Judges 2:18

Whenever the LORD raised up a judge for the Israelites, He was with that judge and saved 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 them and afflicted them.

Berean Standard Bible

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Study note

Setting — The biblical narrator addresses the reader regarding the historical cycle of oppression and deliverance in Israel, noting that Yahweh intervened whenever He appointed a leader to rescue the people.

The words — The verb הֵקִים (he.Kim) means "he raised up," and the phrase עִם־ הַשּׁוֹפֵט (im-ha.shofet) translates literally as "with the judge."

The thread — This pattern of divine presence during leadership and compassion for oppressed groaning echoes God's covenant faithfulness in Exodus 2:24, Joshua 1:5, and Deuteronomy 32:36.

Why it lands — The text demands recognition that deliverance depends entirely on God's initiative and pity, not on human loyalty, and it warns that relief ends when the appointed leader dies.

Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.

The Hebrew words

וְכִֽי־ve./khi-and/ if הֵקִ֨יםhe.Kimhe raised up יְהוָ֥ה׀Yah.wehYahwehלָהֶם֮la./Hemfor <the>/ themשֹֽׁפְטִים֒sho.fe.Timjudges וְהָיָ֤הve./ha.Yahand/ he was יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh עִם־'im-with הַשֹּׁפֵ֔טha./sho.Fetthe/ judge וְהֽוֹשִׁיעָם֙ve./ho.shi.'A/mand/ he delivered/ them מִיַּ֣דmi./Yadfrom/ [the] hand of אֹֽיְבֵיהֶ֔ם'o.ye.vei./Hemenemies/ their כֹּ֖לkolall יְמֵ֣יye.Mei[the] days of הַשּׁוֹפֵ֑טha./sho.Fetthe/ judge כִּֽי־ki-for יִנָּחֵ֤םyi.na.Chemhe had compassion יְהוָה֙Yah.wehYahweh מִנַּֽאֲקָתָ֔םmi./na.'a.ka.Ta/mfrom/ groaning/ their מִפְּנֵ֥יmi./pe.Nei<from>/ because of לֹחֲצֵיהֶ֖םlo.cha.tzei./Hem[those who] oppressed/ them וְדֹחֲקֵיהֶֽם׃ve./do.cha.kei./Hemand/ [those who] oppressed/ 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.

Cross-references

Deuteronomy 32:36 For the LORD will vindicate His people and have compassion on His servants when He sees that their strength is gone and no one remains, slave or free.
Joshua 1:5 No one shall stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so will I be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.
Exodus 2:24 So God heard their groaning, and He remembered His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
2 Kings 13:22 And Hazael king of Aram oppressed Israel throughout the reign of Jehoahaz.
Psalms 106:44 Nevertheless He heard their cry; He took note of their distress.
Hosea 11:8 How could I give you up, O Ephraim? How could I surrender you, O Israel? How could I make you like Admah? How could I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart is turned within Me; My compassion is stirred!
Genesis 6:6 And the LORD regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
2 Kings 13:4 Then Jehoahaz sought the favor of the LORD, and the LORD listened to him because He saw the oppression that the king of Aram had inflicted on Israel.
Judges 10:16 So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and He could no longer bear the misery of Israel.
Exodus 3:12 “I will surely be with you,” God said, “and this will be the sign to you that I have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, all of you will worship God on this mountain.”