Judges 3 9

Judges 3:9 kjv

And when the children of Israel cried unto the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer to the children of Israel, who delivered them, even Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

Judges 3:9 nkjv

When the children of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the children of Israel, who delivered them: Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

Judges 3:9 niv

But when they cried out to the LORD, he raised up for them a deliverer, Othniel son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother, who saved them.

Judges 3:9 esv

But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD, the LORD raised up a deliverer for the people of Israel, who saved them, Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb's younger brother.

Judges 3:9 nlt

But when the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help, the LORD raised up a rescuer to save them. His name was Othniel, the son of Caleb's younger brother, Kenaz.

Judges 3 verses

Judges 3 9 Meaning

When the people of Israel were oppressed and in distress due to their sin, they cried out to the Lord. In response to their plea, the Lord God mercifully raised up Othniel, a leader from the tribe of Judah, who then acted as a deliverer and brought salvation from their oppressor. This verse marks the beginning of the recurring cycle of apostasy, judgment, repentance, and divine deliverance characteristic of the book of Judges.

Judges 3 9 Context

Judges 3:9 fits into the recurring cyclical narrative of the book of Judges (Jdg 2:11-19). Following the death of Joshua's generation, Israel apostatized, serving local Canaanite deities like Baal and Asherah (Jdg 3:7). This provoked the Lord's anger, leading Him to allow them to be oppressed by Cushan-rishathaim, King of Mesopotamia, for eight years (Jdg 3:8). This period of subjugation served as a divine corrective, bringing Israel to the point of desperation where they remembered the Lord their God. Verse 9 then describes their act of crying out, which triggers God's response and the raising of Othniel as the first "judge" or deliverer, breaking the cycle of oppression and restoring a period of peace. Historically, this highlights Israel's constant spiritual vulnerability and reliance on God's intervention in the absence of unified central leadership and persistent obedience. The explicit mention of turning to the Lord directly opposes the contemporary pagan practices.

Judges 3 9 Word analysis

• And when: Indicates a transition from the prior state of oppression and sets the stage for God's response.
• the people of Israel: (בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, B’nei Yisrael) Refers to God's covenant people, reminding the audience of their unique identity and relationship with Yahweh, despite their current rebellious state.
• cried out: (צָעַק, tsa'aq) This is a deep, urgent, and often desperate cry for help, signifying anguish and recognition of helplessness. It implies a turning point from passive suffering to active appeal.
• to the Lord: (אֶל-יְהוָה, ʾel Yahweh) Crucially specifies the object of their appeal, indicating a return to their covenant God, Yahweh, away from the false deities they had been serving. This is a moment of renewed focus and repentance.
• the Lord: (יְהוָה, Yahweh) The personal, covenant name of God, emphasizing His relationship with Israel and His unchangeable character as the God who hears and responds.
• raised up: (וַיָּקֶם, wayyāqem from קוּם, qum, to stand up, cause to rise) This verb indicates divine initiative and sovereign action. God is the active agent, deliberately choosing and empowering a deliverer.
• for them a deliverer: (לָהֶם מוֹשִׁיעַ, lāhem moshi'a) "Moshi'a" means a rescuer, savior. It implies military victory and liberation from oppression. This term identifies Othniel's function as divinely appointed to rescue His people.
• Othniel the son of Kenaz, Caleb’s younger brother: Specific lineage that legitimizes Othniel's role. His connection to Caleb, a respected figure of faithfulness from the conquest generation (Jdg 1:13; Jos 15:17), rooted him within the faithful line of Judah, bringing an element of continuity and trustworthiness. The phrase "Caleb's younger brother" (literally, brother of Caleb, son of Kenaz) suggests close kinship and reinforces his stature.
• who saved them: (וַיֹּושִׁיעֵם, wayyôšiʿēm from יָשַׁע, yashaʿ, to save, deliver) This verb confirms the successful outcome of Othniel's divine commission. It reiterates that Othniel truly fulfilled his role as "deliverer" (moshi'a) by bringing about actual liberation.

Words-group analysis:

• "When the people of Israel cried out to the Lord": This phrase marks a pivotal moment of spiritual turning. Their crying out to Yahweh signals a temporary shift from apostasy and passive suffering to recognition of their only true source of help. This distress-repentance model is fundamental to the Judges narrative.
• "the Lord raised up for them a deliverer": Highlights God's mercy, faithfulness, and sovereignty. Despite Israel's rebellion, God actively intervened, demonstrating His covenant commitment. The verb "raised up" implies divine selection and empowerment, establishing Othniel's authority as more than just a human leader. This also sets the stage for the rest of the book's narrative pattern.
• "Othniel... Caleb's younger brother, who saved them": Emphasizes the legitimacy and effectiveness of the divine agent. Othniel's proven lineage (already instrumental in conquering Kiriath-sepher, Jdg 1:13) combined with his specific calling by God makes him the suitable person to bring about this first deliverance, demonstrating God's pattern of using chosen individuals for His redemptive purposes.

Judges 3 9 Bonus section

• The repetitive phrase "cried out to the Lord" followed by "the Lord raised up a deliverer" creates a powerful literary rhythm in Judges, emphasizing the recurring nature of Israel's spiritual cycle and God's consistent response.
• The eight years of oppression (mentioned in Jdg 3:8) indicate the duration of Israel's suffering before they reached the point of genuine turning and calling upon God.
• Othniel's deliverance is depicted as comprehensive; he brings about peace for forty years (Jdg 3:11), the longest period of rest mentioned for any judge after him. This suggests God's full and complete response to Israel's initial turning.
• The fact that God responds to a cry (צָעַק, tsa'aq) implies not only their pain but a tacit admission of their sin, as the oppression was a direct consequence of their disobedience. This act of crying out, while not explicitly "repentance," serves as its functional equivalent in this context, opening the door for God's redemptive work.

Judges 3 9 Commentary

Judges 3:9 beautifully encapsulates the central theological message of the book of Judges: God's unfailing faithfulness confronting Israel's persistent unfaithfulness. The sequence—Israel's desperate "cry," followed by "the Lord's" immediate and active response of "raising up a deliverer"—establishes a divine pattern of grace. Despite Israel's prior betrayal in worshipping idols and experiencing deserved judgment, the very act of calling upon Yahweh reactivated His covenant love. Othniel is not a self-appointed hero, but divinely chosen and empowered, affirming that salvation originates solely from God. His connection to Caleb, a figure synonymous with obedience and trust in God, lends additional weight and legitimacy to his God-ordained leadership, hinting at a connection to a generation more aligned with God's will. This verse is not just a historical account; it sets the precedent for all subsequent deliverances in the book, serving as a reminder that repentance, however fleeting, consistently draws God's mercy and powerful intervention. Practically, this verse illustrates that God hears sincere cries for help and provides rescue, often through unexpected or prepared means, even when human actions merit judgment. It points to a divine nature characterized by both righteous judgment and boundless compassion.