Judges 3:16

But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.

But Ehud {H164} made {H6213} him a dagger {H2719} which had two {H8147} edges {H6366}, of a cubit {H1574} length {H753}; and he did gird {H2296} it under his raiment {H4055} upon his right {H3225} thigh {H3409}.

Ehud made himself a double-edged sword eighteen inches long and strapped it to his right thigh under his clothes.

Now Ehud had made for himself a double-edged sword a cubit long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his cloak

And Ehud made him a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he girded it under his raiment upon his right thigh.

Commentary

Judges 3:16 describes a pivotal moment in the preparations of Ehud, the Benjamite deliverer, for his mission against Eglon, the oppressive king of Moab. This verse highlights Ehud's meticulous and cunning strategy, revealing the specific nature of the weapon he crafted for his task.

Context

Following the death of Othniel, Israel once again "did evil in the sight of the Lord." As a consequence, God allowed Eglon, the king of Moab, to oppress them for eighteen years (Judges 3:14). When the Israelites cried out for help, the Lord raised up Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin, to deliver them. Verse 16 details Ehud's secret weapon, essential for his audacious plan to infiltrate Eglon's court and secure Israel's freedom from Moabite tyranny.

Key Themes

  • Strategic Preparation: Ehud did not act impulsively. His crafting of a unique dagger and its specific concealment demonstrate careful planning and foresight, crucial for a high-stakes mission.
  • Divine Deliverance through Human Ingenuity: While God raises up deliverers, He often works through their natural abilities and strategic thinking. Ehud's cunning is an instrument in God's hand for liberation.
  • Exploiting Weaknesses: The "two edges" and the "cubit length" made the dagger particularly lethal, while its concealment on the "right thigh" was a brilliant tactical move, exploiting the expectation that a right-handed person would carry a weapon on their left side, and thus less likely to be searched there by Eglon's guards.
  • The Unconventional Deliverer: Ehud's left-handedness, mentioned in the preceding verse, is key to understanding the weapon's placement and his ability to draw it unexpectedly.

Linguistic Insights

The KJV accurately translates the Hebrew here, but some nuances are helpful:

  • "Dagger" (Hebrew: gerev): This term refers to a short sword or dirk, suitable for close combat and concealment.
  • "Two edges" (Hebrew: piyot): Literally "mouths" or "edges," indicating a double-edged blade. This made the weapon more versatile and deadly, capable of cutting in both directions, and potentially less common for inspection than a standard single-edged sword.
  • "Of a cubit length" (Hebrew: ammah): A cubit was a measurement roughly equivalent to 18-21 inches (the length from the elbow to the tip of the middle finger). This indicates a substantial, yet still concealable, weapon.
  • "Upon his right thigh": For a right-handed person, drawing a weapon from the right thigh would be awkward. However, for Ehud, being left-handed (a "Benjamite" was sometimes associated with being "son of the right hand," but some Benjamites were notable left-handers), this was the natural and inconspicuous place to carry it, allowing for a swift, unexpected draw. Guards would likely search the left side of a right-handed individual.

Practical Application

Judges 3:16 reminds us that God often uses individuals with unique skills or even perceived disadvantages (like Ehud's left-handedness) to accomplish His purposes. It teaches the importance of:

  • Wise Preparation: While we trust in God's power, He often expects us to use wisdom, planning, and all available resources in our endeavors. Our "weapons" in spiritual warfare, like the armor of God, also require intentionality and preparation.
  • Discerning Opportunities: Ehud's success lay in his ability to anticipate and exploit his enemy's complacency and expectations. Similarly, believers are called to be "wise as serpents and harmless as doves."
  • God's Unconventional Methods: This story illustrates that God's ways of deliverance can be surprising and may not conform to human expectations. He is able to use what seems ordinary or even unusual to achieve extraordinary results.

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Please note that only the commentary section is AI-generated — the main Scripture and cross-references are stored on the site and are from trusted and verified sources.

Cross-References

  • Song Of Solomon 3:8 (2 votes)

    They all hold swords, [being] expert in war: every man [hath] his sword upon his thigh because of fear in the night.

  • Judges 3:21 (2 votes)

    And Ehud put forth his left hand, and took the dagger from his right thigh, and thrust it into his belly:

  • Revelation 1:16 (2 votes)

    And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance [was] as the sun shineth in his strength.

  • Revelation 2:12 (2 votes)

    And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;

  • Hebrews 4:12 (2 votes)

    For the word of God [is] quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and [is] a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

  • Psalms 45:3 (2 votes)

    Gird thy sword upon [thy] thigh, O [most] mighty, with thy glory and thy majesty.

  • Psalms 149:6 (2 votes)

    ¶ [Let] the high [praises] of God [be] in their mouth, and a twoedged sword in their hand;