Judges 4:1 kjv
And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
Judges 4:1 nkjv
When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD.
Judges 4:1 niv
Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, now that Ehud was dead.
Judges 4:1 esv
And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD after Ehud died.
Judges 4:1 nlt
After Ehud's death, the Israelites again did evil in the LORD's sight.
Judges 4 1 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Jdg 2:11 | Then the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord... | Initiates the cycle of apostasy in Judges. |
| Jdg 2:19 | But whenever the judge was dead, they turned back and behaved worse... | Explains the recurring pattern of relapse after a judge's death. |
| Jdg 3:7 | And the children of Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord, and forgot... | First instance of the cycle post-Othniel. |
| Jdg 3:12 | And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord... | Relapse leading to Moabite oppression (Eglon). |
| Jdg 6:1 | The people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord gave them into the hand of Midian... | The cycle continues leading to Midianite oppression. |
| Jdg 10:6 | The people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord... | The cycle repeating again, leading to Ammonite/Philistine oppression. |
| Jdg 13:1 | And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord... | The final documented relapse, leading to Philistine oppression and Samson's birth. |
| Deut 6:12 | beware lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt... | Warning against forgetting God after prosperity. |
| Deut 28:15 | But if you will not obey the voice of the Lord your God... all these curses shall come upon you... | Covenant curses for disobedience, fulfilled in Judges. |
| Jer 2:13 | For my people have committed two evils: they have forsaken me... and hewed out broken cisterns... | Israel's spiritual infidelity (forsaking God, turning to idols). |
| Isa 1:4 | Ah, sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity... they have forsaken the Lord... | Prophetic indictment of Israel's persistent sinfulness. |
| Ps 78:40 | How often they rebelled against him in the wilderness and grieved him... | Recounts Israel's persistent rebellion throughout history. |
| Ps 106:43 | Many times he delivered them, but they were rebellious in their counsels... | Despite God's deliverance, Israel's stubbornness remained. |
| Prov 15:3 | The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. | God's omnipresence and perfect knowledge, including what is done "in His sight." |
| Rom 3:23 | For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. | Universal human tendency to sin, applicable to Israel's behavior. |
| Gal 6:7 | Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. | The principle of reaping consequences for one's actions. |
| Heb 3:10 | Therefore I was provoked with that generation, and said, 'They always go astray in their heart; they have not known my ways.' | Highlights Israel's spiritual blindness and wandering heart. |
| Matt 7:20 | Thus you will recognize them by their fruits. | A tree is known by its fruit; Israel's actions show their spiritual condition. |
| Ezek 14:3 | "Son of man, these men have taken their idols into their hearts..." | The internal root of Israel's external "evil." |
| Neh 9:28-31 | But after they had rest, they did evil again before you... you heard... and delivered them. | Historical account confirming the cycle in Judges. |
| Deut 32:15 | But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked... he forsook God... | The danger of prosperity leading to forgetfulness of God. |
| Phil 2:12 | ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling... | A call for continuous spiritual diligence, contrasting Israel's backsliding. |
Judges 4 verses
Judges 4 1 Meaning
And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, when Ehud was dead.This verse signifies a pivotal moment of relapse in the cyclical pattern of sin and judgment in the book of Judges. Following eighty years of peace and deliverance achieved through Ehud, the nation of Israel once more abandoned the covenant ways of the Lord. Their repeated departure from God's commands and engagement in wickedness brought them back into a state of divine disapproval, setting the stage for renewed oppression as a consequence of their spiritual rebellion, precisely as foreseen in the Lord's covenant warnings.
Judges 4 1 Context
Judges 4:1 follows a significant period of rest for Israel—eighty years of peace under the judgeship of Ehud, who had delivered them from Moabite oppression (Jdg 3:12-30). This verse serves as the immediate precursor to the narrative of Deborah and Barak, explaining the spiritual decay that led to the subsequent subjugation under Jabin, the king of Hazor, and his commander Sisera. It perfectly encapsulates the recurrent and disheartening cycle that defines the book of Judges, where a judge's death frequently ushered in a new era of national apostasy. The period of the Judges highlights a decentralized society without a stable king, where "everyone did what was right in his own eyes" (Jdg 21:25), contributing to a spiritual environment ripe for repeated failure and divine discipline.
