Judges 4 24

Judges 4:24 kjv

And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

Judges 4:24 nkjv

And the hand of the children of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

Judges 4:24 niv

And the hand of the Israelites pressed harder and harder against Jabin king of Canaan until they destroyed him.

Judges 4:24 esv

And the hand of the people of Israel pressed harder and harder against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

Judges 4:24 nlt

And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him.

Judges 4 verses

Judges 4 24 Meaning

Judges 4:24 describes the sustained and escalating victory of the Israelites over Jabin, the King of Canaan, culminating in his complete destruction. It signifies a long, arduous process where the hand of Israel, empowered by God, consistently gained strength and ascendancy, rather than achieving an instant or immediate triumph. The verse marks the definitive end of Jabin's oppressive reign and the ultimate fulfillment of God's promised deliverance for His people.

Judges 4 24 Context

Judges chapter 4 details a pivotal period during the time of the Judges when the Israelites, after lapsing into sin, were oppressed by Jabin, King of Hazor, for twenty years. Jabin's commander, Sisera, possessed formidable chariots of iron (900 of them), representing a significant military advantage. This oppression led Israel to cry out to the Lord. The prophetess Deborah arose to lead Israel, calling Barak to gather an army. Barak's reluctance without Deborah's presence led to the prophecy that the glory of the victory would fall to a woman. The battle occurred at the Kishon River, where the Lord miraculously intervened (Jdg 5:20-21 implies divine meteorological intervention) to throw Sisera's chariots into disarray. Sisera fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the Kenite woman, who famously assassinated him by driving a tent peg through his temple. Judges 4:24 serves as the conclusion to this narrative arc, describing the broader, ongoing campaign against King Jabin himself, following Sisera's death, highlighting the relentless and total nature of Israel's triumph until Jabin was ultimately wiped out. This marks a turning point and the end of Canaanite dominance from Hazor, emphasizing Yahweh's supremacy over Canaanite deities like Baal.

Judges 4 24 Word analysis

• And the hand: "And the hand" (וְיַד, ve'yad) refers not just to a literal hand, but metaphorically to the power, agency, or influence. It indicates the active involvement and growing strength of Israel, empowered by divine might. It suggests a working or moving power.
• of the children of Israel: Refers to the collective nation of Israel, the covenant people of God. This victory is not merely a single hero's triumph, but the Lord working through His chosen nation, illustrating their corporate responsibility and ultimate redemption from oppression.
• prospered: The Hebrew word is הָלַךְ (halakh), literally meaning "to walk," "to go," or "to proceed." In this context, it carries the sense of advancing, progressing, making headway, or gaining ground. It suggests a gradual, continuous development and a positive forward movement, indicating an increasing advantage rather than an instantaneous leap.
• and prevailed: The Hebrew term used is קָשָׁה (qashah), meaning "to be hard," "to be firm," "to be difficult," or "to become mighty/strong against." Here, it signifies the Israelites growing stronger and more formidable in their opposition to Jabin, hardening their position and becoming insurmountable. It suggests a strengthening, becoming severe or strong against the enemy. It is a more intense word than "prospered," denoting a robust, resistant, and aggressive strengthening.
• against Jabin the king of Canaan: Jabin (יָבִין, Yavin) represents the specific oppressor and head of the Canaanite stronghold at Hazor. His title, "King of Canaan," emphasizes his status as a major regional power and a symbol of the broader Canaanite system that Israel was commanded to dispossess. The repeated identification highlights the persistent and focused nature of Israel's attack against the primary source of their oppression. This serves as a direct polemic against the supposed strength and divine protection of Jabin, implicitly attributed to Baal, by showing Yahweh's ultimate supremacy.
• until they had destroyed Jabin the king of Canaan: This phrase denotes the ultimate, complete, and irreversible end of Jabin's power and life. The word for "destroyed" (שָׁמַד, shamad) means to be annihilated, put to an end, or laid waste. This is a word signifying complete devastation, a wiping out. The repetition of "Jabin the king of Canaan" emphasizes the specific target and the totality of the victory, underscoring that the protracted conflict found its absolute resolution in the obliteration of the primary oppressor. This aligns with the biblical pattern of utterly destroying enemies dedicated to God's judgment.
• "And the hand of the children of Israel prospered and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan": This entire phrase depicts a prolonged military campaign, not a single battle. It illustrates the divine principle that while God gives the victory, His people are called to participate actively and persistently in the struggle. Their strength (the "hand") did not merely appear; it progressively advanced and grew harder/mightier through continued engagement, indicating a steady, irresistible advance.
• "until they had destroyed Jabin the king of Canaan": This climactic clause underlines the finality and completeness of the victory. The prior descriptions of prospering and prevailing build up to this definitive outcome. It confirms that the divine power operating through Israel was not only superior but absolute, leading to the ultimate elimination of the oppressor, fulfilling the command to drive out the inhabitants of the land.

Judges 4 24 Bonus section

The progression from "prospered" (halakh, walking forward) to "prevailed" (qashah, hardening, strengthening against) showcases a deliberate escalation of Israel's strength, reflecting a theological truth about spiritual warfare. While the specific terms related to Herem (utter destruction) are not explicitly used for Jabin as in earlier contexts (e.g., Jericho), the outcome described ("destroyed") is consonant with the spirit of Herem, signifying a divine judgment through Israel against an enemy whose wickedness had reached its fullness. This verse, therefore, represents the systematic dismantling of a formidable idolatrous power, fulfilling the Deuteronomic mandates for driving out the nations. The long duration of the conflict against Jabin (not Sisera) also underscores that divine providence often unfolds through patient endurance and continuous effort from His people, even after the most visible threat (Sisera's army) is neutralized.

Judges 4 24 Commentary

Judges 4:24 serves as a succinct but profound theological statement on God's sustained deliverance of His people. It reveals that God's victory is often a process, not an event. The "hand of the children of Israel" growing stronger signifies both their divinely empowered agency and the Lord's increasing favor upon them. This was not a one-time miraculous blow but a progressive overcoming, demonstrating the tenacity required in spiritual warfare against strong adversaries. The use of "prospered" (progressive advance) and "prevailed" (growing might) portrays an escalating momentum culminating in Jabin's complete "destruction." This thorough defeat not only liberated Israel from physical bondage but also re-established God's sovereignty over the seemingly insurmountable Canaanite power structure, dismantling their idols and the system they represented. It reassures believers that persistent faith and obedient action, empowered by God, lead to decisive and final triumph over oppressive forces.