CINXE.COM

<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-transitional.dtd"><html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8" /><meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width; initial-scale=1.0;"/><title>Topical Bible: Emerods</title><link rel="canonical" href="https://biblehub.com/topical/e/emerods.htm" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/newtopical.css" type="text/css" media="Screen" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="/print.css" type="text/css" media="Print" /><script type="application/javascript" src="https://scripts.webcontentassessor.com/scripts/8a2459b64f9cac8122fc7f2eac4409c8555fac9383016db59c4c26e3d5b8b157"></script><script src='https://qd.admetricspro.com/js/biblehub/biblehub-layout-loader-revcatch.js'></script><script id='HyDgbd_1s' src='https://prebidads.revcatch.com/ads.js' type='text/javascript' async></script><script>(function(w,d,b,s,i){var cts=d.createElement(s);cts.async=true;cts.id='catchscript'; cts.dataset.appid=i;cts.src='https://app.protectsubrev.com/catch_rp.js?cb='+Math.random(); document.head.appendChild(cts); }) (window,document,'head','script','rc-anksrH');</script></head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-LR4HSKRP2H"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-LR4HSKRP2H'); </script><body><div id="fx"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx2"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="30" scrolling="no" src="/topical/vmenus/deuteronomy/28-27.htm" align="left" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div><div id="blnk"></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable"><tr><td><div id="fx5"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" id="fx6"><tr><td><iframe width="100%" height="245" scrolling="no" src="//biblehu.com/bmcde/e/emerods.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="maintable3"><tr><td><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center" id="announce"><tr><td><div id="l1"><div id="breadcrumbs"><a href="/">Bible</a> > <a href="/topical/">Topical</a> > Emerods</div><div id="anc"><iframe src="/anc.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></div><div id="anc2"><table width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><iframe src="/anc2.htm" width="100%" height="27" scrolling="no" frameborder="0"></iframe></td></tr></table></div></div></td></tr></table><div id="movebox2"><table border="0" align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tr><td><div id="topheading"><a href="/topical/e/emerod.htm" title="Emerod">◄</a> Emerods <a href="/topical/e/emery.htm" title="Emery">►</a></div></td></tr></table></div><div align="center" class="maintable2"><table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" align="center"><tr><td><div id="topverse">Jump to: <a href="#smi" title="Smith's Bible Dictionary">Smith's</a> • <a href="#amt" title="American Tract Society Bible Dictionary">ATS</a> • <a href="#isb" title="International Standard Bible Encyclopedia">ISBE</a> • <a href="#web" title="Webster's Dictionary">Webster's</a> • <a href="#cnc" title="Multiversion Concordance">Concordance</a> • <a href="#thes" title="Bible Thesaurus">Thesaurus</a> • <a href="#lib" title="Library">Library</a> • <a href="#sub" title="Subtopics">Subtopics</a> • <a href="#rel" title="Related Terms">Terms</a></div><div id="leftbox"><div class="padleft"><a name="te" id="te"></a><div class="vheading2">Topical Encyclopedia</div><b>Definition and Description:</b><br>Emerods, often understood as hemorrhoids or tumors, are mentioned in the Bible as a form of divine judgment. The term is derived from the Hebrew word "ophalim," which is generally interpreted as swellings or tumors. In the context of the biblical narrative, emerods are considered a physical affliction sent by God as a punishment for sin or disobedience.<br><br><b>Biblical References:</b><br>The primary biblical account of emerods is found in the Old Testament, specifically in the books of 1 Samuel. The Philistines, after capturing the Ark of the Covenant from the Israelites, experienced a severe outbreak of emerods as a divine retribution for their actions.<br><br>1. <b><a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">1 Samuel 5:6-12</a> :</b> The passage describes how the hand of the Lord was heavy upon the people of Ashdod and its vicinity, afflicting them with emerods. The text states, "The hand of the LORD was heavy upon the people of Ashdod, and He devastated them and afflicted them with tumors" (<a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">1 Samuel 5:6</a>). The affliction spread to other Philistine cities, causing great panic and suffering.<br><br>2. <b><a href="/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4-5</a> :</b> In an attempt to appease the God of Israel and rid themselves of the affliction, the Philistines consulted their priests and diviners. They were advised to return the Ark along with a guilt offering of five golden tumors and five golden rats, representing the plague that had struck them. The passage reads, "What guilt offering should we send back to Him? They replied, 'Five gold tumors and five gold rats, according to the number of Philistine rulers, because the same plague has struck both you and your rulers'" (<a href="/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4</a>).