Judges 12 10

Judges 12:10 kjv

Then died Ibzan, and was buried at Bethlehem.

Judges 12:10 nkjv

Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.

Judges 12:10 niv

Then Ibzan died and was buried in Bethlehem.

Judges 12:10 esv

Then Ibzan died and was buried at Bethlehem.

Judges 12:10 nlt

When he died, he was buried at Bethlehem.

Judges 12 verses

Judges 12 10 Meaning

Judges 12:10 marks the concise conclusion of Ibzan's seven-year tenure as a judge in Israel, simply stating his death and burial in Bethlehem. This brief, formulaic notice is characteristic of the "minor judges" and signifies the end of another period of local leadership.

Judges 12 10 Context

The verse is situated within the book of Judges, which chronicles Israel's tumultuous period between the conquest of Canaan and the establishment of the monarchy. This era is characterized by a repetitive cycle of apostasy from Yahweh, subsequent foreign oppression, Israel's cry for deliverance, and Yahweh raising up a "judge" to deliver them. Judges 12 immediately follows the complex narrative of Jephthah and introduces the first of three "minor judges": Ibzan (Jdg 12:8-10), Elon (Jdg 12:11-12), and Abdon (Jdg 12:13-15). These accounts are remarkably brief and follow a very specific, formulaic structure, contrasting sharply with the extended, dramatic stories of "major judges" like Gideon or Samson. Ibzan's notice (Jdg 12:8-10) is notable for its mention of his thirty sons and thirty daughters, all married externally, implying a period of relative prosperity or stability. His death and burial in Bethlehem simply conclude his seven-year tenure, leading the narrative to the next minor judge. Historically, Bethlehem of Judah, while seemingly insignificant for Ibzan, would later emerge as a profoundly important location in Israel's history.

Judges 12 10 Word analysis

• Then (וַיָּמָת, vayyamat): A waw-consecutive perfect form, marking sequential action. It signals the immediate next event, indicating the natural end of Ibzan’s life and term, directly following his brief description.
• Ibzan (אִבְצָן, ’Iḇṣān): A proper name, meaning possibly "their father is a buck" or "their swiftness." This is the specific ninth judge in the sequence within the book of Judges, noted for his unusual family dynamics.
• died (וַיָּמָת, vayyamat): From the Hebrew root מוּת (mût), meaning "to die." This word underscores the universal reality of mortality, applied even to divinely appointed leaders, emphasizing the transient nature of human authority.
• and was buried (וַיִּקָּבֵר, vayyiqqavér): The Hebrew verb קָבַר (qavar), "to bury," in the Niphal (passive) perfect form with a waw-consecutive. This signifies that he "was buried" (by others), indicating a proper and customary funeral. Burial was a vital practice for honoring the deceased and ensuring they rested with their ancestors, emphasizing finality and connection to the land.
• in Bethlehem (בְּבֵית לֶחֶם, bəvēṯ leḥem): "Bethlehem" literally translates to "House of Bread." The preposition "in" (bĕ) indicates the location. This city, distinct from Bethlehem in Zebulun, is specifically identified as Bethlehem of Judah (cf. Jdg 17:7), connecting Ibzan to a geographically significant region that later becomes central to Israel's history for the births of Rachel, King David, and ultimately the Messiah. Its mention here anchors his life's end to a specific tribal territory.

Words-group analysis

• "Then Ibzan died and was buried": This specific formula is a recurring literary device throughout the book of Judges and other historical books (e.g., Jdg 2:10, 8:32, 10:2, 10:5, 12:7, 12:12, 12:15). It serves to formally conclude a judge's account and bridge the narrative to the subsequent period or judge. The blunt, almost curt, statement reflects the cycle of human leadership's end, contrasting the transient nature of human rulers with the unchanging sovereignty of Yahweh. It highlights the routine passage of time and succession.
• "in Bethlehem": While seemingly a simple geographic detail, the repeated biblical identification of Bethlehem (Hebrew: "House of Bread") provides it with a quiet, yet profound, thematic weight. Though not emphasized for Ibzan's story, this location foreshadows its later divine significance in Israel’s covenant history, serving as a subtle echo to events surrounding Rachel's burial (Gen 35:19), Ruth’s return and the genealogy of David (Book of Ruth), and ultimately, the prophetic birthplace of the Messiah (Mic 5:2; Matt 2:1). This place-name serves to connect even obscure moments in the chaotic period of Judges to God's unfolding redemptive plan.

Judges 12 10 Bonus section

The exceedingly concise nature of the accounts for the "minor judges" like Ibzan (Jdg 10:1-5; 12:8-15) serves as a literary device. Their brevity, compared to the elaborate narratives of major judges such as Deborah, Gideon, or Samson, implies that their judgeships were periods of less dramatic crisis and perhaps more internal administration or localized peace, rather than sweeping national deliverance. This stylistic choice by the narrator subtly communicates the worsening state of Israel, as these later periods are less defined by grand divine intervention and more by brief, understated transitions of power, underscoring the spiritual and moral decline that grips the nation throughout the book of Judges.

Judges 12 10 Commentary

Judges 12:10, a terse yet significant verse, brings to a close the brief account of Ibzan, one of Israel’s "minor judges." The formula "Then X died and was buried in Y" is not merely an archival entry; it is a profound narrative tool used to signal the end of a leader's era and the transition within Israel's history. It underlines the universal truth of human mortality and the temporal nature of all earthly authority, even divinely appointed ones. The mention of "Bethlehem" as Ibzan's burial place, while locally specific for its original audience, takes on deeper resonance through the broader biblical narrative. Although the text does not elaborate on Bethlehem's significance here for Ibzan himself, its subtle appearance points toward a deeper providence. This "House of Bread" would become known for pivotal moments: the site of Rachel's final rest, the place of redemption for Ruth and Naomi, the birthplace of Israel's greatest king, David, and centuries later, the birthplace of the King of Kings, Jesus Christ. Thus, amidst the cycle of decline and fragmented leadership described in Judges, even a simple verse of death and burial silently connects the chaotic present to God's meticulously unfolding future redemptive plan.