Judges 5:23 kjv
Curse ye Meroz, said the angel of the LORD, curse ye bitterly the inhabitants thereof; because they came not to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.
Judges 5:23 nkjv
'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD, 'Curse its inhabitants bitterly, Because they did not come to the help of the LORD, To the help of the LORD against the mighty.'
Judges 5:23 niv
'Curse Meroz,' said the angel of the LORD. 'Curse its people bitterly, because they did not come to help the LORD, to help the LORD against the mighty.'
Judges 5:23 esv
"Curse Meroz, says the angel of the LORD, curse its inhabitants thoroughly, because they did not come to the help of the LORD, to the help of the LORD against the mighty.
Judges 5:23 nlt
'Let the people of Meroz be cursed,' said the angel of the LORD.
'Let them be utterly cursed,
because they did not come to help the LORD ?
to help the LORD against the mighty warriors.'
Judges 5 23 Cross References
| Verse | Text | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Deut 27:15-26 | 'Cursed be anyone who moves his neighbor's landmark.' And all the people shall say, 'Amen.' | Curses for covenant disobedience |
| Deut 28:15-68 | "But if you will not obey the voice of the LORD your God... all these curses shall come upon you." | Consequences of rejecting God's commands |
| Jer 48:10 | "Cursed be he who does the work of the LORD with slackness; cursed be he who withholds his sword..." | Condemnation for failing to act |
| Mal 3:9 | "You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing me, the whole nation of you." | Divine judgment for withholding from God |
| Matt 12:30 | "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." | No neutrality in Christ's cause |
| Rev 3:15-16 | "I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm..." | Judgment on apathy and spiritual indifference |
| Matt 25:41-45 | "Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed ones... for I was hungry... and you gave me no food..." | Judgment based on what was not done |
| Jas 4:17 | "So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." | Sin of omission |
| 1 Sam 17:47 | "And that all this assembly may know that the LORD saves not with sword and spear. For the battle is the LORD's..." | God's sovereignty in warfare, requiring aid |
| Exod 17:8-13 | When Amalek came and fought with Israel at Rephidim... Moses' hands grew heavy, so they took a stone and put it under him... Aaron and Hur held up his hands... | Corporate effort in God's battle |
| Deut 20:1-4 | When you go out to battle against your enemies... for the LORD your God is with you, who fights for you." | God fights for His people, they must join |
| 1 Pet 4:17 | For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God... what will be the outcome for those who do not obey..." | Judgment for disobedience/inaction |
| Psa 124:8 | Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. | Reliance on God for victory, implied participation |
| Isa 1:19-20 | "If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel..." | Consequence of obedience vs. rebellion |
| Josh 10:4-6 | And Adoni-zedek king of Jerusalem sent to Hoham king of Hebron, to Piram king of Jarmuth... saying, "Come up to me and help me..." | Call for help and corporate action |
| Num 32:6-7 | But Moses said to the people of Gad and the people of Reuben, “Shall your brothers go to the war while you sit here?" | Rejection of shirking military duty |
| Neh 4:14 | And I looked and rose and said to the nobles and to the officials and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid... remember the Lord... and fight for your brothers..." | Call to fight for God's people |
| 1 Chr 12:38 | All these, men of war, who could keep rank, came to Hebron with a whole heart to make David king over all Israel..." | Willingness and unity in service |
| Psa 119:121 | I have done what is just and right; do not leave me to my oppressors. | Plea for divine help implies doing right |
| Gal 6:9 | And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. | Perseverance in serving |
| Lk 10:30-37 | A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho... and he fell among robbers... But a Samaritan... had compassion..." | The example of those who did not help (priest, Levite) versus compassionate action |
| Rom 12:1-2 | I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice..." | Call to active, selfless service |
| Judg 5:16 | Why did you sit among the sheepfolds, to hear the whistling for the flocks? For the divisions of Reuben great were the searchings of heart. | Contrast with Reuben's inaction earlier in the song |
| Judg 5:24-27 | Most blessed of women be Jael... Blessed above women in the tent shall she be." | Contrast with Meroz; reward for active help |
Judges 5 verses
Judges 5 23 Meaning
Judges 5:23 pronounces a severe curse upon Meroz and its inhabitants by the Angel of the LORD. The reason for this harsh divine judgment is their blatant failure and refusal to provide aid or participation in the critical battle against Sisera and the Canaanite forces. Their inaction, rather than active opposition, constituted a profound dereliction of duty, amounting to a refusal to assist the LORD Himself in His divine war, specifically when confronted by powerful adversaries. It underscores that neutrality in God's battles can be considered rebellion.
Judges 5 23 Context
Judges Chapter 5 is a triumphal hymn known as the Song of Deborah and Barak, sung after their decisive victory over Sisera and the Canaanite army (detailed in Judges 4). This song serves not only as a celebration of God's deliverance and the brave warriors but also as a poetic record of tribal participation and, significantly, tribal non-participation in the battle. The verses leading up to Meroz's curse mention various tribes (Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir, Zebulun, Issachar, Naphtali) that responded to the call to arms, while subtly criticizing others (Reuben, Gilead, Dan, Asher) for their failure to join. Judges 5:23 directly follows this recounting of participation and inaction, singling out Meroz for a particularly harsh condemnation due to their blatant failure to offer any assistance in a divinely orchestrated war. This lack of solidarity and aid was a serious breach of covenant faithfulness and loyalty to their brethren and, ultimately, to the LORD Himself.
