God’s Word Translation
Judges 2:3
3So I have this to say, ‘I will not force them out of your way. They will be like thorns in your sides, and their gods will become a trap for you.’ ”
Judges 2:3 in other versions
- King James Version (KJV)Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.
- New International Version (NIV)And I have also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; they will become traps for you, and their gods will become snares to you.’ ”
- English Standard Version (ESV)So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you."
- New King James Version (NKJV)Therefore I also said, ‘I will not drive them out before you; but they shall be thorns in your side, and their gods shall be a snare to you.’ ”
Context of Judges 2:3
1The Messenger of the Lord went from Gilgal to Bochim. He said, “I brought you out of Egypt into the land that I swore to give to your ancestors. I said, ‘I will never break my promise to you. 2You must never make a treaty with the people who live in this land. You must tear down their altars.’ But you didn’t obey me. What do you think you’re doing? So I have this to say, ‘I will not force them out of your way. They will be like thorns in your sides, and their gods will become a trap for you.’ ” 4While the Messenger of the Lord was saying this to all the people of Israel, they began to cry loudly. 5So they called that place Bochim [Those Who Cry]. They offered sacrifices there to the Lord.
Read all of Judges 2Judges 2:3 word by word
וְגַ֣ם אָמַ֔רְתִּי לֹֽא־אֲגָרֵ֥שׁ אוֹתָ֖ם מִפְּנֵיכֶ֑ם וְהָי֤וּ לָכֶם֙ לְצִדִּ֔ים וֵאלֹ֣הֵיהֶ֔ם יִהְי֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם לְמוֹקֵֽשׁ׃Read the interlinear
Words taken from the KJV.
Cross-references for Judges 2:3
- Judges 2:21I will no longer force out the nations Joshua left behind when he died.
- Numbers 33:55“ ‘But if you do not force out those who live in the land, they will be like splinters in your eyes and thorns in your sides. They will constantly fight with you over the land you live in.
- Joshua 23:13then you should know that the Lord your God will never again force these people out of your way. Instead, they will be a snare and a trap for you, a whip laid to your sides, and thorns in your eyes until none of you are left in this good land that the Lord your God has given you.
- Judges 3:6The Israelites allowed their sons and daughters to marry these people. Israel also served their gods.
- Exodus 23:33Never let them live in your land, or they will make you sin against me and trap you into serving their gods.”
- Exodus 34:12Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you’re going. This will prove to be a trap to you.
- Deuteronomy 7:16You must destroy all the people the Lord your God hands over to you. Have no pity on them, and never worship their gods, because they will be a trap for you.
- 1 Kings 11:1King Solomon loved many foreign women in addition to Pharaoh’s daughter. He loved Hittite women and women from Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Sidon.
- Psalms 106:36and they worshiped their idols, which became a trap for them.
Commentaries on Judges 2:3
- Adam Clarke Bible Commentary · v. 3I will not drive them out from before you - Their transgressions, and breach of the covenant, were the reasons why they were not put in entire possession of the promised land. See note at the end of this chapter, Judges 2:23; (note).Read the comment
- Barnes’ Notes on the Bible · v. 3“Wherefore I also said” - Rather because ye have done the things mentioned in Judges 2:2, “I have now said (i. e. I now protest and declare) that I will not drive them out from before you” (compare Judges 19:29). And it was the annonncement of this resolution by the Angel that caused the people to weep. The word thorns in this verse is supplied by the King James Version from the similar passage in Joshua (see the marginal reference). Other versions adopt…Read the comment
- Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 1-5The sanctuary was established at Gilgal (Joshua 4:19û20; 5:10). Bokim is an unknown location where an angel of the Lord made an announcement. This announcement caused weeping and an attempt to reverse the judgment by offering a sacrifice.Read the comment
- Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 1-101-3. an angel ... came from Gilgal to Bochim--We are inclined to think, from the authoritative tone of his language, that he was the Angel of the Covenant (Ex 23:20; Jos 5:14); the same who appeared in human form and announced himself captain of the Lord's host. His coming from Gilgal had a peculiar significance, for there the Israelites made a solemn dedication of themselves to God on their entrance into the promised land [Jos 4:1-9]; and the memory of…Read the comment
Topics related to Judges 2:3
In the dictionaries
Commentaries on Judges 2
- 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
- EGW Writings
God’s Word Translation — © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations Bible Society
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