Judges 3:16
in Judges 3Now Ehud had made for himself a double-edged sword a cubit long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his cloak
BSB
The same verse in ASV and KJV ▾
ASV
And Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
KJV
But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
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This verse in Judges 3
Commentary
9 notes on this verseA dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length - The word גמד gomed, which we translate cubit, is of very doubtful signification. As the root seems to signify contracted, it probably means an instrument made for the purpose shorter than usual, and something like the Italian stiletto. The Septuagint translate it by σπιθαμη, a span, and most of the versions understand it in the same sense. Upon his right thigh - Because he was left-handed.
This site's exposition
a left-handed Benjamite, as their deliverer
on Judges 3:15-16
Ehud is "a left-handed Benjamite", and the Hebrew behind left-handed describes a right hand bound or restricted. Benjamin means son of the right hand, the name Jacob gave at Genesis 35:18, so the two facts stand against each other in the original and the English hides it. The sword strapped "to his right thigh" sits where a search of a man carrying tribute would not look.
This site's exposition
a double-edged sword a cubit long
Adam Clarke finds the Hebrew word for cubit uncertain. Its root suggests something contracted, and the Septuagint and most versions render it as a span, which would make a short blade like a stiletto. Jamieson, Fausset and Brown add that swords were usually worn on the left side.
The record, by era
The Church Fathers2 voices
Let's observe how Ehud, whose name means "praise," discharged his leadership. History teaches us, in its writings about King Eglon, how this most wise Ehud with particular skill and, if I may say, cunning but praiseworthy deception, would kill the tyrant Eglon, whose name means "round" or "circular." It was necessary, then, to have the quality of judges of our people as was this Ehud, whose name means "praise," so to cut through all his rolling motion and circuit of evil ways and to destroy the king of the Moabites. But Moabite is translated as "flow" or "effusion." Who can the ruler or leader of this flowing and dissolute people be seen or understood to be, therefore, other than the word of that philosophy which adjudges pleasure to be the highest good, a philosophy which the word of the gospel, which has been compared to a sword, killed and destroyed? And this prophetic word would become enclosed within their belly and lowest stomach by means of the "ambidextrous" judge's arguments, to extinguish the Moabites by assertion of the truth, enclosing also every sense of perverse doctrine and dull understanding "which extols itself and rises against the spiritual knowledge of Christ," so that by acting thus and by doing battle with the word of God, each judge of the church may also become a praising Ehud, about whom the Lord would say, "Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few, so I will set you over many."
What did you mean by saying, two thousand fall at the side? Naturally, when the right hand is designated and the left is not, the side is named in place of the left hand. It would not be right, certainly, for the just man to have a left hand: "If someone strikes you on the right cheek," counsels the Lord, "turn to him the other also." Notice that he did not say, "the left also," for it is not the left cheek that is offered, but another right cheek.
The Puritans and the Awakening2 voices
A cubit length - Long enough for his design, and not too long for concealment. His right thigh - Which was most convenient both for the use of his left hand, and for avoiding suspicion.
But Ehud made him a dagger, which had two edges, of a cubit length,....
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Jamieson, Fausset & Brown1802–1910
Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible (1871)
Ehud made him a dagger . . . and he did gird it . . . upon his right thigh--The sword was usually worn on the left side; so that Ehud's was the more likely to escape detection.
1 more voice on this verse
The Nineteenth Century1 voice
A commentator
Albert Barnes1798–1870
Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869)
proposed
Upon his right thigh - The proper side for a left-handed man. It would give him the appearance of being unarmed. The narrative shows clearly that his action was premeditated Jdg 3:21.
How the passage was read
What the Jewish commentators add
One gomed long. An abridged amoh. 5 The length of the forearm. (Rashbam to Bava Basra,:a). In German, 'daumen lang'. In old French, 'espan courte'.
1 more on this passage, in their own words ▾
Whose right arm was immobile. Yonasan renders "A man whose right arm was shrunken." "Gamid" in the Aramaic always indicates something shrunken by disease, "retrait", "shrunk" in old French. He could not utilize his right arm.
This section is reception history: how the passage was read and kept in the Jewish tradition. Where a reading parts from an essential of the Christian faith, the section says so at that point.
Texts and citation data: Sefaria; each excerpt follows its version’s licence. 4 further sources are cited on this chapter that carry no English text this site may quote or only restate the verse.
