Judges 2 4

Judges 2:4 kjv

And it came to pass, when the angel of the LORD spake these words unto all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voice, and wept.

Judges 2:4 nkjv

So it was, when the Angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the children of Israel, that the people lifted up their voices and wept.

Judges 2:4 niv

When the angel of the LORD had spoken these things to all the Israelites, the people wept aloud,

Judges 2:4 esv

As soon as the angel of the LORD spoke these words to all the people of Israel, the people lifted up their voices and wept.

Judges 2:4 nlt

When the angel of the LORD finished speaking to all the Israelites, the people wept loudly.

Judges 2 verses

Judges 2 4 Meaning

Judges 2:4 describes the immediate response of the Israelites to the rebuke delivered by the Angel of the LORD. Having been reminded of God's covenant faithfulness and their own flagrant disobedience in failing to drive out the inhabitants of the land, the entire assembly reacted with a collective, audible cry and weeping. This moment marked a somber recognition of their sin and its dire consequences, signifying a public display of sorrow, albeit one whose sincerity was questioned by their subsequent actions in the book of Judges.

Judges 2 4 Context

Judges chapter 2 marks a pivotal transition in Israel's history, moving from the successful conquest under Joshua to a period of spiraling disobedience and judgment. Following the death of Joshua and the elders of his generation (Judg 2:6-10), a new generation emerged "who did not know the LORD or the work that he had done for Israel." This led to widespread idolatry and a failure to complete the expulsion of the Canaanite inhabitants as commanded by God. Judges 2:1-3 details the "Angel of the LORD" (understood by many as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ) delivering God's direct message to Israel at Bochim, outlining their breach of the covenant, the consequences of this failure, and the solemn judgment that the remaining Canaanites would be "thorns" in their sides and their gods a "snare." Verse 4, therefore, serves as the immediate and emotional response of the gathered assembly to this divine rebuke, before the book fully details the cyclic pattern of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance through the Judges. Historically, this period reflects the nascent nation struggling to solidify its monotheistic identity amidst pagan influences, leading to continuous spiritual and military turmoil.

Judges 2 4 Word analysis

• And it came to pass (וַיְהִי - vay'hi): A common Hebrew literary device indicating a new event or the commencement of a narrative segment. It signifies a transition point, here leading to the people's response.
• when the angel of the LORD (כִּי־דִּבֶּר מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - ki dibber mal'akh YHWH):
  • angel (מַלְאַךְ - mal'akh): Literally means "messenger" and can refer to a human messenger or a divine being. Here, the context indicates a divine being, carrying the direct message of God.
  • of the LORD (יְהוָה - YHWH): The sacred, ineffable covenant name of God (the Tetragrammaton). The phrase "Angel of the LORD" often signifies a special manifestation of God Himself (a theophany or christophany), rather than merely a created angel. This being speaks with divine authority, taking the divine prerogative of promising, rebuking, and judging. This entity appeared multiple times in the Old Testament, embodying God's presence and will.
• spake these words (אֶת־הַדְּבָרִים הָאֵלֶּה - 'et-ha-d'varim ha'elleh): Refers directly to the strong rebuke and warnings given in Judges 2:1-3, which highlighted Israel's disobedience to the covenant and God's corresponding judgment. The "words" are God's explicit commands and pronouncements.
• unto all the children of Israel (אֶל־כָּל־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - el-kol-b'nei Yisrael): Emphasizes the corporate nature of the rebuke and response. The entire assembly, representing the nation, heard the message and responded as a single body, highlighting communal responsibility for their collective failure.
• that the people (וַיִּשְׂאוּ הָעָם - vayis'u ha'am):
  • the people (הָעָם - ha'am): Refers to the collective Israelite community present.
• lifted up their voice (קולָם - qolam): Indicates a loud, audible, and unrestrained cry. This was not a quiet murmuring but a unified lament or wail, signifying deep emotional distress and public demonstration of sorrow. It implies a strong, unified emotional reaction from the whole congregation.
• and wept (וַיִּבְכּוּ - vayivku): From the root bākāh, meaning "to weep" or "to cry." This action signifies an outpouring of grief, sorrow, and perhaps remorse. The intensity of their emotion is highlighted, leading to the naming of the place as Bochim ("weepers") in the next verse. This weeping was a direct emotional reaction to the conviction of their sin and the realization of the consequences that were promised. The narrative will subsequently reveal the extent to which this was merely an emotional, outward display versus genuine, lasting repentance.

Judges 2 4 Bonus section

The specific location where this event transpired, named Bochim in Judges 2:5, is directly derived from the people's intense weeping described in Judges 2:4. The name itself (בֹּכִים, meaning "weepers" or "those who weep") serves as a perpetual memorial and an ominous reminder of this profound moment of national grief and self-condemnation. It is a place name that does not exist elsewhere, suggesting it was given ad hoc to commemorate this event. While the site's exact geographical location remains uncertain, its significance is entirely tied to the collective spiritual reckoning that occurred there, setting the tone for the challenging period that Israel was about to endure under the Judges. The naming of the place based on their emotional reaction highlights the vivid, impactful nature of the divine confrontation and the people's collective sorrow.

Judges 2 4 Commentary

Judges 2:4 serves as a potent turning point in the Book of Judges, portraying a dramatic communal response to divine revelation. The "Angel of the LORD," understood as a pre-incarnate manifestation of God Himself, delivers a cutting rebuke to Israel, recounting God's faithfulness and their covenant infidelity. This divine address penetrates the national consciousness, prompting a raw, emotional outpouring—the people "lifted up their voice, and wept." This public lamentation, in a place consequently named Bochim, "weepers," underscores the depth of their immediate sorrow and conviction.

However, the nature of this weeping is critical to understand the narrative arc of Judges. While it might appear as genuine repentance, the subsequent chapters reveal that this sorrow was largely superficial or fleeting. The cycle of sin, oppression, and temporary deliverance immediately resumes, indicating that their tears likely stemmed more from grief over the consequences of their actions (e.g., the continued presence of hostile Canaanites) rather than a fundamental change of heart and genuine, lasting sorrow for their sin against God. True repentance, as taught throughout Scripture (Joel 2:12-13, 2 Cor 7:10), involves not just emotional lament but a transformative turning away from sin and toward God in obedience. This verse, therefore, captures a poignant moment of recognition, a corporate admission of failure, yet tragically hints at the chronic spiritual shallowness that would plague Israel throughout the era of the Judges.