Judges 3 11

Judges 3:11 kjv

And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Judges 3:11 nkjv

So the land had rest for forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Judges 3:11 niv

So the land had peace for forty years, until Othniel son of Kenaz died.

Judges 3:11 esv

So the land had rest forty years. Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

Judges 3:11 nlt

So there was peace in the land for forty years. Then Othniel son of Kenaz died.

Judges 3 verses

Judges 3 11 Meaning

Judges 3:11 declares that the land of Israel experienced a period of peace lasting forty years after Othniel delivered them from Cushan-Rishathaim. This verse then marks the end of that specific era of tranquility and effective leadership with the death of Othniel, the first judge appointed by God after Joshua. It signals a turning point, implying the impending commencement of another cycle of sin, oppression, and God's judgment characteristic of the book of Judges.

Judges 3 11 Context

This verse is the concluding statement of Othniel's judgeship. Prior to this, Judges 3:7-10 narrates Israel's idolatry, their oppression by Cushan-Rishathaim of Mesopotamia for eight years, their cry to the Lord, and God raising up Othniel as their deliverer. Othniel's victory brought peace to the land. Verse 11 details the duration of this peace and the catalyst for its end.

Within the broader context of the book of Judges, this verse illustrates the core "cycle" of the era: Israel sins against God, God sends an oppressor, Israel cries out, God raises a deliverer, the land has rest, and then the deliverer dies, leading back to sin. Othniel represents the first iteration of this cycle, setting the stage for subsequent cycles that progressively showcase Israel's deepening apostasy and the declining moral character of their leaders. Historically, the period of the Judges was marked by a lack of central authority ("every man did what was right in his own eyes" - Jdg 21:25), tribal disunity, and constant external threats, interrupted by periods of divine deliverance.

Judges 3 11 Word analysis

• So (וַתִּשְׁקֹט – va'tish'kot): The "so" or "and" serves as a connective, linking the prior action of Othniel's victory directly to the resulting period of peace. It emphasizes cause and effect—Othniel’s deliverance leads to rest.

• the land (הָאָרֶץ – ha'aretz): Refers specifically to the land of Israel, the Promised Land. This choice of word highlights the physical cessation of warfare and distress throughout the entire national territory, not merely a single city or tribe. The "rest" of the land has theological implications, echoing God's gift of the land (Deu 12:10, 25:19) and the Sabbatical rest principles.

• had rest (תִּשְׁקֹט – tish'kot, from root שָׁקַט – shaqat): This is a crucial term. Shaqat means to be quiet, at peace, undisturbed, to settle down, to have security. In the context of Judges, it consistently denotes a period free from foreign oppression or internal strife following a divine deliverance. It implies more than just a lack of war; it signifies a divinely granted period of tranquility and security for the nation. This peace is God's gift and directly dependent on the presence of a faithful leader.

• forty years (אַרְבָּעִים שָׁנָה – arba'im shana): This is a numerically significant period in biblical narratives. "Forty" often represents a generation (Exo 16:35, Num 32:13), a period of testing or probation (Deu 8:2), a significant span before major change (Gen 7:12, Exo 24:18), or a king's reign (1 Ki 11:42). In Judges, periods of "rest" are commonly in multiples of forty years, which implies a full generation, underscoring the duration of peace, but also its eventual end as a generation passes.

• Then (וַיָּמָת – va'ya'mat): The "then" introduces a new clause, marking a transition from the state of rest to Othniel's death. It highlights the temporal sequence, indicating that the rest concluded with his demise.

• Othniel (עָתְנִיאֵל – Otni'el): The name means "God is my strength" or "Lion of God," apt for the first deliverer. As the son of Kenaz and Caleb's younger brother (Josh 15:17), Othniel represents a positive connection to Joshua’s generation and a high point of early fidelity to Yahweh in the period of the Judges. His death serves as the book's narrative marker for the end of a prosperous and faithful era.

• the son of Kenaz (בֶּן־קְנַז – ben-Qenaz): This patriarchal lineage detail authenticates Othniel's identity and connection to the tribe of Judah, which was prominent in early Israel. Kenaz was a distinguished name, indicating Othniel's notable background within Israel's faithful remnant.

• died (מֵת – met, from root מוּת – mut): The verb for "died" explicitly concludes Othniel's life and, significantly, his active leadership. His death functions as a pivot point in the Judges narrative, as the subsequent lack of effective leadership usually led to the resumption of idolatry and oppression, perpetuating the tragic cycle.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "So the land had rest forty years": This phrase succinctly states the outcome of God's intervention through Othniel. The "rest" is not accidental but a divine blessing for a period of faithfulness or respite from oppression. The forty years signify a full generational cycle, suggesting that as that generation passed, the memory of God's deliverance and Othniel's leadership faded, setting the stage for apostasy.
  • "Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died": This second clause immediately links the end of the rest to the demise of the judge. The period of peace was dependent on the active presence of God’s chosen leader. This structure repeatedly highlights the dependency of Israel’s welfare on righteous leadership and their often short-lived periods of faithfulness.

Judges 3 11 Bonus section

• The recurring "forty years" of rest in Judges (3:11, 3:30, 5:31, 8:28) acts as a structural device, segmenting the book and emphasizing that each period of peace was distinct and temporal, often corresponding to the span of a single generation's remembrance of deliverance.
• Othniel is uniquely portrayed with no flaws or moral compromises, setting a stark contrast with many subsequent judges whose characters are increasingly tarnished (e.g., Gideon's ephod, Jephthah's vow, Samson's personal failures). This verse, marking his death, signals the end of the "ideal" judging era and the commencement of Israel's descent.
• The absence of an immediate successor and the implied leadership vacuum upon a judge's death highlights the problem of Israel's lack of consistent spiritual authority in this period, foreshadowing the eventual need for a centralized monarchy and true prophets to guide the nation.
• The land's "rest" points to a theological ideal of shalom, peace that flows from obedience to God. Its cessation illustrates that peace is conditional on covenant faithfulness, a recurring biblical theme.

Judges 3 11 Commentary

Judges 3:11 is pivotal because it encapsulates the very pattern that defines the book of Judges: the transition from divinely granted peace to a new state of vulnerability marked by the death of a judge. Othniel, as the inaugural judge, represents a golden standard of faithful leadership, chosen directly by God in response to Israel's cry. His successful deliverance results in a prolonged period of national tranquility—"rest for forty years." This "rest" (Hebrew: shaqat) signifies a state of cessation from warfare and external oppression, indicating God's favor and protection during Othniel's tenure. It is not merely a lack of conflict but a God-given repose.

However, the concluding phrase, "Then Othniel the son of Kenaz died," serves as a grim narrative transition. His death isn't just a biographical note; it's the specific point at which the stability he brought to Israel ceases. It anticipates the predictable downward spiral of the Judges cycle: the passing of the faithful leader allows the subsequent generation to forget God's mighty acts, lapse into idolatry, and thus fall back into foreign oppression, restarting the cycle of distress and deliverance. This verse tragically underscores the fragility of Israel's faithfulness and the intermittent nature of their peace without a continuous, God-centered leadership. It hints at Israel's chronic issue: their spiritual health was tied to charismatic leaders, rather than a deep, abiding commitment from the entire populace.