Judges 2 20

Judges 2:20 kjv

And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;

Judges 2:20 nkjv

Then the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and He said, "Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers, and has not heeded My voice,

Judges 2:20 niv

Therefore the LORD was very angry with Israel and said, "Because this nation has violated the covenant I ordained for their ancestors and has not listened to me,

Judges 2:20 esv

So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he said, "Because this people have transgressed my covenant that I commanded their fathers and have not obeyed my voice,

Judges 2:20 nlt

So the LORD burned with anger against Israel. He said, "Because these people have violated my covenant, which I made with their ancestors, and have ignored my commands,

Judges 2 verses

Judges 2 20 Meaning

Judges 2:20 states that the anger of the Lord was intensely kindled against Israel. This divine wrath was not arbitrary but stemmed directly from their corporate transgression of the covenant He had established with their forefathers and their failure to heed His voice, indicating a fundamental rejection of His authority and commands. The verse marks a pivotal point, initiating God's declaration of His judicial response to Israel's widespread apostasy and idolatry that developed after the generation of Joshua. It explains the severe consequences and the continuous cycle of judgment that would characterize the era of the Judges.

Judges 2 20 Context

Judges 2:20 serves as a pivotal explanatory statement from God within the overarching narrative of Israel's apostasy. The chapter begins with the angel of the Lord rebuking Israel at Bochim for failing to drive out the Canaanites and making covenants with them (2:1-5), direct violations of God's command. After Joshua and his generation pass away, a new generation emerges "who did not know the LORD, nor even the work which He had done for Israel" (2:10). This generation swiftly turned to idolatry, worshiping the Baals and Ashtaroth, provoking the Lord's anger. Judges 2:14-15 describes the Lord's punitive response, delivering them into the hands of plunderers and oppressors. While God, in His mercy, would raise up judges (2:16-19), Israel persistently returned to its waywardness upon the judge's death. Verse 20 provides God's divine declaration and justification for His future actions: His decision not to continue driving out the remaining Canaanite nations, instead using them to test Israel's faithfulness, which is revealed in the subsequent verses (2:21-23). This verse encapsulates the cycle of disobedience and divine judgment that forms the framework for the entire book of Judges. Historically, this period reflects the nascent nation struggling to settle in the Promised Land amidst strong pagan influences and a decentralized governmental structure, leading to easy spiritual compromise.

Judges 2 20 Word analysis

• So (וַיֹּאמֶר): The Hebrew conjunctive waw plus a verb indicates a consequence or continuation. It links God's expressed anger directly to the preceding narrative of Israel's unfaithfulness described in Judges 2:11-19, establishing it as the direct result of their actions.
• the anger of the LORD (אַף יְהוָה - 'ap Yahweh): This signifies God's righteous indignation and settled determination to act against sin. 'Ap' (nose/nostrils) metaphorically refers to quick, intense anger, often expressed in burning fury or a strong breath. Yahweh, the covenant name of God, underscores that this anger comes from the covenant-keeping, holy God Himself, whose character is bound to His commands. It's not a human, capricious emotion but a just and holy reaction to persistent rebellion.
• was kindled (חָרָה - charah): Means to be hot, burn, be incensed. It vividly portrays the intensity and heat of God's wrath, indicating a deep, unquenchable displeasure. This kindling suggests a building up of offense over time, culminating in an active display of judgment.
• against Israel (בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל - bəYisra'el): Refers to the entire nation, emphasizing their corporate responsibility before God as His covenant people. It highlights that the covenant was national, and their sin was a national betrayal.
• and He said (וַיֹּאמֶר - wayyo'mer): Introduces God's direct speech, a declarative statement of divine judgment. This indicates a reasoned and announced judicial decision, not an impulsive act.
• "Because (יַעַן כִּי - ya'an ki): Introduces the specific reason or justification for God's anger and subsequent action. It denotes causality; His wrath is warranted and logical due to their behavior.
• this nation (הַגּוֹי הַזֶּה - haggoy hazzeh): The term 'goy' (nation) here implies a slight distance or disappointment on God's part, highlighting their behavior resembling that of pagan nations rather than His unique, chosen people. It reinforces their collective identity and responsibility.
• has transgressed (עָבְרוּ - 'averu): From the root 'abar,' meaning to pass over, go beyond, cross a boundary or limit. In a legal or moral context, it signifies a deliberate violation of a law or command, an act of rebellion. It implies an intentional departure from the prescribed path.
• My covenant (בְּרִיתִי - bərithi): Refers primarily to the Mosaic Covenant established at Sinai, detailing God's laws, blessings, and curses. This covenant defined Israel's relationship with God, predicated on obedience. Breaking it was a betrayal of their very identity as God's people.
• which I commanded (צִוֵּיתִי - tzivvithi): Emphasizes the divine origin and authority of the covenant. God, the sovereign Lord, had issued clear and direct commands. Their transgression was against God's explicit word.
• their fathers (אֶת־אֲבוֹתָם - 'et-'avotam): Highlights the continuity of divine expectation across generations. The covenant was not new to them; it had been transmitted and was foundational to their heritage. This shows their deliberate deviation from an established and known divine standard.
• and has not heeded (לֹא שָׁמְעוּ - lo' sham'u): From the root 'shama,' which means to hear, listen, and, critically, to obey. "Not heeded My voice" therefore signifies not merely a failure to listen but a failure to obey the commands and instructions conveyed by God. It implies a deeper spiritual rejection and hardness of heart.
• My voice (בְּקוֹלִי - bəqoli): Represents the totality of God's revealed will, including His laws, warnings, and prophetic instructions. Failure to heed God's voice means active and persistent disobedience to His entire message and authority.