<br><br><b>Theological Significance:</b><br>From a theological perspective, the account of emerods serves as a powerful reminder of God's holiness and the consequences of defying His will. The affliction of the Philistines underscores the belief that God actively intervenes in human affairs, particularly when His sacred objects, such as the Ark of the Covenant, are mishandled or desecrated.<br><br>The narrative also highlights the importance of repentance and restitution. The Philistines' decision to return the Ark with a guilt offering signifies an acknowledgment of their wrongdoing and a desire to restore favor with the God of Israel. This act of contrition is seen as a necessary step in seeking divine mercy and healing.<br><br><b>Cultural and Historical Context:</b><br>In the ancient Near Eastern context, physical ailments and diseases were often viewed as manifestations of divine displeasure. The Philistines' experience with emerods reflects this cultural understanding, as they interpreted the affliction as a direct result of their actions against the Israelites and their God.<br><br>The use of golden images as a guilt offering also aligns with ancient practices of appeasing deities through symbolic representations of the affliction. This practice underscores the belief in a tangible connection between the physical and spiritual realms, where material offerings could influence divine favor.<br><br><b>Conclusion:</b><br>The account of emerods in the Bible serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of defying God's commands and the importance of reverence for sacred objects. It also illustrates the broader biblical theme of divine justice and mercy, where repentance and restitution can lead to healing and restoration.<a name="web" id="web"></a><div class="vheading2">Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary</div>(<I>n. pl.</I>) Alt. of Emeroids.<a name="isb" id="isb"></a><div class="vheading2">International Standard Bible Encyclopedia</div><span class="encheading">EMERODS</span><p>em'-er-odz `ophalim, techorim:<br><br>These words are used in the account of the plague which broke out among the Philistines while the captive Ark of the Covenant was in their land. `Ophalim literally means rounded eminences or swellings, and in the Revised Version (British and American) is translated "tumors" (<a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">1 Samuel 5:6-12</a>). In the Hebrew text of this passage the Qere substitutes for it the word techorim, a term which occurs in the next chapter in the description of the golden models of these swellings that were made as votive offerings (<a href="/1_samuel/6-11.htm">1 Samuel 6:11-17</a>). The swellings were symptoms of a plague, and the history is precisely that of the outbreak of an epidemic of bubonic plague. The older writers supposed by comparison of the account in 1 Samuel with <a href="/psalms/78-66.htm">Psalm 78:66</a> that they were hemorrhoids (or piles), and the older English term in the King James Version is a 16th-century form of that Greek word, which occurs in several medical treatises of the 16th and 17th centuries. There is, however, no evidence that this identification is correct. In the light of the modern research which has proved that the rat-flea (Pulex cheopis) is the most active agent in conveying the virus of plague to the human subject, it is worthy of note that the plague of tumors was accompanied by an invasion of mice (`akhbor) or rats. The rat is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, although it was as common in Canaan and Israelite times as it is today, a fact demonstrated by the frequency with which their bones occur in all strata of the old Palestinian cities, so it is probable that the term used was a generic one for both rodents.<br><br>The coincidence of destructive epidemics and invasions of mice is also recorded by Herodotus (ii.141), who preserves a legend that the army of Sennacherib which entered Egypt was destroyed by the agency of mice. He states that a statue of Ptah, commemorating the event, was extant in his day. The god held a mouse in his hand, and bore the inscription: "Whosoever sees me, let him reverence the gods." This may have been a reminiscence of the story in <a href="/isaiah/37-36.htm">Isaiah 37:36</a>.<br><br>For other references see PLAGUE.<br><br>Alex. Macalister<p><a name="lib" id="lib"></a><div class="vheading2">Library</div><p><a href="/library/various/select_masterpieces_of_biblical_literature/i_the_oration_of_moses.htm"><span class="l">The Oration of Moses at the Rehearsal of the Blessing and the <b>...</b></span></a> <br><b>...</b> The LORD shall smite thee with the boil of Egypt, and with the <b>emerods</b>, and with<br> the scurvy, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed. <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/i the oration of moses.htm</font><p><a href="/library/spurgeon/spurgeons_sermons_volume_4_1858/the_form_and_spirit_of.htm"><span class="l">The Form and Spirit of Religion</span></a> <br><b>...