The Meaning of Judges 2:16 Explained

Judges 2:16

KJV: Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.

YLT: And Jehovah raiseth up judges, and they save them from the hand of their spoilers;

Darby: Then the LORD raised up judges, who saved them out of the power of those who plundered them.

ASV: And Jehovah raised up judges, who saved them out of the hand of those that despoiled them.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

Nevertheless the LORD  raised up  judges,  which delivered  them out of the hand  of those that spoiled  them. 

What does Judges 2:16 Mean?

Verse Meaning

The structure of Judges 2:11-23 points out the importance of Judges 2:16.
AApostasy ( Judges 2:11-13)BWrath ( Judges 2:14-15)CGrace ( Judges 2:20-232)A"Apostasy (vv17-19)B"Wrath ( 1713600501_25) [1]
"The narrator begins to speak of divine mercy without any hint of prior repentance. In this book Yahweh"s actions will not typically be bound to any mechanical formula of blessing and or retribution, based upon what human beings earn by their actions. Rather he intervenes on Israel"s behalf solely on the basis of his compassion; the scene of Israelite distress moves the divine patron to action." [2]
The repeated cycle of deliverances in this book highlights a God whose essential nature is to show mercy, forgive, and extend life in spite of inveterate sinning. [3]

Context Summary

Judges 2:16-23 - Ineffectual Penitence
This paragraph is an epitome of this book, which covers some 450 years, Acts 13:20. Israel lacks unity and kingship; and in that reminds us of the heart of the man which has not become united under the reign of Jesus. See Judges 17:6; Judges 18:1. Such rites as were associated with Baal and Ashtaroth were both cruel and demoralizing; a distressing picture is given in Psalms 106:34, etc., of the condition of Israel at this period. What wonder that such practices ate out the heart of the people, and left them exposed to the surrounding nations! When the blood becomes thin and impoverished, we can no longer repel the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor the temptations that assail us at noonday!
Notice God's great patience and pity. He was against the people when they sinned, but as soon as the groans of their misery arose, they touched Him to the quick, and He raised up a deliverer. Note Psalms 106:43-44 : "Many times did He deliver them; but they were rebellious in their counsel; nevertheless He regarded their distress; and remembered his covenant." Herein we may take heart of hope for ourselves! [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 2

1  An angel rebukes the people at Bochim
6  The wickedness of the new generation after Joshua
14  God's anger and pity toward them
20  The Canaanites left to prove Israel

What do the individual words in Judges 2:16 mean?

And nevertheless raised up Yahweh judges and who delivered them out of the hand of those who plundered them
וַיָּ֥קֶם יְהוָ֖ה שֹֽׁפְטִ֑ים וַיּ֣וֹשִׁיע֔וּם מִיַּ֖ד שֹׁסֵיהֶֽם

וַיָּ֥קֶם  And  nevertheless  raised  up 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: קוּם 
Sense: to rise, arise, stand, rise up, stand up.
יְהוָ֖ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
שֹֽׁפְטִ֑ים  judges 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁפַט  
Sense: to judge, govern, vindicate, punish.
וַיּ֣וֹשִׁיע֔וּם  and  who  delivered  them 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Hifil, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine plural, third person masculine plural
Root: יָשַׁע 
Sense: to save, be saved, be delivered.
מִיַּ֖ד  out  of  the  hand 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, feminine singular construct
Root: יָד  
Sense: hand.
שֹׁסֵיהֶֽם  of  those  who  plundered  them 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: שָׁסָה  
Sense: to spoil, plunder, take spoil.