• "So the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel": This phrase signals a critical turning point. It demonstrates that divine judgment is a direct, proportional, and unavoidable response to repeated and fundamental covenant infidelity. The "kindled anger" imagery suggests the burning hot indignation of a just God, which is bound to erupt.
• "Because this nation has transgressed My covenant which I commanded their fathers": This establishes the legal and moral basis for God's anger. It grounds the divine action in Israel's clear violation of terms explicitly laid out. The covenant, a solemn agreement, carried conditional clauses that Israel failed to uphold. This highlights their unfaithfulness as a breach of trust with the Almighty.
• "and has not heeded My voice": This clarifies the nature of their transgression as active disobedience, not mere ignorance. They knew what God commanded, but willfully chose not to obey. This is not just breaking rules, but a rebellion against the very relationship God offered.

Judges 2 20 Bonus section

This verse, ending with an ellipsis in many translations, directly sets the stage for God's declared punitive action described in Judges 2:21-23. God's reasoned judgment is not merely abstract; it will have tangible consequences: He will no longer drive out the remaining nations. These nations, by God's decree, would serve as "snares" and "tests" for Israel, proving their true allegiance (Jud 2:21-23; 3:1-4). This decision demonstrates divine pedagogy – using external pressures to remind Israel of their covenant obligations and to train them in warfare, both physical and spiritual. While God's anger is manifest, His purpose is redemptive: to humble, test, and bring His people back into faithful relationship, even if through hardship. It illustrates a key biblical principle that divine patience does not last forever in the face of persistent rebellion; unrepentant sin leads to inevitable judgment.

Judges 2 20 Commentary

Judges 2:20 serves as the divine verdict against Israel's pervasive apostasy following Joshua's death. It presents God's righteous anger as a just consequence for a deliberate and continuous national breach of His covenant. Israel's failure to adhere to the foundational Mosaic Law—which God had clearly given to their ancestors—was characterized by adopting Canaanite idolatry and practices. Their actions constituted a profound betrayal, a refusal to "heed His voice" which encompassed His commands, warnings, and blessings. This verse articulates God's principled rationale for the cycles of oppression and deliverance that define the book of Judges; it's a testament to His holiness that cannot overlook sin, yet also subtly sets the stage for His continuing mercy, albeit now intertwined with severe discipline. The lack of adherence to divine revelation ultimately led to their vulnerability and the enduring presence of their enemies.