Judges 3:1

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
• English Standard Version (ESV)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.
• 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

Context of Judges 3:1

These were the nations the Lord permitted to remain so he could use them to test Israel – he wanted to test all those who had not experienced battle against the Canaanites. 2He left those nations simply because he wanted to teach the subsequent generations of Israelites, who had not experienced the earlier battles, how to conduct holy war. 3These were the nations: the five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites living in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to Lebo-Hamath.

Judges 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 2:21So I will no longer remove before them any of the nations that Joshua left unconquered when he died.
• Deuteronomy 7:22He, the God who leads you, will expel the nations little by little. You will not be allowed to destroy them all at once lest the wild animals overrun you.
• Deuteronomy 8:2Remember the whole way by which he has brought you these forty years through the desert so that he might, by humbling you, test you to see if you have it within you to keep his commandments or not.
• 2 Chronicles 32:31So when the envoys arrived from the Babylonian officials to visit him and inquire about the sign that occurred in the land, God left him alone to test him, in order to know his true motives.
• Job 23:10But he knows the pathway that I take; if he tested me, I would come forth like gold.
• Proverbs 17:3The crucible is for refining silver and the furnace is for gold, likewise the Lord tests hearts.
• Jeremiah 6:27The Lord said to me, “I have made you like a metal assayer to test my people like ore. You are to observe them and evaluate how they behave.”
• Jeremiah 17:9The human mind is more deceitful than anything else. It is incurably bad. Who can understand it?
• Zechariah 13:9Then I will bring the remaining third into the fire; I will refine them like silver is refined and will test them like gold is tested. They will call on my name and I will answer; I will say, ‘These are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’”
• John 2:24But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people.
• 1 Peter 1:7Such trials show the proven character of your faith, which is much more valuable than gold – gold that is tested by fire, even though it is passing away – and will bring praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
• 1 Peter 4:12Dear friends, do not be astonished that a trial by fire is occurring among you, as though something strange were happening to you.
• Revelation 2:23Furthermore, I will strike her followers with a deadly disease, and then all the churches will know that I am the one who searches minds and hearts. I will repay each one of you what your deeds deserve.
• Judges 2:10That entire generation passed away; a new generation grew up that had not personally experienced the Lord’s presence or seen what 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

• Amorites
• Canaanites
• Israel

In the dictionaries

• Canaan
• Israel
• Canaan; Canaanites
• Canaan, Canaanite
• Israel, Israelites
• Jacob, Israel
• Close
• Dirt
• Errand
• Lebanon

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