English Standard Version
Judges 3:1
1Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan.
Judges 3:1 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Now these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel by them, even as many of Israel as had not known all the wars of Canaan;
- New International Version (NIV)These are the nations the Lord left to test all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars in Canaan
- New King James Version (NKJV)Now these are the nations which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan
- New Living Translation (NLT)These are the nations that the Lord left in the land to test those Israelites who had not experienced the wars of Canaan.
Context of Judges 3:1
Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. 2It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. 3These are the nations: the five lords of the Philistines and all the Canaanites and the Sidonians and the Hivites who lived on Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal-hermon as far as Lebo-hamath.
Read all of Judges 3Judges 3:1 word by word
וְאֵ֤לֶּה הַגּוֹיִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר הִנִּ֣יחַ יְהוָ֔ה לְנַסּ֥וֹת בָּ֖ם אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אֵ֚ת כָּל־אֲשֶׁ֣ר לֹֽא־יָדְע֔וּ אֵ֖ת כָּל־מִלְחֲמ֥וֹת כְּנָֽעַן׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
- the nationsגּוֹיgôy gôy · nationH1471
- which the Lordיְהֹוָהyehôvâh · LORDH3068
- leftיָנַחyânach · to restH3240
- to proveנָסָהnâsâh · to testH5254
- Israelיִשְׂרָאֵלyiώrâ'êl · IsraelH3478
- as had not knownיָדַעyâda‛ · to knowH3045
- all the warsמִלְחָמָהmilchâmâh · battleH4421
- of Canaanכְּנַ֫עַןkena‛an · CanaanH3667
Cross-references for Judges 3:1
- Judges 2:21I will no longer drive out before them any of the nations that Joshua left when he died,
- Deuteronomy 7:22The Lord your God will clear away these nations before you little by little. You may not make an end of them at once, lest the wild beasts grow too numerous for you.
- Deuteronomy 8:2And you shall remember the whole way that the Lord your God has led you these forty years in the wilderness, that he might humble you, testing you to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep his commandments or not.
- 2 Chronicles 32:31And so in the matter of the envoys of the princes of Babylon, who had been sent to him to inquire about the sign that had been done in the land, God left him to himself, in order to test him and to know all that was in his heart.
- Job 23:10But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.
- Proverbs 17:3The crucible is for silver, and the furnace is for gold, and the Lord tests hearts.
- Jeremiah 6:27"I have made you a tester of metals among my people, that you may know and test their ways.
- Jeremiah 17:9The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?
- Zechariah 13:9And I will put this third into the fire, and refine them as one refines silver, and test them as gold is tested. They will call upon my name, and I will answer them. I will say, 'They are my people'; and they will say, 'The Lord is my God.'"
- John 2:24But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people
- 1 Peter 1:7so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 4:12Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.
- Revelation 2:23and I will strike her children dead. And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.
- Judges 2:10And all that generation also were gathered to their fathers. And there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord or the work that he had done for Israel.
Commentaries on Judges 3:1
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 1Now these are the nations - The nations left to prove the Israelites were the five lordships or satrapies of the Philistines, viz., Gath, Askelon, Ashdod, Ekron, and Gaza; the Sidonians, the Hivites of Lebanon, Baal-hermon, etc.; with the remains of the Canaanites, viz., the Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, and Jebusites. Those who were left to be proved were those Israelites that had not seen all the wars of Canaan.Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 1Even as many of Israel - These words show that the writer has especially in view the generation which came to man‘s estate immediately after the close of the wars with the Canaanites Joshua 23:1. Compare Judges 2:10.Read the comment
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 1The nations left to prove Israel. (1-7) Othniel delivers Israel. (8-11) Ehud delivers Israel from Eglon. (12-30) Shamgar delivers and judges Israel. (31) Verses 1-7 As the Israelites were a type of the church on earth, they were not to be idle and slothful. The Lord was pleased to try them by the remains of the devoted nations they spared. Temptations and trials detect the wickedness of the hearts of sinners; and strengthen he graces of believers in their…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-4The Philistines and Canaanites stayed in the land to teach important lessons. People needed warfare skills to survive in ancient times. God let these enemies stay to train and help Israel.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-41. these are the nations which the Lord left, to prove Israel--This was the special design of these nations being left, and it evinces the direct influence of the theocracy under which the Israelites were placed. These nations were left for a double purpose: in the first instance, to be instrumental, by their inroads, in promoting the moral and spiritual discipline of the Israelites; and also to subserve the design of making them acquainted with war, in…Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 3:1
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Judges 3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible
- Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
- Tyndale Open Study Notes
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary
- Rashi on Tanakh
- Keil & Delitzsch Commentary
- Darby Translation Notes
- Kingcomments
- Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary
- Matthew Henry’s Modern English Commentary
- Scofield Reference Notes, 1917 Edition
- Seventh-day Adventist Bible Commentary
English Standard Version — © 2001 Crossway Bibles
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