1 Samuel 4:9

Take courage and be men, O Philistines! Otherwise, you will serve the Hebrews just as they served you. Now be men and fight!”

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The text records a general exhortation directed to the Philistines as a whole as they prepare for battle against Israel.

The words — הִתְחַזְּקוּ (hit.cha.zek.u) commands the audience to "show yourselves strong," while פֶּן (pen) introduces the conditional warning "lest" or "otherwise."

The thread — The call to courage appears in 1 Corinthians 16:13, the warning of subjugation aligns with the historical pattern in Judges 13:1, and the parallel combat exhortation is found in 2 Samuel 10:12.

Why it lands — The text demands immediate resolve and combat readiness, stating plainly that failure to stand firm will result in the Philistines serving the Hebrews.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

הִֽתְחַזְּק֞וּhit.cha.ze.Kushow yourselves strong וִֽהְי֤וּvi/h.Yuand/ become לַֽאֲנָשִׁים֙la./'a.na.Shim<into>/ men פְּלִשְׁתִּ֔יםpe.lish.TimO Philistines פֶּ֚ןpenlest תַּעַבְד֣וּta.'av.Duyou should serve לָעִבְרִ֔יםla./'iv.Rim<to> the/ Hebrews כַּאֲשֶׁ֥רka./'a.Sherjust/ as עָבְד֖וּ'a.ve.Duthey have servedלָכֶ֑םla./Khem<to> <the>/ youוִהְיִיתֶ֥םvi/h.yi.Temand/ you will become לַאֲנָשִׁ֖יםla./'a.na.Shim<into>/ men וְנִלְחַמְתֶּֽם׃ve./nil.cham.Temand/ you will fight

King James Version

Be strong, and quit yourselves like men, O ye Philistines, that ye be not servants unto the Hebrews, as they have been to you: quit yourselves like men, and fight.

Cross-references

1 Corinthians 16:13 Be on the alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be men of courage. Be strong.
Judges 13:1 Again the Israelites did evil in the sight of the LORD, so He delivered them into the hand of the Philistines for forty years.
2 Samuel 10:12 Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and for the cities of our God. May the LORD do what is good in His sight.”
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.
Judges 10:7 So the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He sold them into the hands of the Philistines and Ammonites,
Isaiah 33:1 Woe to you, O destroyer never destroyed, O traitor never betrayed! When you have finished destroying, you will be destroyed. When you have finished betraying, you will be betrayed.
Deuteronomy 28:47 Because you did not serve the LORD your God with joy and gladness of heart in all your abundance,
Isaiah 14:2 The nations will escort Israel and bring it to its homeland. Then the house of Israel will possess the nations as menservants and maidservants in the LORD’s land. They will make captives of their captors and rule over their oppressors.