Log inSign up

1 Samuel 5 · a question people ask

What were the tumors?

In the text

The chapter doesn't describe them. It says the LORD "struck them with tumors" (5:6), that at Gath "tumors broke out on them" (5:9), and that at Ekron "The men who didn’t die were struck with the tumors" (5:12) (tap tumors). In the Hebrew of these three verses the text as written has one word, ofalim, and the reading tradition gives another, techorim, to be read in its place; Brown-Driver-Briggs gives "tumour" for the first and "tumours" for the second. The next chapter adds golden images: "Five golden tumors and five golden mice, for the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords" (6:4). It speaks of "your mice that mar the land" (6:5), and it doesn't say the mice caused the tumors. The text doesn't name the disease.

The verses

“But the LORD’s hand was heavy on the people of Ashdod, and he destroyed them and struck them with tumors, even Ashdod and its borders.”
1 Samuel 5:6 · World English Bible
“It was so, that after they had carried it there, the LORD’s hand was against the city with a very great confusion; and he struck the men of the city, both small and great, so that tumors broke out on them.”
1 Samuel 5:9 · World English Bible
“The men who didn’t die were struck with the tumors; and the cry of the city went up to heaven.”
1 Samuel 5:12 · World English Bible
“Then they said, “What should the trespass offering be which we shall return to him?” They said, “Five golden tumors and five golden mice, for the number of the lords of the Philistines; for one plague was on you all, and on your lords. Therefore you shall make images of your tumors and images of your mice that mar the land; and you shall give glory to the God of Israel. Perhaps he will release his hand from you, from your gods, and from your land.”
1 Samuel 6:4-5 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of 1 Samuel 5

1 Samuel 5: The LORD's hand was heavy

Dagon fell before the LORD's ark twice, and the second time his head and the palms of his hands lay cut off on the threshold (5:4). Two verses later "the LORD’s hand was heavy" on Ashdod (5:6). In Hebrew hands and hand are one word, yad, and in the whole chapter no Israelite lifts one.

In Favor, questions like this come up right where they arise as you read, with the Hebrew and Greek behind the words and how the chapter leads to Jesus.

Start your free week1 Samuel 5 Bible study

First week free, then $10 a month per person

More questions about 1 Samuel 5

All questions about 1 Samuel →

The best way to learn the Bible

Favor opens up every chapter as you read.

Favor is a Bible study app for your phone or computer. It takes you through the Bible one chapter at a time, a few minutes a day, and shows you what's really there: the words behind the words, the moments most people miss, and how the whole story fits together. For you. For everyone.

  • Every chapter explains itself

    As you read, short notes open up what's really going on, the details most readers walk past, and the honest questions people ask.

  • The Hebrew and Greek behind it

    Tap a highlighted word to see the original, how to say it, and what it means, checked against the original-language texts.

  • Every page leads to Jesus

    Watch promises made in Genesis kept in Jesus. Each line lights up on your map as you read.

  • Better together

    Read on your own, or start a Bible study with friends, family or your church. Answers stay sealed until you meet, then appear together.

  1. 1

    Start your free week

    Sign up in a minute with your email.

  2. 2

    Read a few minutes a day

    Each chapter opens itself up as you go. Tap what you're curious about.

  3. 3

    Bring your people, if you like

    Send one link. Everyone reads the same chapter, then meets to talk.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person

Questions like this, in every chapter

The best way to learn the Bible. For you. For everyone.

There's a seat for you at the table.

Start your free week

First week free, then $10 a month per person · Log in

Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions