Judges 2:20 Meaning and Explanation
“And the anger of the LORD was hot against Israel; and he said, Because that this people hath transgressed my covenant which I commanded their fathers, and have not hearkened unto my voice;”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →The LORD's anger burns against Israel, charging that they have broken the covenant He commanded their ancestors and have not obeyed His voice.
What Does Judges 2:20 Mean?
God speaks again in response to the relentless cycle of rebellion. The charge is precise: this people has 'transgressed my covenant' and 'not hearkened unto my voice.' The covenant given to their fathers had been deliberately broken.
To transgress a covenant is to violate a sacred bond, not merely to slip up. God's anger here is the response of a faithful partner to repeated betrayal. Yet even in declaring judgment, He appeals to the covenant, the very relationship He still honors from His side. His standards never lower, and His call to listen to His voice remains the path back to life.
Judges 2:20 in the Original Language
berith (בְּרִית), 'covenant' -- a binding, sacred agreement establishing a committed relationship.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 2:20
What does Judges 2:20 mean?
The LORD's anger burns against Israel, charging that they have broken the covenant He commanded their ancestors and have not obeyed His voice.