</b> Dagon, was broken in pieces. They then sent it through their cities, and<br> they were smitten with <b>emerods</b>. And then, being afraid <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 4 1858/the form and spirit of.htm</font><p><a href="/library/athanasius/select_works_and_letters_or_athanasius/part_vii.htm"><span class="l">part vii.</span></a> <br><b>...</b> 1698] the Ark, which it was not lawful for them even to look upon, were immediately<br> destroyed by it, being first grievously tormented by <b>emerods</b>; so this <b>...</b> <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/.../athanasius/select works and letters or athanasius/part vii.htm</font><a name="thes" id="thes"></a><div class="vheading2">Thesaurus</div><a href="/topical/e/emerods.htm"><span class="l"><b>Emerods</b> (8 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (n. pl.) Alt. of Emeroids. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. <b>EMERODS</b>. <b>...</b> Alex.<br> Macalister. Multi-Version Concordance <b>Emerods</b> (8 Occurrences). <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/emerods.htm - 11k</font><p><a href="/topical/t/tumor.htm"><span class="l">Tumor</span></a><br><b>...</b> tu'-mer, tu'-mor (`ophel): the Revised Version (British and American) substitutes<br> this word for "<b>emerods</b>" in 1 Samuel 5:12; 1 Samuel 6:4 Deuteronomy 28:27 <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/t/tumor.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/s/smiteth.htm"><span class="l">Smiteth (156 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> (YLT). 1 Samuel 5:6 And the hand of Jehovah is heavy on the Ashdodites, and He maketh<br> them desolate, and smiteth them with <b>emerods</b>, Ashdod and its borders. <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/s/smiteth.htm - 38k</font><p><a href="/topical/o/outbreak.htm"><span class="l">Outbreak (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great discomfiture;<br> and He smote the men of the city, both small and great, and <b>emerods</b> broke out <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/o/outbreak.htm - 7k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/emerod.htm"><span class="l">Emerod</span></a><br>Emerod. Emergency, Emerod. <b>Emerods</b> . Easton's Bible Dictionary see<br> HAEMORRHOIDS. Emergency, Emerod. <b>Emerods</b> . Reference Bible. <br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/emerod.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/e/emery.htm"><span class="l">Emery (1 Occurrence)</span></a><br><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/e/emery.htm - 6k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/mice.htm"><span class="l">Mice (5 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> things" (Leviticus 11:29), in the account of the golden mice and tumors (the King<br> James Version and the American Revised Version margin "<b>emerods</b>") sent by the <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/mice.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/m/mouse.htm"><span class="l">Mouse (2 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> things" (Leviticus 11:29), in the account of the golden mice and tumors (the King<br> James Version and the American Revised Version margin "<b>emerods</b>") sent by the <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/m/mouse.htm - 10k</font><p><a href="/topical/b/botch.htm"><span class="l">Botch (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> Deuteronomy 28:27 The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the<br><b>emerods</b>, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/b/botch.htm - 9k</font><p><a href="/topical/c/coffer.htm"><span class="l">Coffer (3 Occurrences)</span></a><br><b>...</b> The receptacle or small box placed beside the ark by the Philistines, in which they<br> deposited the golden mice and the <b>emerods</b> as their trespass-offering (1 <b>...</b><br><font color="#ff6600" size="-1">/c/coffer.htm - 8k</font><p><a name="res" id="res"></a><div class="vheading2">Resources</div><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/emerods.html">What were the emerods God afflicted the Philistines with in 1 Samuel 5? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/questions-about-1-Samuel.html">Questions about 1 Samuel | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://www.gotquestions.org/Philistines.html">Who were the Philistines? | GotQuestions.org</a><br /><br /><a href="https://clyx.com/term/emerods.htm">Emerods: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com</a><br /><br /><a href="/concordance/">Bible Concordance</a> • <a href="/dictionary/">Bible Dictionary</a> • <a href="/encyclopedia/">Bible Encyclopedia</a> • <a href="/topical/">Topical Bible</a> • <a href="/thesaurus/">Bible Thesuarus</a></div></div><div id="centbox"><div class="padcent"><a name="cnc" id="cnc"></a><div class="vheading2">Concordance</div><span class="encheading">Emerods (8 Occurrences)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/deuteronomy/28-27.htm">Deuteronomy 28:27</a></span><br />The LORD will smite thee with the botch of Egypt, and with the <span class="boldtext">emerods</span>, and with the scab, and with the itch, whereof thou canst not be healed.