New King James Version
Judges 3:1
1Now 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
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 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 which the Lord left, that He might test Israel by them, that is, all who had not known any of the wars in Canaan 2(this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it), 3namely, five lords of the Philistines, all the Canaanites, the Sidonians, and the Hivites who dwelt in Mount Lebanon, from Mount Baal Hermon to the entrance of 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
People and places in Judges 3:1
Cross-references for Judges 3:1
- Judges 2:21I also will no longer drive out before them any of the nations which Joshua left when he died,
- Deuteronomy 7:22And the Lord your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.
- Deuteronomy 8:2And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.
- 2 Chronicles 32:31However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.
- Job 23:10But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.
- Proverbs 17:3The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the Lord tests the hearts.
- Jeremiah 6:27“I have set you as an assayer and a fortress among My people, That you may know and test their way.
- Jeremiah 17:9“The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
- Zechariah 13:9I will bring the one–third through the fire, Will refine them as silver is refined, And test them as gold is tested. They will call on My name, And I will answer them. I will say, ‘This is My people’; And each one will say, ‘The Lord is my God.’ ”
- John 2:24But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,
- 1 Peter 1:7that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
- 1 Peter 4:12Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you;
- Revelation 2:23I will kill her children with death, and all the churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works.
- Judges 2:10When all that generation had been gathered to their fathers, another generation arose after them who did not know the Lord nor the work which 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
New King James Version — © 1982 Thomas Nelson, Inc
Commentaries