Judges 4:2 Meaning and Explanation
“And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.”
King James Version (KJV)
Read this verse in context with translation switching:
Read Full Chapter →God hands Israel over to Jabin, a Canaanite king whose army is commanded by Sisera.
What Does Judges 4:2 Mean?
The oppressor is named: Jabin, king of Canaan, ruling from Hazor in the north, with Sisera as the commander of his forces. The phrase sold them into the hand pictures Israel passed over, like property, into the power of an enemy. This is no accident of history; it is presented as the Lord's own act of discipline in response to the evil just described.
That God would sell His own people is a hard saying, yet it carries hope within it. A master who sells can also redeem; the same hand that gave them over can buy them back. The discipline is not abandonment but a summons, meant to turn hardened hearts back toward the One who alone can save. Affliction here is the bitter mercy that makes a wandering people remember home.
Judges 4:2 in the Original Language
makar (מָכַר), 'sold' -- to hand over or give into another's power, as one transfers ownership.
Frequently Asked Questions About Judges 4:2
What does Judges 4:2 mean?
God hands Israel over to Jabin, a Canaanite king whose army is commanded by Sisera.