· Translation: KJV

1 Samuel 6:11and they put the ark of Yahweh on the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their tumors.

The setting

Philistine territory, ~1050 BC. Philistine lords supervise loading the ark onto an ox-cart with guilt offerings. Modern-day Gaza Strip, Palestine.

The emotion here: carefully recording this unprecedented moment of pagan acknowledgment

The original word

argaz (אַרְגַּז) — chest or coffer, emphasizing the precious container for their guilt offering

Why it matters

The golden mice and tumors were exact replicas of the plagues that devastated five Philistine cities

Read with care

What most readers miss in 1 Samuel 6:11

They put GOLDEN replicas of their diseases on the cart — imagine the psychological impact

Common misconceptionPeople think this is about the ark's power, but it's actually about the Philistines' remarkable humility in admitting defeat and making costly restitution.

Bible Genome reading

1 Samuel 6:11 — Bible Genome reading

SpeakerNarrator
Erajudges
Primary emotionworship
Literary typenarrative

Emotional genome

Comfort power60%
Quotability30%
Memorability40%
Crisis relevance40%
Standalone20%
Themes:sacred objectsguilt offerings

In context

No verse stands alone.

Read the conversation around it.

Open 1 Samuel 6

1 Samuel 6:11 comes from the book of 1 Samuel, written during the judges period. These words are attributed to Narrator. The dominant emotion in this verse is worship, with a comfort power of 60% and a tone that is reverent. It belongs to the narrative genre of biblical literature. Key themes include sacred objects, guilt offerings. Notable phrases: ark of Yahweh; mice of gold; images of their tumors.

Your reflection

What does 1 Samuel 6:11 mean to you, today?

A short note. A question. A prayer. Saved privately to your Soul Garden, dated, and tied to this verse forever.

Speak your heart →

Get 3 verses for "worship"

Delivered to your inbox right now. Free.