The Meaning of Judges 3:11 Explained

Judges 3:11

KJV: And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

YLT: and the land resteth forty years. And Othniel son of Kenaz dieth,

Darby: So the land had rest forty years. Then Oth'ni-el the son of Kenaz died.

ASV: And the land had rest forty years. And Othniel the son of Kenaz died.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the land  had rest  forty  years.  And Othniel  the son  of Kenaz  died. 

What does Judges 3:11 Mean?

Context Summary

Judges 3:1-14 - Delivered From Mesopotamian Oppression
Our sins and failures will sometimes be so overruled as to promote the growth of our souls in the true knowledge of ourselves and of God. It would be better to acquire these great lessons and virtues by the regular advance of an obedient and believing life. But where this method fails, God will teach us through our faults. The presence of the Canaanite taught Israel war and self-knowledge. See Judges 3:2; Judges 4:1-24.
Othniel had a noble estate of his own, which might have made him indifferent to the national crisis. But he and Achsah were animated by the high courage of Caleb, the lion-cub. See Judges 1:12. Let us be quick to feel the impulse of the Spirit of the Lord, and yield to it when it prompts us to go forth to war in some sacred cause. No thought of our own comfort or ease must hold us, when there is a wrong to right or an oppressor to beat to the ground! Dare to trust the unseen Christ who summons you, and as you step out, the ether will be rock beneath your feet. [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 3

1  The nations which were left to prove Israel
5  By communion with them they commit idolatry
8  Othniel delivered them from Chushan-Rishathaim
12  Ehud from Eglon
31  and Shamgar from the Philistines

What do the individual words in Judges 3:11 mean?

So had rest the land forty for years And died Othniel son of Kenaz -
וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט הָאָ֖רֶץ אַרְבָּעִ֣ים שָׁנָ֑ה וַיָּ֖מָת עָתְנִיאֵ֥ל בֶּן־ קְנַֽז פ

וַתִּשְׁקֹ֥ט  So  had  rest 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person feminine singular
Root: שָׁקַט  
Sense: to be quiet, be tranquil, be at peace, be quiet, rest, lie still, be undisturbed.
הָאָ֖רֶץ  the  land 
Parse: Article, Noun, feminine singular
Root: אֶרֶץ  
Sense: land, earth.
אַרְבָּעִ֣ים  forty 
Parse: Number, common plural
Root: אַרְבָּעִים  
Sense: forty.
שָׁנָ֑ה  for  years 
Parse: Noun, feminine singular
Root: שָׁנָה  
Sense: year.
וַיָּ֖מָת  And  died 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Qal, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: מוּת  
Sense: to die, kill, have one executed.
עָתְנִיאֵ֥ל  Othniel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: עָתְנִיאֵל  
Sense: son of Kenaz, younger brother of Caleb, and husband of Achsah the daughter of Caleb and his own niece; first judge of Israel, who after the death of Joshua, delivered the Israelites from the oppression of Chushanrishathaim.
בֶּן־  son 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: בֵּן 
Sense: son, grandson, child, member of a group.
קְנַֽז  of  Kenaz 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: קְנַז  
Sense: son of Eliphaz and grandson of Esau; one of the dukes of Edom.
פ  - 
Parse: Punctuation