The Church Fathers on this verse

1 Kingdoms (1 Samuel) 6:7Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Now, therefore, take and make a new cart: and two kine that have calved, on which there hath come no yoke, tie to the cart, and shut up their calves at home.

Douay-Rheims

וְעַתָּ֗ה קְח֨וּ וַעֲשׂ֜וּ עֲגָלָ֤ה חֲדָשָׁה֙ אֶחָ֔ת וּשְׁתֵּ֤י פָרוֹת֙ עָל֔וֹת אֲשֶׁ֛ר לֹא־עָלָ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם עֹ֑ל וַאֲסַרְתֶּ֤ם אֶת־הַפָּרוֹת֙ בָּעֲגָלָ֔ה וַהֲשֵׁיבֹתֶ֧ם בְּנֵיהֶ֛ם מֵאַחֲרֵיהֶ֖ם הַבָּֽיְתָה׃

Hebrew (Masoretic text)

The Church Fathers on this verse

One Church Father comments on this verse

John Chrysostom

4th centuryChurch Father

The cows, being unused to the yoke, are tested: if they break free or return to their calves, it will indicate that the plague occurred by mere accident. However, if they continue forward without deviating from the unfamiliar path, unaffected by the cries of their calves, it will clearly demonstrate that the hand of God has intervened in these cities.

Cross references

Passages read together with this verse.