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Wednesday, July 23rd, 2025
the Week of Proper 11 / Ordinary 16
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Easy-to-Read Version

Judges 2:18

Many times the enemies of Israel did bad things to the people, so the Israelites would cry for help. And each time the Lord felt sorry for the people and sent a judge to save them from their enemies. The Lord was always with those judges. Each time the Israelites were saved from their enemies.

Bible Study Resources

Concordances:

- Nave's Topical Bible - Anthropomorphisms;   Baal;   God;   God Continued...;   Israel;   Judge;   Repentance;   Scofield Reference Index - Israel;   Judges;   Kingdom;   Torrey's Topical Textbook - Jews, the;   Judges, Extraordinary;  

Dictionaries:

- American Tract Society Bible Dictionary - Angel of the Lord;   Bridgeway Bible Dictionary - Israel;   Judges, book of;   King;   Ruler;   Baker Evangelical Dictionary of Biblical Theology - Time;   Easton Bible Dictionary - Judge;   Fausset Bible Dictionary - Judges;   Judges, the Book of;   Othniel;   Pentateuch;   Holman Bible Dictionary - Judges, Book of;   Persecution in the Bible;   Pity;   Repentance of God;   Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible - Greek Versions of Ot;   Judges (1);  

Encyclopedias:

- Condensed Biblical Cyclopedia - Reign of the Judges;   International Standard Bible Encyclopedia - Groan;   Raise;   The Jewish Encyclopedia - Genesis, the Book of;   Judgment, Divine;  

