Judges 2 18

Judges 2:18 kjv

And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.

Judges 2:18 nkjv

And when the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them.

Judges 2:18 niv

Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for them, he was with the judge and saved them out of the hands of their enemies as long as the judge lived; for the LORD relented because of their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them.

Judges 2:18 esv

Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.

Judges 2:18 nlt

Whenever the LORD raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge's lifetime. For the LORD took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.

Judges 2 verses

Judges 2 18 Meaning

Judges 2:18 illustrates a central theme of the Book of Judges: the Lord's persistent faithfulness and compassionate intervention in response to Israel's suffering. When the Israelites cried out due to oppression from their enemies, the Lord, in His mercy, raised up deliverers (judges). During the lifespan of each judge, God was intimately present with and empowered them, thereby saving His people from their oppressors. This divine act of salvation was motivated by God's profound sorrow and compassion over Israel's distressed groaning, even when their initial turning might have stemmed from discomfort rather than true repentance.

Judges 2 18 Context

Judges 2:18 occurs within a critical transition in the Book of Judges, following the initial narrative of Israel's partial conquest and eventual failure to drive out the Canaanites (Judg 1) and their subsequent descent into apostasy (Judg 2:1-5). Verses 6-10 describe the passing of Joshua's generation and the rise of a generation who did not know the Lord or His works for Israel. Verses 11-15 detail the predictable cycle: Israel serves Baal and Asheroth (Judg 2:13), provoking God's anger, leading Him to hand them over to plunderers and oppressors. This suffering makes them exceedingly distressed. Verse 16 then introduces God's response: raising up judges. Verse 17 reveals Israel's consistent disobedience to these judges as well, and verse 19 reiterates their relapse upon the judge's death, engaging in even worse idolatry. Within this grim cyclical narrative, verse 18 provides the profound explanation for God's merciful interventions: His own divine compassion roused by their plight. It underscores God's persistent covenant faithfulness despite His people's perpetual unfaithfulness, illustrating that His motive for deliverance is often His own inherent mercy, even prior to a full and true repentance on Israel's part.

Judges 2 18 Word analysis

• "And when the Lord": Waqiyam YHWH (וַיָּקֶם יְהוָה). "Lord" (YHWH) signifies the covenant God of Israel, personal and faithful. The use of YHWH emphasizes God's personal initiative and sovereign authority in appointing leaders for His people.
• "raised them up": qum (קוּם). This Hebrew verb means "to stand up," "arise," or "establish." Here, it signifies God's active, divine selection and empowerment of individuals for a specific purpose—not chosen by popular vote but by divine appointment. This highlights the Judges' divine commissioning.
• "judges": shophetim (שׁוֹפְטִים). While transliterated as "judges," these figures were primarily charismatic military deliverers and regional leaders who restored order and brought salvation. They were not merely adjudicators but "saviors" who led the people in battle and administered God's justice through their leadership.
• "then the Lord was with the judge": Wa-yihi YHWH im-ha-shophet (וַיְהִי יְהוָה עִם־הַשֹּׁפֵט). This phrase emphasizes divine presence as the source of success and power. The judges were effective not due to their own might but because of YHWH's active support, guidance, and empowering spirit (e.g., Judg 3:10; 6:34). God's presence signifies His enabling power and blessing upon their mission.
• "and delivered them": wa-yoshî'em (וַיֹּשִׁיעֵם). From the root yasha (יָשַׁע), meaning "to save," "rescue," or "deliver." This is the same root found in the names "Joshua" and "Jesus" (Yeshua), indicating salvation and deliverance. It highlights that deliverance from enemies was a direct act of God through the judges.
• "out of the hand of their enemies": miyyad oyebêhem (מִיַּד אֹיְבֵיהֶם). "Hand" is a common biblical metaphor for power or authority. Thus, deliverance is from the oppressive power and control of their adversaries. This underscores the severity of Israel's bondage.
• "all the days of the judge": kol y'me ha-shophet (כֹּל יְמֵי הַשֹּׁפֵט). This phrase clearly delineates the temporary and limited nature of each deliverance. The relief was contingent on the judge's life, highlighting the cyclical problem and Israel's continued spiritual decline. It hints at the inadequacy of these temporary deliverers and points to the eventual need for a permanent solution and a perfect deliverer.
• "for it repented the Lord": Ki yinachēm YHWH (כִּי־יִנָּחֵם יְהוָה). The verb nacham (נָחַם) means "to be sorry," "to regret," or "to have compassion." This is an anthropopathic expression, describing God's emotional response in human terms. It does not imply a change in God's eternal character or ultimate purposes, which are unchanging (Num 23:19; Mal 3:6). Rather, it signifies His deep compassion and grief over His people's suffering, leading Him to relent from the disciplinary judgment He had brought upon them (e.g., Joel 2:13; Jonah 3:10). His response shifts from discipline to deliverance due to His pity for their affliction.
• "because of their groaning": mippenê na'aqatam (מִפְּנֵי נַאֲקָתָם). Na'aqah (נַעֲקָה) means a "groaning," "sighing," or "cry." It is a sound of distress and desperation, often stemming from physical or emotional anguish rather than necessarily a sign of true spiritual repentance. God's mercy is here shown to be active in response to their pain, even if their "groaning" is simply a plea for relief from hardship, revealing God's prior grace.
• "by reason of those that oppressed them and vexed them": mippenê lochatsêhem we-dayatsêhem (מִפְּנֵי לֹחֲצֵיהֶם וְדֹחֲקֵיהֶם). The verbs lagats (לָחַץ, to oppress, crush) and dagak (דָּחַק, to push, crowd, vex) depict severe and relentless persecution and affliction, underscoring the intensity of the suffering that moved God to act.

Judges 2 18 Bonus section

The anthropopathic language of God "repenting" (or relenting) highlights a key theological concept. It vividly communicates God's capacity for grief and profound compassion for His creation, without implying any moral flaw or shift in His ultimate, unchanging purpose for His people. It reveals a relational God who responds to His people's condition and cries, underscoring His mercy. This divine responsiveness does not negate His immutability but rather illustrates the dynamic nature of His covenant relationship with humanity. The judges, while fallible human leaders, serve as prefigurements or types of the ultimate Deliverer, Jesus Christ. Their temporary, flawed salvations anticipate the perfect and eternal salvation accomplished by Christ, who breaks the endless cycle of sin and provides lasting deliverance. The Book of Judges, through this verse, therefore, acts as a historical backdrop demonstrating the desperate need for God's ultimate solution to humanity's fallenness.

Judges 2 18 Commentary

Judges 2:18 encapsulates the core message of the Book of Judges: God's covenant faithfulness and compassionate nature relentlessly pursuing a perpetually backsliding Israel. Despite Israel's repeated sin, idolatry, and forgetfulness of His works, God's inherent character is shown as One who is deeply moved by their distress. His intervention, marked by the raising of divinely-empowered judges, stems from His own "relenting" due to their suffering and groaning. This isn't a change in God's eternal decrees but a change in His operational response, from deserved judgment to merciful deliverance, triggered by His profound pity. The deliverance, however, was limited to "the days of the judge," underscoring the temporary nature of human saviors and the deeper, recurring problem of Israel's spiritual rebellion. This highlights the cycle's futility and implicitly points to the future need for a perfect, enduring King and Deliverer, ultimately found in Jesus Christ, whose salvation is eternal and breaks the cycle of sin and death permanently. The verse showcases God's remarkable patience and grace, extending salvation even to a people whose cry often arose from discomfort rather than true repentance.