Word Analysis
- And: Hebrew waw (וְ). A conjunctive particle that connects this verse directly to the preceding narrative, signaling a continuation of events or a direct consequence, emphasizing the resumption of a cyclical pattern.
- the children of Israel: Hebrew bəney Yisra’el (בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל). Refers to the descendants of Jacob, God's chosen covenant nation. This collective identity underscores the national scope of their sin and God's interaction with them as a unified people, despite internal tribal distinctions.
- again: Hebrew yāśăp̄û (יָסְפוּ). This verb literally means "they added," "they continued to do," or "they did once more." It is a crucial term, underscoring the repetitive nature of Israel's sin and their failure to learn from past judgments and deliverances. It is a grim echo of the cycles outlined in Judges 2.
- did evil: Hebrew ‘āśû hā-rā‘ (עָשׂוּ הָרָע). A common phrase in Judges. "Evil" here is not just moral wrong-doing, but specifically denotes acts of covenant unfaithfulness, such as idolatry (worship of Baal and Asherah), oppression, or general rebellion against Yahweh's commands (Deut 4:25). It is a direct transgression against God's law.
- in the sight of the Lord: Hebrew bĕ‘ênê YHWH (בְּעֵינֵי יְהוָה). This phrase highlights God's omniscience and constant awareness of His people's actions. It implies that their sin was not hidden but committed in full view of their covenant God, warranting divine response and judgment. It speaks to God's ultimate authority and moral governance.
- when Ehud was dead: Hebrew wĕhûd mêt (וְאֵהוּד מֵת). This specifies the exact timing and immediate cause of Israel's relapse. The death of a judge often served as a trigger for spiritual decline, demonstrating that Israel's adherence to the covenant was often contingent on charismatic leadership rather than a deep, internalized commitment to the Lord. The temporary nature of their repentance shows a lack of lasting transformation within the heart of the nation.
Words-group by words-group analysis:
- And the children of Israel again did evil: This clause starkly reiterates the repetitive nature of Israel's disobedience, reinforcing the cyclical structure of the Book of Judges. It emphasizes that their turning away from God was not an isolated incident but a recurrent pattern, despite repeated divine deliverance.
- in the sight of the Lord: This phrase underscores the personal and accountable nature of their sin. It was a direct affront to the omnipresent God who observed all their actions, confirming His awareness and setting the basis for His righteous response.
- when Ehud was dead: This provides a specific catalyst for the relapse, showing Israel's dependency on strong, present human leadership. The absence of a judge who provided both spiritual and political guidance frequently led to a decline in the nation's spiritual discipline, revealing the superficiality of their earlier repentance.
Judges 4 1 Commentary
Judges 4:1 succinctly yet powerfully sets the stage for the narrative of Deborah and Barak. It exemplifies the recurring spiritual decline detailed in Judges 2:11-19, highlighting Israel's deeply entrenched sinfulness and their propensity to backslide into idolatry and covenant disobedience. Despite the significant period of peace and prosperity brought by Ehud's deliverance, Israel's commitment to Yahweh proved shallow, relying on external leadership rather than a profound, heart-felt allegiance. The phrase "in the sight of the Lord" stresses divine awareness and accountability, signifying that their actions did not go unnoticed by the covenant God. This relapse explains the divine judgment of oppression that followed, compelling Israel, once again, to cry out to the Lord, thereby perpetuating the tragic cycle of the Judges period.
Bonus SectionThe phrase "did evil in the sight of the Lord" serves as a thematic and literary device throughout Judges, structuring the narrative around the consequences of Israel's covenant unfaithfulness. The constant repetition underscores the book's theological message regarding the pervasive nature of sin and humanity's continuous need for a steadfast deliverer, foreshadowing the longing for a king who would provide consistent righteous leadership, and ultimately, pointing to the spiritual Kingship of Christ. The pattern revealed in Judges 4:1 demonstrates that external deliverances are insufficient for internal spiritual change without a genuine, transformed heart.