə·ḏō·w·lāh)
Article | Adjective - feminine singular
Strong's 1419: Great, older, insolent

shouting
הַתְּרוּעָ֧ה (hat·tə·rū·‘āh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 8643: Clamor, acclamation of joy, a battle-cry, clangor, of trumpets, as an alarum

in the camp
בְּמַחֲנֵ֣ה (bə·ma·ḥă·nêh)
Preposition-b | Noun - common singular construct
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army

of the Hebrews?”
הָעִבְרִ֑ים (hā·‘iḇ·rîm)
Article | Noun - proper - masculine plural
Strong's 5680: Hebrews -- perhaps descendant of Eber, also another name for an Israelite

And when they realized
וַיֵּ֣דְע֔וּ (way·yê·ḏə·‘ū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3045: To know

that
כִּ֚י (kî)
Conjunction
Strong's 3588: A relative conjunction

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

had entered
בָּ֖א (bā)
Verb - Qal - Perfect - third person masculine singular
Strong's 935: To come in, come, go in, go

the camp,
הַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (ham·ma·ḥă·neh)
Article | Noun - common singular
Strong's 4264: An encampment, an army


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OT History: 1 Samuel 4:6 When the Philistines heard the noise (1Sa iSam 1 Sam i sa)
1 Samuel 4:5
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