Judges 5 23 Word analysis
- "Curse" (אָרַר - 'arar): This Hebrew verb signifies a solemn execration, a call for severe misfortune, or a separation from blessing. It implies a definitive condemnation and stands in stark contrast to divine blessing (בָּרַךְ - barak). The repetition of "curse" (אֹורוּ - 'oru, an imperative plural) emphasizes the intensity and certainty of the judgment.
- "Meroz" (מֵרוֹז - Meroz): This is an unknown locality, probably a town or village near the battle site that observed the conflict but refused to intervene. Its obscurity in historical records enhances the curse's impact, implying that a name could be erased or remain infamous only for its failure. Its identity remains a subject of speculation among scholars, adding to its mysterious yet ominous role.
- "said the Angel of the LORD" (אָמַר מַלְאַךְ יְהוָה - 'āmar mal'aḵ Yahweh): The "Angel of the LORD" is often understood as a pre-incarnate appearance of Jesus Christ or a specific divine messenger acting with God's full authority. The authority behind the curse is explicitly divine, not merely a human declaration. This makes the condemnation unequivocally from God Himself, underscoring the severity of Meroz's transgression as an affront to divine command.
- "Curse its inhabitants bitterly" (אֹורוּ אֹרוֹת יֹשְׁבֶיהָ - 'oru 'ārot yôšĕḇeyhā): The word "bitterly" is from the intensive infinitive absolute form of the verb "to curse" ('arot), strengthening the imperative "curse" already present. It conveys a deep, thorough, and enduring execration. The focus is now on the people (יֹשְׁבֶיהָ - yôšĕḇeyhā) of Meroz, not just the place, highlighting that individual culpability is at stake.
- "because they did not come" (כִּי לֹא־בָאוּ - kî lō'-ḇā'û): This states the explicit reason for the curse. It's a sin of omission – a failure to act, rather than an active rebellion. This is a crucial distinction, emphasizing that neutrality or inaction can be just as culpable in God's eyes when active participation is required.
- "to the help of the LORD" (לְעֶזְרַת יְהוָה - lĕʿezrat Yahweh): "Help" ('ezrah) signifies aid or assistance. The phrase "the help of the LORD" is repeated for emphatic effect. It's not merely helping Israel or Barak, but helping God Himself. This underscores that God's people, in participating in His purposes, are working with Him, and thus shirking that duty is to abandon God.
- "to the help of the LORD against the mighty" (לְעֶזְרַת יְהוָה בַּגִּבֹּורִים - lĕʿezrat Yahweh baggibôrîm): The final phrase specifies the context: assistance was needed "against the mighty ones" (gibborim), referring to Sisera's powerful army. This highlights that Meroz failed to assist when the challenge was significant and dangerous, making their inaction appear cowardly or self-serving, further exacerbating their guilt.
Words-group analysis
- "Curse Meroz... Curse its inhabitants bitterly": This double cursing, amplified by the infinitive absolute "bitterly," indicates a total and devastating divine judgment. It signifies a profound, comprehensive removal of blessing and an impartation of misfortune. The specific targeting of both the place and its people leaves no aspect of Meroz untouched by the judgment.
- "the Angel of the LORD... because they did not come to the help of the LORD": The repetition of "LORD" and the identity of the one uttering the curse (the Angel of the LORD) firmly establish the divine nature of the conflict and the profound religious significance of Meroz's failure. It elevates the conflict beyond mere tribal warfare to a direct act of God against His enemies, in which His people were commanded to assist. Meroz's neutrality was therefore tantamount to deserting God's side.
- "they did not come to the help of the LORD... against the mighty": This phrase precisely identifies Meroz's sin. It wasn't active rebellion or fighting for the enemy, but passive neglect. Their refusal was exposed in the face of formidable opposition. The implied courage and sacrifice of those who did come "against the mighty" sharply contrast with Meroz's cowardly or self-preserving non-involvement, which had severe divine repercussions.
Judges 5 23 Bonus section
The unknown precise location of Meroz adds a timeless quality to this verse, making it applicable to any individual, community, or even Christian group that stands idly by when the Lord's work or people are in dire need of assistance. This serves as a perpetual warning against spiritual apathy, self-preservation at the cost of communal obligation, and the profound danger of neglecting divine summons to action. The juxtaposition of Meroz's curse with Jael's blessing in the very next verse (Judg 5:24) vividly contrasts the eternal outcomes for those who refuse to help God versus those who bravely commit themselves to His cause, regardless of personal risk.
Judges 5 23 Commentary
Judges 5:23 serves as a stark reminder of the gravity of neutrality and inaction in the service of God's purposes. Meroz's condemnation is not for open rebellion but for a failure to lend aid when God's people were engaged in a divinely sanctioned battle against overwhelming odds. This sin of omission reveals a critical principle: in the divine economy, choosing not to act when commanded to help God and His people can incur severe consequences, even a curse. The identity of the one delivering the curse – the Angel of the LORD – underscores that Meroz's inaction was seen as a direct affront to God Himself. This verse highlights the biblical imperative for God's people to actively participate, share burdens, and demonstrate solidarity, particularly in spiritual warfare or when facing formidable challenges for the Lord's cause. Their neutrality indicated a lack of covenant loyalty and ultimately placed them in opposition to God's will.