The words behind it
16 Hebrew wordsEvery Hebrew word of this verse in the order it stands, with what it means and the door to its own study. The last column counts the times a word stands in the whole Bible: the rarer the word, the more the places it appears belong together.
| Hebrew | Sound | Meaning | Word study | In the Bible |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| וַיַּעַשׂ֩ | vaiyaas | and he made | H6213 → | 2628 times |
| ל֨וֹ | lo | for <the> himself | ||
| אֵה֜וּד | ʾehud | Ehud | H164 → | 9 times |
| חֶ֗רֶב | cherev | a sword | H2719 → | 413 times |
| וְלָ֛הּ | velah | and [belonged] to <the> it | ||
| שְׁנֵ֥י | shenei | two | H8147 → | 768 times |
| פֵי֖וֹת | feyot | lips | H6366 → | |
| גֹּ֣מֶד | gomed | [was] a cubit | H1574 → | |
| אָרְכָּ֑הּ | ʾarekah | length its | H753 → | |
| וַיַּחְגֹּ֤ר | vaiyachgor | and he girded | H2296 → | 44 times |
| אוֹתָהּ֙ | ʾotah | <obj.> it | H853 → | 10935 times |
| מִתַּ֣חַת | mitachat | from under | H8478 → | 505 times |
| לְמַדָּ֔יו | lemadav | to garments his | H4055 → | |
| עַ֖ל | ʾal | on | H5921 → | 5755 times |
| יֶ֥רֶךְ | yerekh | [the] thigh of | H3409 → | 34 times |
| יְמִינֽוֹ׃ | yemino | right his | H3225 → | 140 times |
וַיַּעַשׂ֩and he made
vaiyaasH6213 →2628 times
ל֨וֹfor <the> himself
lo
אֵה֜וּדEhud
ʾehudH164 →9 times
חֶ֗רֶבa sword
cherevH2719 →413 times
וְלָ֛הּand [belonged] to <the> it
velah
שְׁנֵ֥יtwo
sheneiH8147 →768 times
פֵי֖וֹתlips
feyotH6366 →
גֹּ֣מֶד[was] a cubit
gomedH1574 →
אָרְכָּ֑הּlength its
ʾarekahH753 →
וַיַּחְגֹּ֤רand he girded
vaiyachgorH2296 →44 times
אוֹתָהּ֙<obj.> it
ʾotahH853 →10935 times
מִתַּ֣חַתfrom under
mitachatH8478 →505 times
לְמַדָּ֔יוto garments his
lemadavH4055 →
עַ֖לon
ʾalH5921 →5755 times
יֶ֥רֶךְ[the] thigh of
yerekhH3409 →34 times
יְמִינֽוֹ׃right his
yeminoH3225 →140 times
A shaded row is a word that stands 400 times or fewer in the Bible.
The walk
8 stopsEach card is a verse this one points to, and under it the verses that one points to in turn. Where several paths arrive at the same place, that place is listed first: the text keeps returning to it.
Through
Hebrews 4:12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
it leads to
- Jeremiah 23:29
“Is not My word like fire,” declares the LORD, “and like a hammer that smashes a rock?”
- Isaiah 55:11
so My word that proceeds from My mouth will not return to Me empty, but it will accomplish what I please, and it will prosper where I send it.
- Ephesians 6:17
And take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
- Psalms 119:130
The unfolding of Your words gives light; it informs the simple.
- 1 Peter 1:23
For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God.
- Jeremiah 23:29
Through
Revelation 1:16He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
it leads to
- Hebrews 4:12
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
Reached by 3 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 19:15
And from His mouth proceeds a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and He will rule them with an iron scepter. He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath…
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Revelation 2:16
Therefore repent! Otherwise I will come to you shortly and wage war against them with the sword of My mouth.
Reached by 2 separate paths from here.
- Hebrews 4:12
Where this verse is studied
On this page
Studies1
About Judges
This page draws on Adam Clarke, Commentary on the Bible; Albert Barnes, Notes, Explanatory and Practical, on the Old and New Testaments (1832-1869); Jamieson, Fausset & Brown, Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible; Jerome, HOMILIES ON THE PSALMS 20 (Ps 90); John Gill, Exposition of the Old Testament (1748-1763); John Wesley, Explanatory Notes upon the Old Testament; Keil and Delitzsch, Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament: Joshua, Judges, Ruth and Origen of Alexandria, HOMILIES ON JUDGES 4.1.