Judges 2:7

King James Version:

(The Lord speaking is red text)

And the people served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great works of the LORD, that he did for Israel.

Complete Jewish Bible:

The people served ADONAI throughout Y'hoshua's life and throughout the lives of all the older men who outlived Y'hoshua and who had seen all the great work of ADONAI which he had done for Isra'el.

Berean Standard Bible:

And the people served the LORD throughout the days of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him, who had seen all the great works that the LORD had done for Israel.

American Standard Version:

And the people served Jehovah all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that outlived Joshua, who had seen all the great work of Jehovah that he had wrought for Israel.

KJV with Strong’s Numbers:

And the people{H5971} served{H5647} the LORD{H3068} all the days{H3117} of Joshua{H3091}, and all the days{H3117} of the elders{H2205} that outlived{H748}{H3117}{H310} Joshua{H3091}, who had seen{H7200} all the great{H1419} works{H4639} of the LORD{H3068}, that he did{H6213} for Israel{H3478}.

Cross-References (KJV):

Joshua 24:31

  • And Israel served the LORD all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders that overlived Joshua, and which had known all the works of the LORD, that he had done for Israel.

Philippians 2:12

  • ¶ Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

2 Chronicles 24:2

  • And Joash did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD all the days of Jehoiada the priest.

2 Kings 12:2

  • And Jehoash did [that which was] right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoiada the priest instructed him.

2 Chronicles 24:14

  • And when they had finished [it], they brought the rest of the money before the king and Jehoiada, whereof were made vessels for the house of the LORD, [even] vessels to minister, and to offer [withal], and spoons, and vessels of gold and silver. And they offered burnt offerings in the house of the LORD continually all the days of Jehoiada.

2 Chronicles 24:22

  • Thus Joash the king remembered not the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but slew his son. And when he died, he said, The LORD look upon [it], and require [it].

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Commentary for Judges 2:7



Judges 2:7 serves as a pivotal verse in the historical narrative of the Israelites, capturing a period of faithfulness and divine favor. The verse is set in the context of the transition from the leadership of Joshua to the era of the judges. It highlights the religious and generational continuity immediately following the conquest of Canaan, as the people of Israel remained devoted to the Lord throughout the lifetimes of Joshua and the elders who had witnessed God's mighty acts on behalf of His people.

The themes present in this verse include the importance of leadership and personal experience in fostering faithfulness to God. Joshua, as Moses' successor, had led the Israelites into the Promised Land, and his leadership was characterized by obedience to God's commands. The elders who survived Joshua had firsthand knowledge of God's power displayed in the parting of the Jordan River, the fall of Jericho, and other miraculous events during the conquest. Their lived testimony provided a tangible connection to God's faithfulness, which in turn influenced the spiritual commitment of the people.

Historically, this verse marks a period of relative stability and adherence to God's covenant, which contrasts sharply with the subsequent cycles of apostasy and deliverance described throughout the rest of the book of Judges. The verse serves as a prelude to the spiritual decline that would follow, as future generations, not having witnessed God's works, would stray from His ways, leading to a pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance that characterizes much of Israel's history in the pre-monarchic period. Judges 2:7 thus encapsulates a moment of religious integrity that would soon be tested and often found wanting in the tumultuous times ahead.

*This commentary is produced by Microsoft/WizardLM-2-8x22B AI model

Strong's Numbers and Definitions:

Note: H = Hebrew (OT), G = Greek (NT)

