Judges 3:12 kjv
And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight of the LORD: and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
Judges 3:12 nkjv
And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD. So the LORD strengthened Eglon king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the LORD.
Judges 3:12 niv
Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, and because they did this evil the LORD gave Eglon king of Moab power over Israel.
Judges 3:12 esv
And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done what was evil in the sight of the LORD.
Judges 3:12 nlt
Once again the Israelites did evil in the LORD's sight, and the LORD gave King Eglon of Moab control over Israel because of their evil.
Judges 3 12 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Judg 2:11 | And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the LORD... | Sets the recurring cycle of sin. |
| Judg 2:15 | ...wherever they went out, the hand of the LORD was against them for evil... | God's consistent judgment on disobedience. |
| Deut 28:15 | "But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD... | Curses for disobedience foretold. |
| Deut 28:43 | "The alien who is among you shall rise higher and higher above you... | Foretells foreign dominance due to sin. |
| Josh 24:20 | "If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods... | Warning against forsaking God. |
| 1 Sam 12:9 | "And when you forgot the LORD your God, He sold you into the hand of Sisera... | God delivering them to enemies due to forgetfulness. |
| Ps 78:56-58 | Yet they tested and provoked the Most High God... | Israel's persistent provocation and God's wrath. |
| Neh 9:36-37 | "Behold, we are servants today... to the kings whom You have set over us... | Acknowledging subjection as divine judgment. |
| Isa 59:2 | But your iniquities have separated you from your God... | Sin causes separation and hardship. |
| Jer 2:19 | Your own wickedness will correct you, and your backslidings will rebuke you... | Consequences of apostasy as self-inflicted discipline. |
| Rom 1:18 | For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness... | God's universal wrath against human ungodliness. |
| Rom 3:23 | for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God... | Universal human sinfulness. |
| Eph 2:1-3 | ...dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked... | Humanity's inherent spiritual state without God. |
| Col 3:6 | On account of these the wrath of God is coming... | God's judgment on disobedient acts. |
| Heb 12:6 | For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son... | God's discipline as a sign of His love. |
| Amos 3:6 | ...If disaster befalls a city, has not the LORD caused it? | God's sovereign hand in all events, including disaster. |
| Hos 8:7 | For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind... | Consequences of pursuing rebellion. |
| Judg 3:9 | When the people cried out to the Lord... | Previous cry for help. |
| Judg 3:15 | Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord... | Next cry for help in this cycle. |
| Ps 107:10-13 | Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death... Then they cried to the LORD... | Distress leading to crying out to God. |
| 2 Chr 7:14 | If my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray... | Promise of healing upon repentance. |
| Lam 3:32-33 | For though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to his great mercy... | God's ultimate mercy despite His discipline. |
| Gal 6:7-8 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | The principle of sowing and reaping consequences. |
Judges 3 verses
Judges 3 12 Meaning
Judges 3:12 describes a fresh moral and spiritual decline by the Israelites. Following a period of peace after Othniel's deliverance, they once again chose to disobey God and engage in actions that were morally wrong and contrary to His covenant. As a direct consequence of their rebellion, the Lord, in His divine sovereignty and righteous judgment, empowered Eglon, the king of Moab, to subjugate Israel. This act was God's disciplinary response, demonstrating His holy disapproval of their sin and His commitment to His covenant.
Judges 3 12 Context
Judges 3:12 marks the beginning of the second major cycle of apostasy, oppression, and deliverance in the Book of Judges, a pattern established in Judges 2:11-19. Following the initial deliverance by Othniel and the subsequent period of 40 years of rest (Judg 3:11), Israel quickly reverted to disobedience. The phrase "the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD" is a theological statement, not merely a descriptive one. It signifies a breach of their covenant with God and a rejection of His ways, which was specifically warned against in the Torah. This repeated rebellion is the direct cause for God allowing Eglon of Moab to become their oppressor, serving as a divine discipline to bring them back to repentance. Moab had a long history of antagonism with Israel (Numbers 22-24, Deut 23:3-6), making their oppression a particularly pointed consequence of Israel's disloyalty.
Judges 3 12 Word analysis
And the children of Israel again (וַיֹּסִ֙פוּ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל - vayyosifu b'nei Yisra'el):
- וַיֹּסִ֙פוּ (vayyosifu): Literally "they added to do" or "they did again." This verb highlights the repetitive, stubborn nature of Israel's sin. It emphasizes a conscious, continued pattern of disobedience, not an accidental slip. It underscores their spiritual forgetfulness after having experienced God's grace and deliverance.
- בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל (b'nei Yisra'el): "Children of Israel." Refers to God's chosen, covenant people. This emphasizes that even those under God's special care and promises are not exempt from the consequences of sin.
did evil (לַעֲשׂ֣וֹת הָרַ֖ע - la'asot hara'):
- הָרַ֖ע (hara'): "The evil." This isn't just a minor mistake but a direct affront to God's moral standards. It encompasses idolatry, injustice, and overall rejection of God's law. It's a fundamental moral and spiritual failing, moving away from God's commands.
in the sight of the LORD (בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֔ה - b'einei Yahweh):
- This phrase emphasizes divine observation. God sees and knows all actions, and His perspective is the ultimate standard for judging good and evil. It highlights Israel's accountability directly to their covenant Lord, who had previously demonstrated His faithfulness and power on their behalf.
Then the LORD strengthened Eglon (וַיְחַזֵּ֨ק יְהוָ֜ה אֶת־עֶגְל֥וֹן - vayḥazzeq Yahweh et-Eglon):
- וַיְחַזֵּ֨ק (vayḥazzeq): "He strengthened" or "made firm." This is crucial. It means God didn't merely allow Eglon to gain power; He actively empowered him. This indicates God's direct sovereign agency in raising up oppressors as instruments of His discipline and judgment. This is not permission but purposeful action.
- אֶת־עֶגְל֥וֹן (et-Eglon): Refers to Eglon, the king of Moab. The Lord directly chose and equipped this specific pagan king for His punitive purposes.
king of Moab (מֶֽלֶךְ־מוֹאָ֖ב - melekh Mo'av):
- Moab was a traditional enemy of Israel, descendants of Lot through an incestuous relationship, and previously associated with the attempts to curse Israel in the wilderness (Num 22-24). Being subjected to Moabites underscored the humiliation and the irony of God using a less-esteemed people group as His rod of discipline.
against Israel (עַל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל - al-Yisra'el):
- Emphasizes the direct target of Eglon's newly strengthened power – the very people who had rebelled against their God. This points to the targeted nature of the divine judgment.
because (כִּ֣י - ki):
- This conjunctive word establishes a direct causal link. The strengthening of Eglon by the Lord is not random or arbitrary; it is a direct consequence of Israel's prior actions. This underscores the retributive justice of God.
they had done evil in the sight of the LORD (עָשׂ֣וּ הָרַ֔ע בְּעֵינֵ֖י יְהוָֽה - 'asu hara' b'einei Yahweh):
- A reiteration of the initial reason for God's action, emphasizing the theological consistency. The repetition solidifies the primary cause-and-effect relationship in the book of Judges: Israel's sin brings divine judgment through foreign oppression. This cycle is rooted in God's righteousness and justice.
Judges 3 12 Bonus section
The recurrence of the phrase "did evil in the sight of the LORD" throughout Judges (Judg 2:11; 3:7, 12; 4:1; 6:1; 10:6; 13:1) serves as a liturgical refrain, hammering home the persistent disobedience of the Israelites. Each instance indicates a new generation or a renewed backsliding, highlighting a fundamental spiritual issue that was not resolved despite repeated interventions and deliverances. This constant cycle underlines human depravity and the persistent need for divine grace and guidance. The phrase positions sin not as a mere human failing, but as a deliberate offense directly observed and responded to by a holy God.
Judges 3 12 Commentary
Judges 3:12 encapsulates the heart of the "Judges cycle"—apostasy leading to oppression, followed by crying out to God and deliverance. Here, the phrase "again did evil" is key, signaling Israel's persistent spiritual amnesia and moral degradation. Their choices were active acts of rebellion against God's explicit commands and His demonstrated faithfulness. Importantly, the text states "the LORD strengthened Eglon," a crucial theological statement emphasizing God's direct agency. This was not mere permission or neglect but an active deployment of an enemy king as a divinely appointed instrument of chastisement. God, in His sovereign power, orchestrates events, even using unrighteous rulers, to humble His people and call them back to repentance. The specific choice of Moab as the oppressor reminds Israel of ancient adversaries and previous encounters, intensifying the shame and difficulty of their servitude. This period of suffering under Eglon was a painful but necessary disciplinary measure intended to awaken them from their spiritual complacency and prompt a cry for divine intervention.