Translations
F.O.G.MPrimary
F.O.G MessageMeanwhile, the lords of the Philistines gathered to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon and to celebrate with great rejoicing. 'Our god has handed our enemy Samson over to us!' they declared.
F.O.GSecondary
The F.O.GNow the seren-lords of the Pelishtim gathered to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god and to celebrate. They said, 'Our god has given Shimshon our enemy into our hands!'
KJV
King James VersionThen the lords of the Philistines gathered them together for to offer a great sacrifice unto Dagon their god, and to rejoice: for they said, Our god hath delivered Samson our enemy into our hand.
BSB
Berean Standard BibleNow the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to their god Dagon. They rejoiced and said, “Our god has delivered Samson our enemy into our hands.”
Footnotes
דָּגוֹן (*Dagon*) was a major deity of the Canaanites and Philistines. Scholars debate whether the name derives from דָּג (*dag*, 'fish') — suggesting a fish-god, as some iconography indicates — or דָּגָן (*dagan*, 'grain'), pointing to a fertility deity. The Philistines credit Dagon, not military strategy, for Samson's capture, explicitly framing the conflict as a theological contest between Dagon and YHWH. This sets the stage for Samson's prayer in v. 28 as an act of covenantal vindication — YHWH's own honour is now at stake. Both FOG and FOG Message retain 'Dagon' as a proper name.