  1. Strong's Number: H5971
    There are 1654 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עַם
    Transliteration: ʻam
    Pronunciation: am
    Description: from עָמַם; a people (as a congregated unit); specifically, a tribe (as those of Israel); hence (collectively) troops or attendants; figuratively, a flock; folk, men, nation, people.
  2. Strong's Number: H5647
    There are 263 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָבַד
    Transliteration: ʻâbad
    Pronunciation: aw-bad'
    Description: a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.; [idiom] be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, [phrase] husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,
  3. Strong's Number: H3068
    There are 5521 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהֹוָה
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôvâh
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-vaw'
    Description: from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
  4. Strong's Number: H3117
    There are 1931 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יוֹם
    Transliteration: yôwm
    Pronunciation: yome
    Description: from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb); age, [phrase] always, [phrase] chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), [phrase] elder, [idiom] end, [phrase] evening, [phrase] (for) ever(-lasting, -more), [idiom] full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, [phrase] old, [phrase] outlived, [phrase] perpetually, presently, [phrase] remaineth, [idiom] required, season, [idiom] since, space, then, (process of) time, [phrase] as at other times, [phrase] in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), [idiom] whole ([phrase] age), (full) year(-ly), [phrase] younger.
  5. Strong's Number: H3091
    There are 199 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: יְהוֹשׁוּעַ
    Transliteration: Yᵉhôwshûwaʻ
    Pronunciation: yeh-ho-shoo'-ah
    Description: or יְהוֹשֻׁעַ; from יְהֹוָה and יָשַׁע; Jehovah-saved; Jehoshua (i.e. Joshua), the Jewish leader; Jehoshua, Jehoshuah, Joshua. Compare הוֹשֵׁעַ, יֵשׁוּעַ.
  6. Strong's Number: H2205
    There are 171 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: זָקֵן
    Transliteration: zâqên
    Pronunciation: zaw-kane'
    Description: from זָקֵן; old; aged, ancient (man), elder(-est), old (man, men and...women), senator.
  7. Strong's Number: H748
    There are 164 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: אָרַךְ
    Transliteration: ʼârak
    Pronunciation: aw-rak'
    Description: a primitive root; to be (causative, make) long (literally or figuratively); defer, draw out, lengthen, (be, become, make, pro-) long, [phrase] (out-, over-) live, tarry (long).
  8. 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.
  9. Strong's Number: H7200
    There are 1212 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: רָאָה
    Transliteration: râʼâh
    Pronunciation: raw-aw'
    Description: a primitive root; to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied, transitive, intransitive and causative); advise self, appear, approve, behold, [idiom] certainly, consider, discern, (make to) enjoy, have experience, gaze, take heed, [idiom] indeed, [idiom] joyfully, lo, look (on, one another, one on another, one upon another, out, up, upon), mark, meet, [idiom] be near, perceive, present, provide, regard, (have) respect, (fore-, cause to, let) see(-r, -m, one another), shew (self), [idiom] sight of others, (e-) spy, stare, [idiom] surely, [idiom] think, view, visions.
  10. Strong's Number: H1419
    There are 499 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: גָּדוֹל
    Transliteration: gâdôwl
    Pronunciation: gaw-dole'
    Description: or גָּדֹל; (shortened) from גָּדַל; great (in any sense); hence, older; also insolent; [phrase] aloud, elder(-est), [phrase] exceeding(-ly), [phrase] far, (man of) great (man, matter, thing,-er,-ness), high, long, loud, mighty, more, much, noble, proud thing, [idiom] sore, ([idiom]) very.
  11. Strong's Number: H4639
    There are 221 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: מַעֲשֶׂה
    Transliteration: maʻăseh
    Pronunciation: mah-as-eh'
    Description: from עָשָׂה; an action (good or bad); generally, a transaction; abstractly, activity; by implication, a product (specifically, a poem) or (generally) property; act, art, [phrase] bakemeat, business, deed, do(-ing), labor, thing made, ware of making, occupation, thing offered, operation, possession, [idiom] well, (handy-, needle-, net-) work(ing, -manship), wrought.
  12. Strong's Number: H6213
    There are 2286 instances of this translation in the Bible
    Lemma: עָשָׂה
    Transliteration: ʻâsâh
    Pronunciation: aw-saw'
    Description: a primitive root; to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application; accomplish, advance, appoint, apt, be at, become, bear, bestow, bring forth, bruise, be busy, [idiom] certainly, have the charge of, commit, deal (with), deck, [phrase] displease, do, (ready) dress(-ed), (put in) execute(-ion), exercise, fashion, [phrase] feast, (fight-) ing man, [phrase] finish, fit, fly, follow, fulfill, furnish, gather, get, go about, govern, grant, great, [phrase] hinder, hold (a feast), [idiom] indeed, [phrase] be industrious, [phrase] journey, keep, labour, maintain, make, be meet, observe, be occupied, offer, [phrase] officer, pare, bring (come) to pass, perform, pracise, prepare, procure, provide, put, requite, [idiom] sacrifice, serve, set, shew, [idiom] sin, spend, [idiom] surely, take, [idiom] thoroughly, trim, [idiom] very, [phrase] vex, be (warr-) ior, work(-man), yield, use.
  13. 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.