King James Version

What Does Judges 11:17 Mean?

Judges 11:17 in the King James Version says “Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of E...” — study this verse from Judges chapter 11 with commentary, cross-references, and original Hebrew word analysis.

“Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.”

Judges 11:17 · KJV

Prayer

Context

15

And said unto him, Thus saith Jephthah, Israel took not away the land of Moab, nor the land of the children of Ammon:

16

But when Israel came up from Egypt, and walked through the wilderness unto the Red sea, and came to Kadesh;

17

Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.

18

Then they went along through the wilderness, and compassed the land of Edom, and the land of Moab, and came by the east side of the land of Moab, and pitched on the other side of Arnon, but came not within the border of Moab: for Arnon was the border of Moab.

19

And Israel sent messengers unto Sihon king of the Amorites, the king of Heshbon; and Israel said unto him, Let us pass, we pray thee, through thy land into my place.

Read Judges 11 full chapter

Commentary

KJV Study Commentary
Then Israel sent messengers unto the king of Edom, saying, Let me, I pray thee, pass through thy land: but the king of Edom would not hearken thereto. And in like manner they sent unto the king of Moab: but he would not consent: and Israel abode in Kadesh.

This verse contributes to the narrative of Jephthah's deliverance and tragic vow. The Book of Judges documents Israel's cyclical pattern of apostasy and deliverance, revealing both human depravity and divine mercy. Each cycle begins with Israel doing evil (usually Baal worship), followed by God's judgment through foreign oppression, Israel's cry for deliverance, God raising up a judge, temporary peace, then renewed apostasy after the judge dies.

Theologically, this pattern demonstrates several crucial truths: (1) Human inability to maintain covenant faithfulness apart from God's transforming grace; (2) God's justice in punishing covenant violation through the curses of Deuteronomy 28; (3) God's mercy in responding to repentant cries with deliverance; (4) The inadequacy of repeated deliverances to produce lasting transformation, pointing to the need for the New Covenant with God's law written on hearts (Jeremiah 31:31-34).

The judges themselves foreshadow Christ—they are divinely appointed deliverers who save Israel from enemies. Yet their imperfections and temporary victories point to the need for the perfect Judge who would provide permanent deliverance. Jesus fulfills the judges' typology, being the ultimate "sent one" who conquers spiritual enemies definitively through His death and resurrection, providing eternal salvation rather than temporary political relief.

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Historical & Cultural Context

Historical Setting: The Book of Judges spans approximately 350-400 years (c. 1375-1050 BCE) during the Late Bronze Age collapse and early Iron Age. This period saw the disintegration of major empires (Hittites, Mycenaeans) and weakening of Egyptian control over Canaan, creating a power vacuum filled by emerging peoples including Philistines (Sea Peoples), Aramaeans, and regional kingdoms. The decentralized tribal structure left Israel vulnerable to external oppression and internal chaos.

Cultural Context: This passage relates to Jephthah's deliverance and tragic vow. Canaanite religion dominated the region, centered on Baal (storm/fertility god), Asherah (mother goddess), and Anat (war goddess). Archaeological discoveries at Ugarit (Ras Shamra) have provided extensive information about Canaanite mythology and religious practices. Baal worship involved ritual prostitution, child sacrifice, and fertility rites tied to agricultural seasons. Israel's persistent attraction to these gods demonstrates the strong cultural pressure to conform to surrounding nations' religious practices.

The material culture of this period shows gradual Israelite settlement in the Canaanite hill country, with simpler pottery and architecture than coastal Canaanite cities. Iron technology was beginning to spread, giving military advantage to peoples who mastered it (note the Philistines' iron monopoly, 1 Samuel 13:19-22). The absence of centralized government during the judges period stands in stark contrast to the bureaucratic city-states of Canaan and the imperial administration of Egypt and Mesopotamia. This political structure reflected Israel's theocratic ideal—God as king—yet the repeated cycles of apostasy showed this ideal required more than political structures; it demanded heart transformation.

