Judges 4:23 kjv
So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
Judges 4:23 nkjv
So on that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan in the presence of the children of Israel.
Judges 4:23 niv
On that day God subdued Jabin king of Canaan before the Israelites.
Judges 4:23 esv
So on that day God subdued Jabin the king of Canaan before the people of Israel.
Judges 4:23 nlt
So on that day Israel saw God defeat Jabin, the Canaanite king.
Judges 4 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Exod 14:14 | "The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still." | God fights for His people |
| Deut 1:30 | "The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did in Egypt..." | God leads in battle |
| Deut 20:4 | "For the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies..." | Divine assistance in warfare |
| Josh 10:42 | "All these kings and their lands Joshua conquered in one campaign, because the LORD, the God of Israel, fought for Israel." | God's direct involvement in conquest |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | "All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the LORD saves; for the battle is the LORD’s..." | Victory comes from God |
| 2 Chron 20:15 | "...Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s." | God's battle, not man's |
| Ps 44:3 | "It was not by their sword that they won the land... but by your right hand, your arm..." | God gives the victory |
| Ps 75:7 | "But God is the judge; he brings one down, he exalts another." | God humbles the proud and exalts |
| Ps 106:43-46 | "Many times he delivered them... he showed them compassion..." | God delivers from oppression |
| Ps 144:10 | "He is the One who gives victory to kings, who rescues His servant David from the deadly sword." | God grants deliverance and victory |
| Ps 147:6 | "The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground." | God humbles the wicked |
| Prov 21:31 | "The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the LORD." | Victory belongs to God |
| Isa 2:12 | "For the day of the LORD of hosts shall come upon everything proud and lofty..." | God will humble the proud |
| Isa 40:23 | "He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing." | God's sovereignty over rulers |
| Isa 63:9 | "In all their distress he too was distressed... in his love and mercy he redeemed them..." | God's compassionate deliverance |
| Jer 32:27 | "I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" | God's omnipotence and power to act |
| Hab 3:8 | "Were you angry with the rivers, O LORD? Was your wrath against the rivers... as you rode on your horses, your victorious chariots?" | God's mighty intervention (vs. chariots) |
| Exod 9:16 | "But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." | God displays His power and glory |
| Rom 9:17 | "For Scripture says to Pharaoh: 'I raised you up for this very purpose... so that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.'" | God raises up and brings down for His glory |
| Josh 11:10 | "At that time Joshua turned back and captured Hazor and put its king to the sword..." | Previous defeat of Jabin of Hazor |
| Judg 5:31 | "So may all your enemies perish, O LORD! But may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength." | Song of Deborah confirms divine triumph |
| Psa 24:8 | "Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle." | The Lord as a mighty warrior |
Judges 4 verses
Judges 4 23 Meaning
Judges 4:23 reveals that the mighty Canaanite king Jabin, a severe oppressor of Israel, was directly and effectively humbled by God Himself on that specific day of battle. This act of divine intervention was performed in the clear sight of the children of Israel, visibly demonstrating God's sovereign power and faithfulness on behalf of His covenant people.
Judges 4 23 Context
Judges 4:23 occurs within the "cycle of sin" narrative characteristic of the Book of Judges. After the death of Ehud, the children of Israel "again did evil in the sight of the Lord" (Judg 4:1). Consequently, God sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Jabin, through his commander Sisera and his formidable force of nine hundred chariots of iron, grievously oppressed Israel for twenty years (Judg 4:2-3). The people then "cried out to the Lord." The verse marks the turning point of this oppression, highlighting God's direct intervention, rather than merely human might, as the cause of Israel's deliverance. This specific victory involved Deborah the prophetess, and Barak, Israel's commander, leading the people against Sisera at the river Kishon.
