Judges 2:3 Meaning and Explanation
“Wherefore I also said, I will not drive them out from before you; but they shall be as thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare unto you.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Because of their disobedience, God declares He will no longer drive out the nations, who will instead become thorns in Israel's sides and whose gods will be a snare.
What Does Judges 2:3 Mean?
The messenger announces the consequence of Israel's compromise. The nations they failed to remove will remain, and the very alliances they sought for security will turn against them. The imagery is vivid: irritants pressing into their sides, and traps set by foreign gods.
Sin has a way of keeping the very thing we spared. What Israel tolerated would now torment them, and what they admired would ensnare them. The warning is mercy in disguise, naming the danger before it closes in. It points us toward the deeper deliverance only God can give, freeing not just from outward enemies but from the snares of the heart.
Judges 2:3 in the Original Language
moqesh (מוֹקֵשׁ), 'snare' -- a trap or lure that catches the unwary.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 2:3
What does Judges 2:3 mean?
Because of their disobedience, God declares He will no longer drive out the nations, who will instead become thorns in Israel's sides and whose gods will be a snare.