Judges 10 15

Judges 10:15 kjv

And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.

Judges 10:15 nkjv

And the children of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray."

Judges 10:15 niv

But the Israelites said to the LORD, "We have sinned. Do with us whatever you think best, but please rescue us now."

Judges 10:15 esv

And the people of Israel said to the LORD, "We have sinned; do to us whatever seems good to you. Only please deliver us this day."

Judges 10:15 nlt

But the Israelites pleaded with the LORD and said, "We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies."

Judges 10 verses

Judges 10 15 Meaning

Judges 10:15 presents a profound moment of national confession and surrender from the Israelites to the Lord. After enduring prolonged oppression due to their idolatry, the people collectively admit their sin and injustice against God. This admission is coupled with an unprecedented submission to His divine will, declaring their willingness to accept whatever judgment or course of action God deems appropriate. However, this act of surrender is immediately followed by a desperate and urgent plea for immediate deliverance from their current affliction, demonstrating a mixture of genuine remorse for their past rebellion and an urgent desire for rescue.

Judges 10 15 Context

Judges 10:15 falls within the recurring cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance that defines the Book of Judges. Prior to this verse, Israel had again abandoned Yahweh, serving Baals and Ashtoreths and the gods of the surrounding nations (Judg 10:6). As a result, God allowed them to be oppressed for eighteen years by the Ammonites and Philistines (Judg 10:7-9). When Israel cried out to the Lord for help (Judg 10:10), God responded with a stern rebuke, reminding them of His past deliverances and their persistent unfaithfulness (Judg 10:11-14). He challenged their plea, questioning why He should deliver them again after they had forsaken Him for foreign gods. Verse 15 is Israel's humble and desperate response to this divine rebuke. Historically, the period of the Judges was characterized by a lack of central authority and a decentralized tribal society, leading to frequent compromises with Canaanite polytheism. The consistent turning away from God was a direct breach of the Mosaic Covenant. This plea signifies a turning point, at least superficially, as Israel attempts to distance itself from the fertility cults of Baal and Ashtoreth, implicitly acknowledging Yahweh's supremacy as the only true deliverer, thereby posing a polemic against the impotence of their pagan deities.

Judges 10 15 Word analysis

• And the children of Israel: Benei Yisra'el (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל). This phrase emphasizes the national, collective identity. It highlights that this is a turning of the entire community, representing God's covenant people, even in their rebellion. This is not just an individual crying out, but a corporate act of recognition and surrender.
• said to the Lord: VaYomru el YHWH (וַיֹּאמְרוּ אֶל-יְהוָה). "YHWH" (often rendered as Lord) is the sacred covenant name of God, indicating Israel's renewed direct address to their one true God, the God who brought them out of Egypt, rather than the false gods they had been serving. The return to calling on "YHWH" signifies a profound shift, however temporary it may prove to be.
• 'We have sinned!: Chatanu (חָטָאנוּ). This is a strong, direct, and explicit confession. The Hebrew root khata means "to miss the mark," "to err," or "to go astray." It implies not just making a mistake but transgressing against a known standard. Here, it signifies a complete acknowledgment of guilt and responsibility for their plight, especially in light of God's prior rebuke (Judg 10:11-14).
• Do to us whatever seems good to You;: Aseh-lanu kol-asher yitav be'eyneyka (עֲשֵׂה-לָנוּ כְּכָל-אֲשֶׁר יִיטַב בְּעֵינֶיךָ). This phrase is a powerful expression of submission and acknowledgment of divine sovereignty. Yitav be'eyneyka literally means "that which is good in Your eyes." It conveys a willingness to accept God's righteous judgment and consequences for their actions. It demonstrates a form of brokenness, surrendering to God's will, even if it entails continued suffering, implying that any outcome decided by God would be just. This also serves as a polemic against human autonomy and self-reliance, which characterized their past rebellion.
• only deliver us this day, we pray!': Rak hatzileinu hayyom hazzeh (רַק הַצִּילֵנוּ הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה). Rak (רַק) meaning "only" or "just" emphasizes the singularity and urgency of their request for deliverance. It shows that despite their submission to God's will, their immediate desire is rescue. Hatzileinu (הַצִּילֵנוּ) from the root natzal (נָצַל) means "to snatch away," "to rescue," or "to deliver." This highlights the desperate nature of their cry, a plea for immediate physical salvation from their current oppressors, the Ammonites and Philistines. Hayyom hazzeh (הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה) "this day" stresses the urgency; their suffering is unbearable and they desire swift relief. This indicates a very present, existential crisis.
• "We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems good to You; only deliver us this day...": This sequence showcases a critical tension: confession and submission ("we have sinned," "do to us what seems good") followed immediately by a pressing, singular demand for deliverance ("only deliver us"). It speaks to the complexity of human repentance under duress, where sincere acknowledgment of wrong-doing might be mixed with the overriding instinct for self-preservation and relief from immediate suffering. It's a conditional surrender – they submit to God's will, but the condition is still their deliverance. This plea stands in contrast to pure, unconditional repentance often seen elsewhere (e.g., King David in Psa 51).

Judges 10 15 Bonus section

While Judges 10:15 marks a pivotal moment of repentance, it's worth noting the preceding divine interaction. God's sharp rebuke in verses 11-14 forced Israel to confront the severity of their betrayal, compelling a confession that may not have arisen without such divine intervention. This highlights that sometimes suffering and God's direct word are necessary catalysts for people to truly "come to their senses" and turn from their idols. Furthermore, Israel's immediate next action in verse 16, throwing away their foreign gods, acts as tangible proof accompanying their words in verse 15, adding a layer of authenticity to their stated submission. It shows a physical putting away of idols as a symbol of their intention to follow God, without which, their words might have rung hollow.

Judges 10 15 Commentary

Judges 10:15 encapsulates the core tension and dynamic within the book of Judges and, arguably, the human condition itself: sincere yet often superficial repentance in the face of suffering. The Israelites' confession, "We have sinned!", marks a vital turning point from their previous self-justification or outright idolatry. This is not just an acknowledgment of failure but an explicit admission of sin against their covenant God. Their willingness to surrender to God's judgment ("Do to us whatever seems good to You") reflects a deep recognition of God's justice and sovereignty. This submission is a crucial step towards true restoration, recognizing that their plight is deserved due to their persistent apostasy.

However, the immediacy of their follow-up plea, "only deliver us this day, we pray!", reveals a pragmatic desperation. While they concede God's right to deal with them as He sees fit, their primary and immediate desire is for rescue from the tangible pain of oppression. This juxtaposition highlights that their repentance, while verbally comprehensive, might still be rooted more in the agony of their circumstances than in a purely contrite heart longing for true communion with God for His own sake. It’s a cry for salvation driven by need rather than fully transformed love. Yet, even this raw, pain-driven confession is a step in the right direction. God, in His compassion (Judg 10:16), would ultimately respond to this imperfect plea, demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant people, even when their hearts are still somewhat divided. This moment sets the stage for God to raise up a deliverer, consistent with the recurring pattern in Judges.

• Example 1: A child caught in a painful consequence, admitting wrongdoing to avoid further punishment, then immediately asking for relief from the consequence.
• Example 2: An individual admitting unhealthy lifestyle choices when diagnosed with a serious illness, then asking for immediate healing while still grappling with lifestyle changes.