Parallel Translations

Christian Standard Bible®
Whenever the Lord raised up a judge for the Israelites, the Lord was with him and saved the people from the power of their enemies while the judge was still alive. The Lord was moved to pity whenever they groaned because of those who were oppressing and afflicting them.
Hebrew Names Version
When the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and vexed them.
King James Version
And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the Lord because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
Lexham English Bible
And when Yahweh raised leaders for them, Yahweh was with the leader, and he delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the leader, for Yahweh was moved by their groaning because of their persecutors and oppressors.
English Standard Version
Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For the Lord was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.
New Century Version
When their enemies hurt them, the Israelites cried for help. So the Lord felt sorry for them and sent judges to save them from their enemies. The Lord was with those judges all their lives.
New English Translation
When the Lord raised up leaders for them, the Lord was with each leader and delivered the people from their enemies while the leader remained alive. The Lord felt sorry for them when they cried out in agony because of what their harsh oppressors did to them.
Amplified Bible
When the LORD raised up judges for them, He was with the judge and He rescued them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them.
New American Standard Bible
And when the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who tormented and oppressed them.
Geneva Bible (1587)
And when the Lorde had raysed them vp Iudges, the Lord was with the Iudge, & deliuered them out of the hande of their enemies all the dayes of the Iudge (for the Lord had compassio on their gronings, because of them that oppressed them and tormented them)
Legacy Standard Bible
that they were saying to you, "In the last time there will be mockers, following after their own ungodly lusts."
Contemporary English Version
When enemies made life miserable for the Israelites, the Lord would feel sorry for them. He would choose a judge and help that judge rescue Israel from its enemies. The Lord would be kind to Israel as long as that judge lived.
Complete Jewish Bible
When Adonai raised up judges for them, Adonai was with the judge and delivered them from the hands of their enemies throughout the lifetime of the judge; for Adonai was moved to pity by their groaning under those oppressing and crushing them.
Darby Translation
And when Jehovah raised them up judges, then Jehovah was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for it repented Jehovah because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and crushed them.
George Lamsa Translation
And when the LORD raised up judges for them, then the LORD was with the judges, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judges; the LORD would hear their groaning because of their oppressors and those that drove them away.
Good News Translation
Whenever the Lord gave Israel a leader, the Lord would help that leader and would save the people from their enemies as long as that leader lived. The Lord would have mercy on them because they groaned under their suffering and oppression.
Literal Translation
And when Jehovah raised up judges to them, then Jehovah was with the judge, and rescued them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge. For Jehovah took pity because of their groaning before their oppressors, and those thatcrushed them.
Miles Coverdale Bible (1535)
But whan ye LORDE raysed vp iudges vnto them, the LORDE was with ye iudge, and helped them out of the hande of their enemies, as longe as the iudge lyued. For the LORDE had pitie of their complaynte, which they made ouer those yt subdued the and oppressed them.
American Standard Version
And when Jehovah raised them up judges, then Jehovah was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented Jehovah because of their groaning by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
Bible in Basic English
And whenever the Lord gave them judges, then the Lord was with the judge, and was their saviour from the hands of their haters all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved by their cries of grief because of those who were cruel to them.
Bishop's Bible (1568)
And when the Lorde raysed them vp iudges, he was with the iudge, and deliuered them out of the handes of their enemies all the dayes of the iudge: ( for the Lord had compassion ouer their sorowinges, whiche they had by the reason of them that oppressed them & vexed them:)
JPS Old Testament (1917)
And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for it repented the LORD because of their groaning by reason of them that oppressed them and crushed them.
King James Version (1611)
And when the Lord raised them vp Iudges, then the Lord was with the Iudge, and deliuered them out of the hand of their enemies, all the dayes of the Iudge (for it repented the Lord, because of their gronings by reason of them that oppressed them, and vexed them:)
Brenton's Septuagint (LXX)
And because the Lord raised them up judges, so the Lord was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord was moved at their groaning by reason of them that besieged them and afflicted them.
English Revised Version
And when the LORD raised them up judges, then the LORD was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented the LORD because of their groaning by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them.
Berean Standard Bible
Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for the Israelites, He was with that judge and delivered them from the hands of their enemies while the judge was still alive; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning under those who oppressed and afflicted them.
Wycliffe Bible (1395)
And whanne the Lord reiside iugis in `the daies of hem, he was bowid bi mercy, and he herde the weilyngis of hem turmentid, and he delyuerede hem fro the sleyng of wasteris.
Young's Literal Translation
And when Jehovah raised up to them judges -- then was Jehovah with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for it repenteth Jehovah, because of their groaning from the presence of their oppressors, and of those thrusting them away.
Update Bible Version
And when Yahweh raised up judges for them, then Yahweh was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented Yahweh because of their groaning by reason of those that oppressed them and vexed them.
Webster's Bible Translation
And when the LORD raised up judges for them, then the LORD was with the judge, and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: (for the LORD repented because of their groanings by reason of them that oppressed them and burdened them.)
World English Bible
When Yahweh raised them up judges, then Yahweh was with the judge, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge: for it repented Yahweh because of their groaning by reason of those who oppressed them and vexed them.
New King James Version
And when the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them out of the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed them and harassed them.
New Living Translation
Whenever the Lord raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge's lifetime. For the Lord took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.
New Life Bible
When the Lord gave them special men to judge them, the Lord was with the judge. And He saved them from those who hated them. For the Lord showed them pity because of their pain when others made it hard for them and hurt them.
New Revised Standard
Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord would be moved to pity by their groaning because of those who persecuted and oppressed them.
J.B. Rotherham Emphasized Bible
And, when Yahweh raised them up judges, then was Yahweh with the judges, and saved them out of the hand of their enemies, all the days of the judge, - for Yahweh was grieved at their outcry, because of them who oppressed them, and ill-treated them.
Douay-Rheims Bible
And when the Lord raised them up judges, in their days, he was moved to mercy, and heard the groanings of the afflicted, and delivered them from the slaughter of the oppressors.
Revised Standard Version
Whenever the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge, and he saved them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who afflicted and oppressed them.
THE MESSAGE
When God was setting up judges for them, he would be right there with the judge: He would save them from their enemies' oppression as long as the judge was alive, for God was moved to compassion when he heard their groaning because of those who afflicted and beat them. But when the judge died, the people went right back to their old ways—but even worse than their parents!—running after other gods, serving and worshiping them. Stubborn as mules, they didn't drop a single evil practice.
New American Standard Bible (1995)
When the LORD raised up judges for them, the LORD was with the judge and delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the LORD was moved to pity by their groaning because of those who oppressed and afflicted them.

Contextual Overview

6 Then Joshua told the people to go home, so each tribe went to take their area of land. 7 The Israelites served the Lord as long as Joshua was alive, and they continued serving the Lord during the lifetimes of the elders who lived after Joshua had died. These old men had seen all the great things the Lord had done for the Israelites. 8 Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord , died at the age of 110 years. 9 The Israelites buried Joshua on the land that he had been given. That was at Timnath Heres, in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. 10 After that whole generation died, the next generation grew up. This new generation did not know about the Lord or what he had done for the Israelites. 11 So the Israelites did something very evil before the Lord . They began serving the false god Baal. 12 It was the Lord , the God their ancestors worshiped, who had brought the Israelites out of Egypt. But they stopped following him and began to worship the false gods of the people living around them. This made the Lord angry. 13 The Israelites stopped following the Lord and began worshiping Baal and Ashtoreth. 14 The Lord was angry with the Israelites, so he let enemies attack them and take their possessions. He let their enemies who lived around them defeat them. The Israelites could not protect themselves from their enemies. 15 When the Israelites went out to fight, they always lost. They lost because the Lord was not on their side. He had already warned them that they would lose if they served the gods of the people living around them. The Israelites suffered very much.

