Judges 3 22

Judges 3:22 kjv

And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.

Judges 3:22 nkjv

Even the hilt went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not draw the dagger out of his belly; and his entrails came out.

Judges 3:22 niv

Even the handle sank in after the blade, and his bowels discharged. Ehud did not pull the sword out, and the fat closed in over it.

Judges 3:22 esv

And the hilt also went in after the blade, and the fat closed over the blade, for he did not pull the sword out of his belly; and the dung came out.

Judges 3:22 nlt

The dagger went so deep that the handle disappeared beneath the king's fat. So Ehud did not pull out the dagger, and the king's bowels emptied.

Judges 3 verses

Judges 3 22 Meaning

The verse graphically describes the lethal precision and full extent of Ehud's assassination of Eglon, emphasizing the immediate physical and degrading outcome due to Eglon's immense corpulence. It illustrates divine judgment unfolding with decisive and visceral force against Israel's oppressor, revealing the absolute humiliation of the king through the very messiness of his death.

Judges 3 22 Context

Judges chapter 3 illustrates Israel's cycle of disobedience and deliverance. After a period of peace, Israel again "did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (Judg 3:12), leading to eighteen years of oppression under Eglon, the king of Moab. The Lord then raised Ehud, a left-handed Benjamite, as a deliverer. Ehud concocts a cunning plan: he secretly fashions a short, double-edged dagger and, under the guise of delivering tribute, gains private audience with the exceedingly corpulent King Eglon. Ehud claims to have a "secret errand for the king" (Judg 3:19), exploiting royal expectations of privacy in Eglon's personal chamber, referred to as the "upper chamber of cooling" (Judg 3:20). It is in this private, intimate setting, just prior to verse 22, that Ehud ambushes Eglon, thrusting the dagger into his stomach, leading to the vivid, graphic consequences detailed in this verse.

Judges 3 22 Word analysis

• And the hilt (נִצָּב - nitsav) also went in after the blade;:

  • "hilt" (nitsav): Refers to the handle of the dagger. Its complete insertion underscores the depth of penetration, indicating Eglon's extraordinary corpulence. This detail also explains why the weapon was completely concealed.
  • "went in after the blade": Emphasizes the full force and dedication of Ehud's strike, signifying that the entire weapon was consumed by the wound. This critical detail contributed to Ehud's ability to escape detection as the dagger was no longer visible.

• and the fat (חֵלֶב - ḥeleb) closed upon the blade,:

  • "fat" (ḥeleb): Directly refers to King Eglon's considerable corporeal girth, described earlier in Judges 3:17. The term ḥeleb elsewhere refers to fat used in sacred sacrifices to the Lord (Lev 3:17), which is deemed holy; here, its usage highlights Eglon's profane physical excess, which becomes instrumental in his demise.
  • "closed upon": This action signifies that Eglon's own body fat engulfed and tightly enveloped the embedded dagger, making it utterly invisible. This sealing provided Ehud valuable time to escape before the king's death was discovered by his servants.

• so that he could not draw the dagger (חֶרֶב - ḥerev) out of his belly;:

  • "he": Refers to Ehud. It means Ehud chose not to or physically could not retrieve the weapon due to its deep lodging within Eglon's massive frame.
  • "draw...out": Implies the impossibility or Ehud’s decision to leave the weapon embedded, solidifying the lethal nature of the blow and enabling his stealthy withdrawal.
  • "dagger" (ḥerev): A general term for a short sword or knife. Here, it signifies the specially crafted, short, double-edged weapon used for this precise assassination.
  • "belly" (biṭno): Specifies the abdomen, highlighting Eglon's large girth and the precise fatal entry point into his internal organs.

• and the dirt (פֶּרֶשׁ - peresh) came out.

  • "dirt" (peresh): This is a powerfully graphic and exceptionally crude term, meaning "dung," "excrement," or "waste." It strongly suggests a rupture of Eglon's bowels caused by the thrust. This shocking detail underscores the absolute degradation, humiliation, and defilement of the Moabite king, signaling not just his physical death but his spiritual and moral undoing in the eyes of the narrative, a definitive symbol of God's utter contempt for Israel's oppressor.

• Words-group analysis:

  • "And the hilt also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade,": This phrase emphasizes the absolute depth and completion of the fatal blow. It highlights Ehud's precision and Eglon's extreme obesity, which paradoxically aided Ehud by completely concealing the weapon and delaying the discovery of the regicide. The imagery reinforces the notion that Eglon's physical weakness (his fat) contributed directly to his vulnerability and the efficacy of the judgment against him.
  • "so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out.": This part signifies the finality and extreme indignity of Eglon's demise. Ehud's abandonment of the weapon emphasizes the decisive nature of the act. The inclusion of peresh ("dirt") elevates the description beyond simple clinical detail, serving as a powerful, crude symbol of Eglon's defiled status and total humiliation, representing God's unflinching and thorough judgment upon the oppressor. It graphically depicts his end as utterly ignominious and vile.

Judges 3 22 Bonus section

The almost surgical yet exceedingly graphic description of Eglon's death in Judges 3:22 stands as one of the most stark and detailed accounts of a royal demise in the entire Hebrew Bible. The detail about ḥeleb (fat) encapsulating the blade directly contradicts the ritual purity associated with fat in sacrificial contexts, thereby emphasizing the complete reversal and contempt Eglon suffers as a profane figure in death. Furthermore, the singular, uncompromising mention of peresh (dung/excrement) is highly atypical for the death of any king, signifying the narrative's deliberate intent to convey utter defilement and dishonor, effectively dehumanizing the oppressor in his final moments. This narrative choice highlights that Eglon's corporeal indulgence not only played a direct role in his demise but also marked his final exit as repulsive, contrasting the dignity expected of a ruler. It underscores the narrative's theological message: God's justice leaves no room for the perpetuation of evil, ensuring even the physical degradation of His enemies.

Judges 3 22 Commentary

Judges 3:22 is a raw, uncompromising depiction of divine justice meted out through an unexpected agent, Ehud. The gruesome precision of the description—from the hilt's full insertion into Eglon's immense frame, leading his own fat to conceal the weapon, to the ignominious expulsion of internal waste—serves several critical purposes. It confirms the definitive nature of the assassination, leaving no doubt about Eglon's immediate death, and explains the crucial delay in the discovery of his body, allowing Ehud to escape. More profoundly, the explicit mention of "dirt" (peresh) goes beyond a mere anatomical observation; it is a profound act of literary degradation. This vivid detail ensures Eglon's death is utterly defiling, shaming the oppressive pagan king by stripping him of any semblance of dignity, signifying the comprehensive judgment of God upon the one who enslaved His people. It starkly contrasts with ancient Near Eastern ideals of an honorable death, affirming the righteous and unyielding nature of God's retribution against Israel's adversaries.

• Examples for practical usage:
  • God uses unique methods and individuals, sometimes beyond human conventional expectations, to fulfill His purposes.
  • Even seemingly "small" acts of disobedience (Israel's turning away from God) can lead to significant and challenging consequences (oppression).
  • God's judgment on injustice and wickedness is ultimately absolute and definitive, regardless of how powerful an oppressor appears.