Reflection Questions

  1. How does this passage about Jephthah's deliverance and tragic vow reveal God's character in dealing with persistent human rebellion and incomplete obedience?
  2. What patterns of spiritual compromise or incomplete obedience in your own life mirror Israel's failures during the judges period?
  3. How does understanding the cyclical nature of sin and deliverance in Judges help you appreciate Christ's perfect and final deliverance from sin's power?

Original Language Analysis

Hebrew · 24 words
שָׁלַ֖ח1 of 24

“sent”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל2 of 24

“Then Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

מַלְאָכִ֣ים׀3 of 24

“messengers”

H4397

a messenger; specifically, of god, i.e., an angel (also a prophet, priest or teacher)

אֶל4 of 24
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מֶ֧לֶךְ5 of 24

“but the king”

H4428

a king

אֱד֔וֹם6 of 24

“of Edom”

H123

edom, the elder twin-brother of jacob; hence the region (idumaea) occupied by him

לֵאמֹ֜ר7 of 24

“saying”

H559

to say (used with great latitude)

אֶעְבְּרָה8 of 24

“Let me I pray thee pass through”

H5674

to cross over; used very widely of any transition (literal or figurative; transitive, intransitive, intensive, causative); specifically, to cover (in

נָּ֣א9 of 24
H4994

'i pray', 'now', or 'then'; added mostly to verbs (in the imperative or future), or to interjections, occasionally to an adverb or conjunction

בְאַרְצֶ֗ךָ10 of 24

“thy land”

H776

the earth (at large, or partitively a land)

וְלֹ֤א11 of 24
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

שָׁמַע֙12 of 24

“would not hearken”

H8085

to hear intelligently (often with implication of attention, obedience, etc.; causatively, to tell, etc.)

מֶ֧לֶךְ13 of 24

“but the king”

H4428

a king

אֱד֔וֹם14 of 24

“of Edom”

H123

edom, the elder twin-brother of jacob; hence the region (idumaea) occupied by him

וְגַ֨ם15 of 24
H1571

properly, assemblage; used only adverbially also, even, yea, though; often repeated as correl. both...and

אֶל16 of 24
H413

near, with or among; often in general, to

מֶ֧לֶךְ17 of 24

“but the king”

H4428

a king

מוֹאָ֛ב18 of 24

“of Moab”

H4124

moab, an incestuous son of lot; also his territory and descendants

שָׁלַ֖ח19 of 24

“sent”

H7971

to send away, for, or out (in a great variety of applications)

וְלֹ֣א20 of 24
H3808

not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles

אָבָ֑ה21 of 24

“but he would”

H14

to breathe after, i.e., (figuratively) to be acquiescent

וַיֵּ֥שֶׁב22 of 24

“abode”

H3427

properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry

יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל23 of 24

“Then Israel”

H3478

he will rule as god; jisral, a symbolical name of jacob; also (typically) of his posterity

בְּקָדֵֽשׁ׃24 of 24

“in Kadesh”

H6946

kadesh, a place in the desert

Study Guide

Historical Context

This verse is found in the book of Judges. Understanding the historical and cultural background helps illuminate its meaning for the original audience and for us today.

Theological Significance

Judges 11:17 contributes to our understanding of God's character and His relationship with humanity. Consider how this verse connects to the broader themes of Scripture.

Cross-References

Verses related to Judges 11:17 from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Numbers 20:14-21Numbers 20:1Deuteronomy 2:4-9Deuteronomy 2:29Joshua 24:9

Places in This Verse

EdomRegion · Modern: Buseira · 30.75°N, 35.60°E111 verses across 21 books
Kadesh-barneaSettlement · Modern: Ain el Qudeirat · 30.65°N, 34.42°E24 verses across 5 books
Moab 1Region · Modern: Kerak · 31.18°N, 35.70°E162 verses across 22 books
View all places in Judges 11 →

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