Judges 3 30

Judges 3:30 kjv

So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest fourscore years.

Judges 3:30 nkjv

So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

Judges 3:30 niv

That day Moab was made subject to Israel, and the land had peace for eighty years.

Judges 3:30 esv

So Moab was subdued that day under the hand of Israel. And the land had rest for eighty years.

Judges 3:30 nlt

So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.

Judges 3 verses

Judges 3 30 Meaning

Judges 3:30 proclaims the successful culmination of Ehud's deliverance, stating that the oppressing nation of Moab was decisively subdued by Israel, signifying a complete victory granted by God. As a direct consequence, the land of Israel entered a remarkable period of eighty years of profound peace and rest from the turmoil of warfare and foreign domination.

Judges 3 30 Context

Judges 3:30 concludes the account of Ehud's deliverance of Israel from Moabite oppression, which had lasted for eighteen years (Judg 3:14). This verse follows Ehud's daring assassination of King Eglon of Moab and his subsequent call for the Israelites to rise up and pursue the fleeing Moabite army. The ambush at the fords of the Jordan River resulted in the slaughter of ten thousand Moabite warriors, cutting off their escape back to their own territory. Historically, Moab, located east of the Dead Sea, was a long-standing adversary of Israel, tracing their lineage back to Lot, Abraham's nephew, and often exhibiting hostility (Deut 23:3-4). The account of Ehud is part of the larger cyclical narrative in Judges: Israel sins, God allows oppression, Israel cries out, God raises a deliverer, and the land experiences a period of rest. This verse represents the successful completion of one such cycle under Ehud's leadership.

Judges 3 30 Word analysis

• So: Implies direct consequence, the natural outcome of the preceding events. God's providential working led to this victory.
• Moab (מוֹאָב - Mo'av): The specific nation that had been oppressing Israel. A descendant of Lot, their history with Israel was marked by antagonism.
• was subdued (וַתִּכָּנַע - vattiḵāna‘): From the Hebrew root כנע (kanaʿ), meaning "to humble oneself," "to be brought low," or "to be forced to submit." The Niphal verbal stem indicates a passive voice, suggesting that Moab was made to submit, implying divine agency or superior power achieving this submission, not merely human might. It speaks of a complete and irreversible defeat.
• that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - bayyōm hahū‘): Emphasizes the immediate, decisive, and overwhelming nature of the victory. The triumph was comprehensive, not a gradual decline.
• under the hand of Israel (תַּחַת יַד יִשְׂרָאֵל - taḥat yad Yiśrā'ēl): An idiom meaning "under the power," "under the authority," or "at the mercy of." "Hand" (yad) frequently symbolizes strength, power, and active agency. While Israel was the instrument, the wider context of Judges emphasizes God's empowering of Israel's "hand."
• And the land (וַתִּשְׁקֹט הָאָרֶץ - vattišqōṭ hā'āreṣ): The term hā'āreṣ refers to the territory of Israel. The subject here is the land itself, indicating a general state of peace across the entire region, impacting the inhabitants' lives.
• had rest (וַתִּשְׁקֹט - vattišqōṭ): From the Hebrew root שׁקט (shaqaṭ), meaning "to be quiet," "to be undisturbed," "to be at peace," or "to be tranquil." This is a key thematic word in Judges, signifying a period free from foreign invasion and internal strife, granted by divine favor. It describes the cessation of oppression and war.
• eighty years (שְׁמוֹנִים שָׁנָה - šmōnîm šānâ): A significantly long duration. In biblical contexts, 40 years often denotes a generation or a period of testing/transition (e.g., wandering in the wilderness, many judges' terms). Eighty years, being double a generation, represents a profound and lasting peace, suggesting a full human lifespan or two full generations. This period signifies a thorough and sustained deliverance, indicating God's generosity in providing relief after a severe period of oppression.

Judges 3 30 Bonus section

The specific duration of "eighty years" is particularly noteworthy in the book of Judges. While other judges often provide rest for 40 years (Judg 3:11, 8:28) or even shorter periods (e.g., Shamgar's singular act), Ehud's deliverance brought about a doubled peace. This might imply the particularly severe nature of the Moabite oppression or the comprehensive and strategic genius of Ehud's divinely inspired leadership. It highlights the direct proportionality between God's mighty deliverance and the depth of the ensuing peace. This long period of rest is a strong indicator of God's grace and patience with His people within the cyclical nature of the book of Judges, showcasing His capacity to grant long periods of blessing even amidst their ongoing pattern of disobedience. It points to a divine desire for sustained shalom for His people, a type of blessed state that would eventually find its full embodiment in the kingdom of God under the ultimate King.

Judges 3 30 Commentary

Judges 3:30 marks the successful conclusion of the second major judgeship narrative, presenting a complete turnaround from the oppression described earlier. The verse highlights two core aspects of God's deliverance: the complete subjugation of the oppressor and the resulting long period of peace for His people. The phrase "was subdued under the hand of Israel" indicates a comprehensive victory, emphasizing Israel's instrumentality while implicitly acknowledging God as the ultimate power behind their success. The term "subdued" (kana‘) underscores the idea that Moab was forcefully brought low, not merely repelled.

The subsequent "rest" (shaqaṭ) for eighty years is a profound theological statement. It signifies not merely a brief respite but a prolonged era of tranquility. This period is twice as long as the 40-year rests mentioned with Othniel and Gideon, signifying a more thorough and perhaps a generational peace after intense suffering. It illustrates God's faithfulness in responding to the cries of His people, providing not just immediate rescue but sustained security. This divine gift of "rest" is the tangible outcome of obedience, reminding Israel of God's covenant blessings when they walk with Him through their divinely appointed leaders. The longevity of the peace underscores God's deep desire for His people's well-being and His potent ability to achieve it when they align with His will.

Examples of its spiritual application could be: Just as God grants physical rest after physical battles, He grants spiritual rest (Heb 4:9-11) after battles with sin and spiritual oppression. Our complete surrender to Christ subdues the power of sin, leading to the "peace of God that surpasses all understanding" (Phil 4:7), which can last for the entirety of one's Christian journey until ultimate rest.