Judges 4 23 Word analysis
So God (וַיַּכְנַע אֱלֹהִים - vay·yach·na' 'Elohim): "So" implies direct divine consequence of the events leading up to this moment, particularly Israel's cry for help. "God" (Elohim) emphasizes His sovereign power and absolute authority, identifying the sole actor responsible for this monumental shift in power. This is not a human effort, but divine will.
subdued (וַיַּכְנַע - vay·yach·na'): From the Hebrew root כָּנַע (kanac), meaning "to humble," "to bring low," "to bring into subjection," or "to conquer." This active verb denotes a decisive, forceful act of overwhelming and breaking the power of another. It conveys a comprehensive defeat, stripping away the enemy's might and pride.
on that day (בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא - bay·yom ha·hu): Points to the specific, climactic day of the battle against Sisera's forces near the Kishon River. It signifies an immediate and complete action, directly tying God's subduing of Jabin to the actual event of the battle, not a prolonged process.
Jabin the king of Canaan (אֶת יָבִין מֶלֶךְ כְּנָעַן - 'et Yabin meleḵ K'na'an): Identifies the oppressive figure. "Jabin," a name potentially meaning "discerning" or "intelligent," is ironically subverted by his utter defeat. "King of Canaan" highlights his dominion and the collective identity of the polytheistic, often child-sacrificing, people who stood in defiance of God and Israel. This underscores the theological victory over false gods and their adherents.
before the children of Israel (לִפְנֵי בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל - lif'nei B'nei Yisra'el): Means "in the presence of," "in the sight of," or "to the face of." This signifies a public, undeniable display of God's power and intervention. It was an observable event, strengthening Israel's faith and reminding them that their deliverer was none other than the Almighty God, validating His covenant faithfulness.
Words-group analysis:
- God subdued: This phrase explicitly attributes the ultimate victory and reduction of the enemy's power to God. It highlights divine agency as the primary force in Israel's deliverance, making it clear that human effort (Barak's army) was merely an instrument.
- Jabin the king of Canaan: This collective title represents the overarching power of the Canaanite oppressors, symbolized by Jabin of Hazor, a significant regional capital. The defeat of Jabin represents the crushing of a system and an ideology opposed to Yahweh.
- before the children of Israel: This emphasizes the vindication of God's covenant with Israel and serves as a profound faith-building event for His people. It ensures that the glory for the victory goes to God, strengthening Israel's resolve and reminding them of His ever-present help.
Judges 4 23 Bonus section
The verb "subdued" (וַיַּכְנַע - vay·yach·na') is rich in meaning, implying a humbling from a position of pride or power. Jabin was a formidable king, linked to iron chariots (Judges 4:3), symbols of advanced military technology of that era, yet God effortlessly "humbled" him. This verse implicitly sets up a polemic against the Canaanite god Baal, who was associated with storm and battle. The true God, Yahweh, demonstrates His ultimate authority over battle outcomes and rulers. While the verse explicitly states Jabin was subdued, it's Sisera, Jabin's general, who is physically slain in the field (Judges 4:15-16, 21). This implies Jabin's authority and military strength were broken beyond recovery "on that day," even if he himself lingered for a time before his complete annihilation as described in Judges 4:24. The divine hand ensuring Israel's triumph is echoed and celebrated further in the Song of Deborah (Judges 5), emphasizing God's role in the rain (Judges 5:4) and the Kishon overflowing (Judges 5:21), elements associated with divine intervention, weakening Sisera's chariots.
Judges 4 23 Commentary
Judges 4:23 is a foundational declaration of divine sovereignty in Israel's history. It states unequivocally that God Himself, through an act of direct will and power, brought low Jabin, the dominant king of the Canaanites who had grievously oppressed Israel for two decades. This victory was not merely a consequence of strategic planning or military might on the part of Barak and Deborah, but God's deliberate intervention. The verse serves as a crucial theological statement, underscoring that deliverance truly comes from the Lord. It portrays God as the supreme Warrior who actively fights for His people, humbling the proud and mighty who defy Him, thereby demonstrating His faithfulness to His covenant promises and visibly proving His superiority over all false gods to the watching children of Israel.