King James Version:
(The Lord speaking is red text)
¶ And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, which slew of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox goad: and he also delivered Israel.
Complete Jewish Bible:
After Ehud came Shamgar the son of 'Anat, who killed 600 P'lishtim with an oxgoad; and he too rescued Isra'el.
Berean Standard Bible:
After Ehud came Shamgar son of Anath. And he too saved Israel, striking down six hundred Philistines with an oxgoad.
American Standard Version:
And after him was Shamgar the son of Anath, who smote of the Philistines six hundred men with an ox-goad: and he also saved Israel.
KJV with Strong’s Numbers:
And after{H310} him was Shamgar{H8044} the son{H1121} of Anath{H6067}, which slew{H5221} of the Philistines{H6430} six{H8337} hundred{H3967} men{H376} with an ox{H1241} goad{H4451}: and he also delivered{H3467} Israel{H3478}.
Cross-References (KJV):
Judges 5:6
- ¶ In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
1 Samuel 17:47
- And all this assembly shall know that the LORD saveth not with sword and spear: for the battle [is] the LORD'S, and he will give you into our hands.
1 Corinthians 1:17
- ¶ For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.
1 Samuel 17:50
- So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and with a stone, and smote the Philistine, and slew him; but [there was] no sword in the hand of David.
1 Samuel 13:19
- Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel: for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make [them] swords or spears:
1 Samuel 13:22
- So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that [were] with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.
Judges 2:16
- Nevertheless the LORD raised up judges, which delivered them out of the hand of those that spoiled them.
Explore This Verse Across Other Resources:
Commentary for Judges 3:31
Judges 3:31 is a brief but potent verse set within the historical context of the period of the Judges in ancient Israel, which spans from the conquest of Canaan until the establishment of the monarchy. This period was marked by cycles of apostasy, oppression by neighboring peoples, and deliverance through divinely raised judges. The verse introduces Shamgar, the son of Anath, who is an enigmatic figure in the biblical narrative.
Shamgar is distinguished by his remarkable act of slaying six hundred Philistines with an ox goad, a common agricultural tool used for guiding oxen. This feat demonstrates his extraordinary strength and resourcefulness in the face of a formidable enemy. The Philistines were a persistent threat to Israel during this time, and their presence is a recurring theme throughout the book of Judges. Shamgar's victory over such a large number of Philistines would have been seen as a significant deliverance for Israel, providing temporary relief from their oppressors and restoring a measure of peace to the region.
The text does not provide extensive details about Shamgar's background, his rise to leadership, or the specific circumstances surrounding his heroic act. However, his inclusion in the narrative serves to illustrate the irregular and often unexpected ways in which God provided deliverance for Israel during the tumultuous period of the Judges. Shamgar's story exemplifies the theme of divine deliverance through unlikely means, reinforcing the idea that God can use anyone, regardless of their status or tools at their disposal, to accomplish His purposes.
In summary, Judges 3:31 encapsulates the theme of God's unexpected deliverance of Israel through the surprising victory of Shamgar, who single-handedly defeated a significant force of the nation's oppressors with a simple farming implement. This event underscores the precarious nature of Israel's existence during the time of the Judges, as well as the cyclical pattern of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance that characterized this era.
*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: H8044
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שַׁמְגַּר
Transliteration: Shamgar
Pronunciation: sham-gar'
Description: of uncertain derivation; Shamgar, an Israelite judge; Shamgar. - Strong's Number: H1121
There are 3654 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בֵּן
Transliteration: bên
Pronunciation: bane
Description: from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth. - Strong's Number: H6067
There are 2 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: עֲנָת
Transliteration: ʻĂnâth
Pronunciation: an-awth'
Description: from עָנָה; answer; Anath, an Israelite; Anath. - Strong's Number: H5221
There are 460 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: נָכָה
Transliteration: nâkâh
Pronunciation: naw-kaw'
Description: a primitive root; to strike (lightly or severely, literally or figuratively); beat, cast forth, clap, give (wounds), [idiom] go forward, [idiom] indeed, kill, make (slaughter), murderer, punish, slaughter, slay(-er, -ing), smite(-r, -ing), strike, be stricken, (give) stripes, [idiom] surely, wound. - Strong's Number: H6430
There are 244 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: פְּלִשְׁתִּי
Transliteration: Pᵉlishtîy
Pronunciation: pel-ish-tee'
Description: patrial from פְּלֶשֶׁת; a Pelishtite or inhabitant of Pelesheth; Philistine. - Strong's Number: H8337
There are 203 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: שֵׁשׁ
Transliteration: shêsh
Pronunciation: shaysh
Description: masculine שִׁשָּׁה; a primitive number; compare שׂוּשׂ; six (as an overplus beyond five or the fingers of the hand); as ord. sixth; six(-teen, -teenth), sixth. - Strong's Number: H3967
There are 512 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מֵאָה
Transliteration: mêʼâh
Pronunciation: may-aw'
Description: or מֵאיָה; properly, a primitive numeral; a hundred; also as a multiplicative and a fraction; hundred((-fold), -th), [phrase] sixscore. - Strong's Number: H376
There are 1507 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: אִישׁ
Transliteration: ʼîysh
Pronunciation: eesh
Description: contracted for אֱנוֹשׁ (or perhaps rather from an unused root meaning to be extant); a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term (and in such cases frequently not expressed in translation); also, another, any (man), a certain, [phrase] champion, consent, each, every (one), fellow, (foot-, husband-) man, (good-, great, mighty) man, he, high (degree), him (that is), husband, man(-kind), [phrase] none, one, people, person, [phrase] steward, what (man) soever, whoso(-ever), worthy. Compare אִשָּׁה. - Strong's Number: H1241
There are 172 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: בָּקָר
Transliteration: bâqâr
Pronunciation: baw-kawr'
Description: from בָּקַר; beef cattle or an animal of the ox family of either gender (as used for plowing); collectively, a herd; beeve, bull ([phrase] -ock), [phrase] calf, [phrase] cow, great (cattle), [phrase] heifer, herd, kine, ox. - Strong's Number: H4451
There are 1 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: מַלְמָד
Transliteration: malmâd
Pronunciation: mal-mawd'
Description: from לָמַד; a goad for oxen; goad. - Strong's Number: H3467
There are 198 instances of this translation in the Bible
Lemma: יָשַׁע
Transliteration: yâshaʻ
Pronunciation: yaw-shah'
Description: a primitive root; properly, to be open, wide or free, i.e. (by implication) to be safe; causatively, to free or succor; [idiom] at all, avenging, defend, deliver(-er), help, preserve, rescue, be safe, bring (having) salvation, save(-iour), get victory. - 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.