Bible Verse Review
  from Treasury of Scripure Knowledge

then the Lord: Exodus 3:12, Joshua 1:5, Acts 18:9, Acts 18:10

it repented: Judges 10:16, Genesis 6:6, Deuteronomy 32:36, Psalms 90:13, Psalms 106:44, Psalms 106:45, Jeremiah 18:7-10, Hosea 11:8, Jonah 3:10

their groanings: Exodus 2:24, 2 Kings 13:4, 2 Kings 13:22, 2 Kings 13:23, Psalms 12:5

Reciprocal: Numbers 10:9 - oppresseth Judges 6:12 - The Lord Judges 8:23 - I will Judges 11:32 - the Lord 1 Samuel 14:23 - the Lord 1 Chronicles 21:15 - repented him 2 Chronicles 17:3 - the Lord Nehemiah 9:27 - saviours Psalms 44:7 - But Jeremiah 18:8 - I will Jeremiah 26:13 - repent Jeremiah 42:10 - for I Hosea 6:4 - for Amos 7:6 - General Haggai 2:4 - for John 8:33 - and were Acts 7:34 - I have seen

Cross-References

Genesis 1:31
God looked at everything he had made. And he saw that everything was very good. There was evening, and then there was morning. This was the sixth day.
Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God took dust from the ground and made a man. He breathed the breath of life into the man's nose, and the man became a living thing.
Genesis 2:9
Then the Lord God caused all the beautiful trees that were good for food to grow in the garden. In the middle of the garden, he put the tree of life and the tree that gives knowledge about good and evil.
Genesis 2:11
The name of the first river was Pishon. This river flowed around the entire country of Havilah.
Genesis 2:12
(There is gold in that country, and that gold is pure. A kind of expensive perfume and onyx are also found there.)
Genesis 2:13
The name of the second river was Gihon. This river flowed around the whole land of Cush.
Genesis 3:12
The man said, "The woman you put here with me gave me fruit from that tree. So I ate it."
Ruth 3:1
Then Naomi, Ruth's mother-in-law, said to her, "My daughter, maybe I should find a husband and a good home for you. That would be good for you.
Proverbs 18:22
If you find a wife, you have found something good. She shows that the Lord is happy with you.
1 Corinthians 7:36
A man might think that he is not doing the right thing with his fiancée. She might be almost past the best age to marry. So he might feel that he should marry her. He should do what he wants. It is no sin for them to get married.

Gill's Notes on the Bible

And when the Lord raised them up judges, then the Lord was with the judge,.... Every one of them that he raised up; as he stirred up their spirits for such service, to judge his people, and qualified them for it, he assisted and strengthened them, and abode by them, and succeeded them in whatsoever they engaged for the welfare of the people; the Targum is,

"the Word of the Lord was for the help of the judge:''

and delivered them out of the hands of their enemies all the days of the judge; so long as a judge lived, or continued to be their judge, they were protected by him, and preserved from falling into the hands of their enemies:

for it repented the Lord because of their groanings, by reason of them that oppressed them and vexed them; the Lord being merciful had compassion upon them, when they groaned under their oppressions, and cried unto him, then he received their prayer, as the Targum, and sent them a deliverer; and so did what men do when they repent of a thing, change their conduct; thus the Lord changed the outward dispensation of his providence towards them, according to his unchangeable will; for otherwise repentance, properly speaking, does not belong unto God: the Targum is,

"he turned from the word he spake;''

the threatening he had denounced.

Barnes' Notes on the Bible

It repented the Lord - Rather, “the Lord was moved with compassion,” or “was grieved,” “because of their groanings.” (Compare Judges 21:15.)

Clarke's Notes on the Bible

Verse Judges 2:18. The Lord was with the judge — God himself was king, and the judge was his representative.

It repented the Lord — He changed his purpose towards them: he purposed to destroy them because of their sin; they repented and turned to him, and he changed this purpose. The purpose was to destroy them if they did not repent; when they did repent, his not destroying them was quite consistent with his purpose.


 
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