<br /><span class="source">(KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_samuel/5-6.htm">1 Samuel 5:6</a></span><br />But the hand of the LORD was heavy upon them of Ashdod, and he destroyed them, and smote them with <span class="boldtext">emerods</span>, even Ashdod and the coasts thereof.<br /><span class="source">(KJV JPS WBS YLT)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_samuel/5-9.htm">1 Samuel 5:9</a></span><br />And it was so, that, after they had carried it about, the hand of the LORD was against the city with a very great destruction: and he smote the men of the city, both small and great, and they had <span class="boldtext">emerods</span> in their secret parts.<br /><span class="source">(KJV JPS WBS YLT)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_samuel/5-12.htm">1 Samuel 5:12</a></span><br />And the men that died not were smitten with the <span class="boldtext">emerods</span>: and the cry of the city went up to heaven. <br /><span class="source">(KJV JPS WBS YLT)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_samuel/6-4.htm">1 Samuel 6:4</a></span><br />Then said they, What shall be the trespass offering which we shall return to him? They answered, Five golden <span class="boldtext">emerods</span>, and five golden mice, according to the number of the lords of the Philistines: for one plague was on you all, and on your lords.<br /><span class="source">(KJV JPS WBS YLT)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_samuel/6-5.htm">1 Samuel 6:5</a></span><br />Wherefore ye shall make images of your <span class="boldtext">emerods</span>, and images of your mice that mar the land; and ye shall give glory unto the God of Israel: peradventure he will lighten his hand from off you, and from off your gods, and from off your land.<br /><span class="source">(KJV JPS WBS YLT)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_samuel/6-11.htm">1 Samuel 6:11</a></span><br />And they laid the ark of the LORD upon the cart, and the coffer with the mice of gold and the images of their <span class="boldtext">emerods</span>.<br /><span class="source">(KJV JPS WBS YLT)</span><p><span class="rtext"><a href="/1_samuel/6-17.htm">1 Samuel 6:17</a></span><br />And these are the golden <span class="boldtext">emerods</span> which the Philistines returned for a trespass offering unto the LORD; for Ashdod one, for Gaza one, for Askelon one, for Gath one, for Ekron one;<br /><span class="source">(KJV JPS WBS YLT)</span><a name="sub" id="sub"></a><div class="vheading2">Subtopics</div><p class="pspc"><a href="/topical/e/emerods.htm">Emerods</a></p><a name="rel" id="rel"></a><div class="vheading2">Related Terms</div><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/emerods.htm">Emerods (8 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/f/flour.htm">Flour (69 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/emigrated.htm">Emigrated (1 Occurrence)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/a/adamant.htm">Adamant (2 Occurrences)</a></p><p class="pspc2"><a href="/topical/e/egypt.htm">Egypt (596 Occurrences)</a></div></div></td></tr></table></div><div id="left"><a href="/topical/e/emerod.htm" onmouseover='lft.src="/leftgif.png"' onmouseout='lft.src="/left.png"' title="Emerod"><img src="/left.png" name="lft" border="0" alt="Emerod" /></a></div><div id="right"><a href="/topical/e/emery.htm" onmouseover='rght.src="/rightgif.png"' onmouseout='rght.src="/right.png"' title="Emery"><img src="/right.png" name="rght" border="0" alt="Emery" /></a></div><div id="botleft"><a href="#" onmouseover='botleft.src="/botleftgif.png"' onmouseout='botleft.src="/botleft.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botleft.png" name="botleft" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div><div id="botright"><a href="#" onmouseover='botright.src="/botrightgif.png"' onmouseout='botright.src="/botright.png"' title="Top of Page"><img src="/botright.png" name="botright" border="0" alt="Top of Page" /></a></div> <div id="mdd"><div align="center"><div class="bot2"><table align="center" width="100%"><tr><td><div align="center"><script id="3d27ed63fc4348d5b062c4527ae09445"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=51ce25d5-1a8c-424a-8695-4bd48c750f35&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script> <script id="b817b7107f1d4a7997da1b3c33457e03"> (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=cb0edd8b-b416-47eb-8c6d-3cc96561f7e8&cid=3a9f82d0-4344-4f8d-ac0c-e1a0eb43a405'; </script><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-2'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-0' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-3'> </div><br /><br />  <div id='div-gpt-ad-1529103594582-1' style='max-width: 300px;'> </div><br /><br />  <div align="center" id='div-gpt-ad-1531425649696-0'> </div><br /><br /> <ins class="adsbygoogle" style="display:inline-block;width:200px;height:200px" data-ad-client="ca-pub-3753401421161123" data-ad-slot="3592799687"></ins> <script> (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); </script></div></td></tr></table></div></div></div> <br /><br /> <div align="center"> <div id="bot"><iframe width="100%" height="1500" scrolling="no" src="/botmenubhnew2.htm" frameborder="0"></iframe></div></td></tr></table></div></body></html>