Judges 3:21

Judges 3:21 in other versions

• King James Version (KJV)And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
• New International Version (NIV)Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly.
• English Standard Version (ESV)And Ehud reached with his left hand, took the sword from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.
• New King James Version (NKJV)Then Ehud reached with his left hand, took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly.

Context of Judges 3:21

19But he went back once he reached the carved images at Gilgal. He said to Eglon, “I have a secret message for you, O king.” Eglon said, “Be quiet!” All his attendants left. 20When Ehud approached him, he was sitting in his well-ventilated upper room all by himself. Ehud said, “I have a message from God for you.” When Eglon rose up from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and drove it into Eglon’s belly. 22The handle went in after the blade, and the fat closed around the blade, for Ehud did not pull the sword out of his belly. 23As Ehud went out into the vestibule, he closed the doors of the upper room behind him and locked them.

Judges 3:21 word by word

וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֵהוּד֙ אֶת־יַ֣ד שְׂמֹאל֔וֹ וַיִּקַּח֙ אֶת־הַחֶ֔רֶב מֵעַ֖ל יֶ֣רֶךְ יְמִינ֑וֹ וַיִּתְקָעֶ֖הָ בְּבִטְנֽוֹ׃Read the interlinear

Words taken from the KJV.

• And Ehudאֵהוּד'êhûd · EhudH164
• put forthשָׁלַחshâlach · to send: reachH7971
• his leftשְׂמֹאלώemô'l ώem'ôl · leftH8040
• handיָדyâd · handH3027
• and tookלָקַחlâqach · to take: takeH3947
• the daggerחֶ֫רֶבchereb · swordH2719
• from his rightיָמִיןyâmîyn · rightH3225
• thighיָרֵךְyârêk · thighH3409
• and thrustתָּקַעtâqa‛ · to blowH8628
• it into his bellyבֶּ֫טֶןbeţen · belly: abdomenH990

Cross-references for Judges 3:21

• Numbers 25:7When Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he got up from among the assembly, took a javelin in his hand,
• 1 Samuel 15:33Samuel said, “Just as your sword left women childless, so your mother will be the most bereaved among women!” Then Samuel hacked Agag to pieces there in Gilgal before the Lord.
• Job 20:25When he pulls it out and it comes out of his back, the gleaming point out of his liver, terrors come over him.
• Zechariah 13:3Then, if anyone prophesies in spite of this, his father and mother to whom he was born will say to him, ‘You cannot live, for you lie in the name of the Lord.’ Then his father and mother to whom he was born will run him through with a sword when he prophesies.
• 2 Corinthians 5:16So then from now on we acknowledge no one from an outward human point of view. Even though we have known Christ from such a human point of view, now we do not know him in that way any longer.

Commentaries on Judges 3:21

• Matthew Henry Concise Commentary · v. 12-30Verses 12-30 When Israel sins again, God raises up a new oppressor. The Israelites did ill, and the Moabites did worse; yet because God punishes the sins of his own people in this world, Israel is weakened, and Moab strengthened against them. If lesser troubles do not do the work, God will send greater. When Israel prays again, God raises up Ehud. As a judge, or minister of Divine justice, Ehud put to death Eglon, the king of Moab, and thus executed the…Read the comment
• Tyndale Open Study Notes · v. 19-21The message needed to be secret so Ehud could be alone with the king. It had to be from God to make sure the plan worked. Eglon likely stood up because he expected a message from the Lord, which he did receive.Read the comment
• Jamieson–Fausset–Brown Commentary · v. 21-2621-26. Ehud put forth his left hand--The whole circumstance of this daring act--the death of Eglon without a shriek, or noise--the locking of the doors--the carrying off the key--the calm, unhurried deportment of Ehud--show the strength of his confidence that he was doing God service.Read the comment

Topics related to Judges 3:21

• Assassination
• Confidence
• Dagger
• Deception
• Eglon
• Falsehood
• Gilgal
• Homicide
• Hypocrisy
• Israel
• Judge
• Regicide

In the dictionaries

• Left hand
• Close
• Dirt
• Ehud
• Errand
• Moabite
• Rest
• Secret
• Abdon (1)
• Crime; Crimes

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