King James Version
What Does Judges 3:21 Mean?
“And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:”
Context
19
But he himself turned again from the quarries that were by Gilgal, and said, I have a secret errand unto thee, O king: who said, Keep silence. And all that stood by him went out from him. quarries: or, graven images
20
And Ehud came unto him; and he was sitting in a summer parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said, I have a message from God unto thee. And he arose out of his seat. a summer: Heb. a parlour of cooling
21
And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:
22
And the haft also went in after the blade; and the fat closed upon the blade, so that he could not draw the dagger out of his belly; and the dirt came out. the dirt: or, it came out at the buttocks
23
Then Ehud went forth through the porch, and shut the doors of the parlour upon him, and locked them.
Commentary
Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers(21) **Thrust it into his belly.**—This would involve *certain, *though not necessarily instant death. Josephus says, inaccurately, that he stabbed him to the heart (*Antt. v.* 4, § 2). The assassination is *exactly *similar to that of Henry III. of France, by the Dominican monk, Jacques Clement, who had provided himself with a commission from a friend of the king: “On Tuesday, Aug. 1, at 8 a.m.,” says L’Estoile, “he was told that a monk desired to speak with him. The king ordered him to be admitted. The monk entered, having *in his sleeve a knife, unsheathed. *He made a profound reverence to the king, who had just got up, and had nothing but a dressing-gown on, and presented him despatches from the Comte de Brienne, saying that *he had further orders to tell the king privately something of importance. *Then the king ordered those who were present to retire, and began reading the letter. The monk, seeing his attention engaged, *drew his knife from his sleeve, and drove it right into the king’s small gut, below the navel, so home that he left the knife in the hole.”*—Guizot, “Hist. of France,” iii. 479.
Charles John Ellicott (1819–1905). Public Domain.
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 3:21 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 3:21
Cross-references from Treasury of Scripture Knowledge