Judges 3 21

Judges 3:21 kjv

And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:

Judges 3:21 nkjv

Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.

Judges 3:21 niv

Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king's belly.

Judges 3:21 esv

And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.

Judges 3:21 nlt

Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled out the dagger strapped to his right thigh, and plunged it into the king's belly.

Judges 3 verses

Judges 3 21 Meaning

Judges 3:21 describes the pivotal moment when Ehud, God's chosen deliverer for Israel, fatally wounded Eglon, the obese king of Moab. Ehud, being uniquely left-handed, drew a specially made short sword from an unconventional hiding spot on his right thigh, which evaded security checks designed for right-handed individuals. He then powerfully thrust this dagger deep into Eglon's remarkably large abdomen, ensuring an immediate and mortal blow that led to the king's demise, setting the stage for Israel's liberation from Moabite oppression.

Judges 3 21 Context

Judges chapter 3 narrates the period of Israel's renewed sin following Othniel's deliverance. After a generation passed, Israel turned from God to worship Canaanite deities, violating the divine covenant. Consequently, God allowed them to fall under the harsh eighteen-year oppression of Eglon, king of Moab, who had allied with Ammon and Amalek. When the Israelites cried out to God in their distress, He raised up Ehud, a Benjamite, as their deliverer. Ehud was left-handed, a unique trait that proved pivotal in his divine mission. Prior to this verse, Ehud gained access to Eglon by bringing tribute, then cleverly secured a private meeting with the king by claiming to have a secret message from God. The historical context indicates that kings in the ancient Near East often conducted affairs in private chambers and tribute presentations were common, yet Ehud's specific manipulation of these norms was instrumental in his successful stratagem, leading to this moment of decisive action.

Judges 3 21 Word analysis

• And Ehud (וְאֵהוּד֙ - veh-e-hud): The conjunctive "And" links this action directly to Ehud's prior careful planning. "Ehud" ("He that Praises") signifies the divinely appointed agent (H7229, yasha - deliverer) from the tribe of Benjamin ("son of the right hand"), creating a dramatic irony with his exceptional left-handedness.
• put forth (וַיִּשְׁלַח - vay-yish-lach from שָׁלַח - shalach): Meaning "to send" or "to stretch out," this verb denotes a deliberate, swift, and resolute extension of his hand, indicating a focused and prepared action.
• his left hand (יַד־שְׂמֹאלוֹ֙ - yad semolo): This is the core of Ehud's cunning. "Yad" means "hand," and "semolo" is "his left." Ehud was "אִטֶּר יַד־יְמִינוֹ" (itter yad yemino), meaning "bound/restricted of his right hand" or simply "left-handed." In a world dominated by right-handed practices, his left-handedness allowed him to carry the dagger on his right thigh, a spot not commonly checked for weapons on a right-handed person, thereby circumventing the king's security.
• and took (וַיִּקַּ֤ח - vay-yik-kach from לָקַח - lakaḥ): To "take" or "seize," implying a firm, decisive grasp of the weapon, characteristic of an individual executing a prepared act.
• the dagger (אֶת־הַחֶ֙רֶב֙ - et-hacḥerev): The Hebrew word חֶרֶב (cherev) generally means "sword," but Judges 3:16 specifies it as "a cubit in length," translating to a short sword or dagger. This shorter length was ideal for concealed carry and for a deep thrust in close quarters, rather than for typical sword fighting. It was a custom-made weapon.
• from his right thigh (מִיֶּ֥רֶךְ יְמִינ֖וֹ - miy-ye-reḵ yemino): יָרֵךְ (yarek) means "thigh" or "hip." יְמִינ֖וֹ (yemino) means "his right." This hiding place was crucial for Ehud's stealth, as weapon checks would typically focus on a person's left thigh, the strong side for a right-handed combatant. Ehud exploited this conventional assumption.
• and thrust it (וַיִּתְקָעֶ֖הָ - vay-yit-qa-eh-ah from תָּקַע - taqaʿ): To "thrust," "drive," or "pierce." This verb conveys a powerful, deliberate, and forceful penetration, emphasizing the lethal intent and the certainty of the action, designed to cause instant incapacitation.
• into his belly (אֶל־בִּטְנֽוֹ - el-bit-no): בֶּטֶן (beten) refers to the belly or abdomen. Eglon's extreme corpulence ("a very fat man" Jdg 3:17) meant the dagger entered a thick layer of flesh. The next verse (Jdg 3:22) clarifies that "the haft also went in after the blade, and the fat closed upon the blade," illustrating the immense penetration and confirming the instantaneous fatal blow, signifying that Eglon's indulgence ultimately contributed to his demise.

Words-Group Analysis:

• "Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh": This phrase describes the execution of Ehud's primary deception. It highlights the clever synergy of his unique physical attribute (left-handedness) and the strategic placement of his weapon, demonstrating forethought and a keen understanding of his opponent's expectations. It's a testament to divinely inspired tactical brilliance, where an apparent disadvantage is turned into a decisive advantage.
• "and thrust it into his belly": This is the culmination of Ehud's mission. The verb "thrust" emphasizes the force and precision of the attack. Targeting Eglon's "belly" is both literal, due to his immense size, and symbolic, possibly hinting at his overindulgence. This moment represents the direct execution of God's judgment against an oppressive ruler and the immediate turning point for Israel's liberation, securing their peace.

Judges 3 21 Bonus section

• Ehud's epithet "left-handed" (אִטֶּר יַד־יְמִינוֹ, litterally "bound in the right hand") is applied elsewhere to other elite Benjamite warriors (Jdg 20:16), suggesting it could mean being ambidextrous or highly skilled with the left hand, indicating specialized training for combat and making his weapon placement even more intentional.
• The biblical detail that "the fat closed upon the blade" (Jdg 3:22) is grisly but significant; it powerfully conveys the completeness of the act, that the wound was immediately lethal, and that the weapon was irrevocably lodged, demonstrating the depth of penetration and the instant collapse of the oppressor.
• While violence in the Bible can be ethically challenging, this act is presented within a unique period of Israelite history, the time of the Judges, where God directly raised up individuals to act as military deliverers and executors of His judgment against foreign oppressors who afflicted His covenant people due to their disobedience.
• Eglon's summer parlor, chosen for the "secret message," signifies his complacency and the private nature of the attack. His reliance on royal protocol was expertly manipulated by Ehud.

Judges 3 21 Commentary

Judges 3:21 captures the violent but divinely sanctioned climax of Ehud's mission to deliver Israel from Moabite oppression. This precise act, a direct thrust of a concealed dagger into Eglon's exceptionally large belly, exemplifies God's ability to utilize unlikely individuals and unconventional methods to fulfill His purposes. Ehud's "left-handed" advantage was not a coincidence but an essential component of the divine strategy, turning a typical military weakness into an unparalleled strength for stealth and surprise. Eglon's corpulence, explicitly mentioned, not only indicates his personal indulgence but also symbolizes the vulnerability of pride and unchecked power against God's appointed instrument. This decisive strike not only eliminated the oppressor but initiated a period of long-awaited peace for Israel, illustrating God's responsiveness to His people's cry for deliverance and His readiness to execute judgment against wickedness through human agents.