King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And after him Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
Complete Jewish Bible:
After him Ibtzan of Beit-Lechem judged Isra'el.
Berean Standard Bible:
After Jephthah, Ibzan of Bethlehem judged Israel.
American Standard Version:
And after him Ibzan of Beth-lehem judged Israel.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And after{H310} him Ibzan{H78} of Bethlehem{H1035} judged{H8199} Israel{H3478}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Matthew 2:1
- ¶ Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,
Genesis 15:19
- The Kenites, and the Kenizzites, and the Kadmonites,
Micah 5:2
- But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, [though] thou be little among the thousands of Judah, [yet] out of thee shall he come forth unto me [that is] to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth [have been] from of old, from everlasting.
1 Samuel 16:1
- ¶ And the LORD said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul, seeing I have rejected him from reigning over Israel? fill thine horn with oil, and go, I will send thee to Jesse the Bethlehemite: for I have provided me a king among his sons.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Judges 12:8
Judges 12:8 is a brief reference in the larger narrative of the book of Judges, which recounts the history of Israel between the conquest of Canaan and the establishment of the monarchy. The verse specifically mentions Ibzan of Bethlehem, who served as a judge of Israel following the rule of Jephthah, who is described in the preceding chapters.
The historical context of this verse is set during a tumultuous period in Israel's history, where the people repeatedly fell into idolatry and were oppressed by various foreign nations. The role of the judges was not only to deliver Israel from these oppressors but also to govern and administer justice among the tribes.
Ibzan is one of the lesser-known judges, and the text provides limited information about his tenure. However, his mention in this verse underscores the cyclical nature of the Israelites' spiritual fidelity and the leadership that arose in response to their needs. The themes present in this verse include divine providence, as God raises up leaders like Ibzan to guide His people, and the importance of righteous leadership in maintaining the spiritual and political stability of the nation.
The reference to Bethlehem in Judges 12:8 is significant as it was a small town in the tribal territory of Judah, which later became famous as the birthplace of King David. Ibzan's association with Bethlehem might suggest that even during this early period, the town had some prominence or was at least recognized as a place from which leaders could emerge.
In summary, Judges 12:8 continues the narrative of Israel's governance by introducing Ibzan of Bethlehem as a judge. This verse reflects the broader themes of the book, including God's involvement in raising leaders for His people, the ongoing struggle of Israel to maintain faithfulness to God, and the significance of locales like Bethlehem in the historical and spiritual tapestry of Israel.
*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model
Strong's Numbers and Definitions:
Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)
- Strong's Number: H310
There are 766 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אַחַר
Transliteration: ʼachar
Pronunciation: akh-ar'
Description: from אָחַר; properly, the hind part; generally used as an adverb or conjunction, after (in various senses); after (that, -ward), again, at, away from, back (from, -side), behind, beside, by, follow (after, -ing), forasmuch, from, hereafter, hinder end, [phrase] out (over) live, [phrase] persecute, posterity, pursuing, remnant, seeing, since, thence(-forth), when, with. - Strong's Number: H78
There are 1534 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִבְצָן
Transliteration: ʼIbtsân
Pronunciation: ib-tsawn'
Description: from the same as אֲבַעְבֻּעָה; splendid; Ibtsan, an Israelite; Ibzan. - Strong's Number: H1035
There are 39 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּית לֶחֶם
Transliteration: Bêyth Lechem
Pronunciation: bayth leh'-khem
Description: from בַּיִת and לֶחֶם; house of bread; Beth-Lechem, a place in Palestine; Bethlehem. - Strong's Number: H8199
There are 182 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שָׁפַט
Transliteration: shâphaṭ
Pronunciation: shaw-fat'
Description: a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively); [phrase] avenge, [idiom] that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), [idiom] needs, plead, reason, rule. - Strong's Number: H3478
There are 2229 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יִשְׂרָאֵל
Transliteration: Yisrâʼêl
Pronunciation: yis-raw-ale'
Description: from שָׂרָה and אֵל; he will rule as God; Jisrael, a symbolical name of Jacob; also (typically) of his posterity; Israel.