Old Testament

Judges 1:17

The Clear Bible Translation matches the King James Version, written at a 10th-grade reading level in plain English

At a Glance

In this verse, Judah teams up with his brother Simeon to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the city of Zephath.

Author: Traditionally attributed to Samuel
Written: Around 1050-1000 BC
Genre: Historical narrative
Original Audience: The Israelites living under the judges

CBTClear Bible Translation

Then Judah joined forces with his brother Simeon, and together they attacked the Canaanites living in Zephath, completely destroying the city. So it was renamed Hormah.

KJVKing James Version

And Judah went with Simeon his brother, and they slew the Canaanites that inhabited Zephath, and utterly destroyed it. And the name of the city was called Hormah.

Verse Analysis

Plain-English insight for readers

In this verse, Judah teams up with his brother Simeon to fight against the Canaanites who lived in the city of Zephath. They successfully defeat the Canaanites and destroy the city completely. As a result of this victory, the city is renamed Hormah, which means 'destruction' or 'devotion to destruction.' This event highlights the importance of unity and collaboration in achieving goals, especially in the context of their mission to take possession of the Promised Land. The destruction of Zephath serves as a reminder of the consequences of opposing God's people and His plans. The act of renaming the city signifies a new beginning and the fulfillment of God's promise to Israel, as they continue to conquer the land.

Key themes

Related Bible verses

How to apply Judges 1:17 to your life

This verse encourages us to work together with others to achieve common goals, especially in our spiritual journeys. Just as Judah and Simeon united to overcome their challenges, we too can find strength in collaboration and support from our community. Trusting in God's guidance can lead to significant victories in our lives.

Curated for this public verse page. Judges Summary

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick, clear answers about this verse

What does Judges 1:17 mean?

Judges 1:17 describes Judah and Simeon joining forces to defeat the Canaanites in Zephath, leading to the city's destruction and its renaming to Hormah. This verse illustrates the importance of unity in achieving goals and the consequences of opposing God's people.

What is the significance of the name Hormah in Judges 1:17?

The name Hormah, meaning 'destruction' or 'devotion to destruction,' signifies the complete destruction of the city Zephath after Judah and Simeon's victory. It reflects the seriousness of their mission to conquer the land as part of God's promise to Israel.

How does Judges 1:17 relate to teamwork?

Judges 1:17 highlights the effectiveness of teamwork, as Judah and Simeon succeed in their mission by working together against a common enemy. This serves as a reminder of the strength found in collaboration when facing challenges.

What lessons can we learn from Judges 1:17?

From Judges 1:17, we learn the value of unity and collaboration in achieving goals. It encourages us to support one another in our endeavors and trust in God's guidance for victory in our lives.

Book Summary

The Book of Judges

Judges 1–2: Incomplete Conquest and the Cycle of Sin

After the death of Joshua, the tribes of Israel inquire of the Lord who should first go up to fight the remaining Canaanites. Judah is chosen and, with the help of the tribe of Simeon, achieves several victories, but fails to drive out the inhabitants of the coastal plain because they have iron chariots. The book then details the failures of the other tribes—Benjamin, Manasseh, Ephraim, Zebulun, Asher, and Naphtali—to completely dispossess the Canaanites from their allotted territories. Instead of driving them out, the Israelites put them to forced labor, allowing pagan influences to remain in the land. An angel of the Lord appears at Bochim and rebukes the people for breaking their covenant with God by making treaties with the inhabitants of the land. The people weep and offer sacrifices, but the pattern of disobedience is set.

A new generation arises that does not know the Lord or the works He has done for Israel. This generation forsakes the God of their fathers, turning to worship the Baals and Ashtaroth of the surrounding peoples. This apostasy provokes the Lord's anger, and He hands them over to their enemies, who oppress them. When the Israelites cry out to the Lord in their misery, He raises up judges—deliverers who save them from their oppressors. However, as soon as a judge dies, the people relapse into even greater corruption, returning to their idolatrous ways. This establishes the book's central, recurring cycle: sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance, followed by a period of rest, and then a return to sin. Judges 3: Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar The first cycle of judgment begins as the Israelites do evil in the sight of the Lord and worship idols. God's anger burns against them, and He sells them into the hands of Cushan-Rishathaim, king of Mesopotamia, whom they serve for eight years. When the people cry out to the Lord, He raises up Othniel, the younger brother of Caleb, as their deliverer. The Spirit of the Lord comes upon him, and he leads Israel to victory, defeating the Mesopotamian king. The land has peace for forty years until Othniel's death. After Othniel dies, the Israelites again do evil, and God strengthens Eglon, the king of Moab, against them. Eglon, allied with the Ammonites and Amalekites, defeats Israel and captures the city of palms, Jericho. The Israelites are subject to Moab for eighteen years. When they cry out for help, God raises up Ehud, a left-handed man from the tribe of Benjamin. While delivering Israel's tribute, Ehud uses his left-handedness to his advantage, concealing a dagger on his right thigh. In a private audience with the obese King Eglon, he claims to have a secret message from God and stabs the king in the belly. Ehud escapes, rallies the Israelite forces, and leads them to a decisive victory over the Moabites, killing about 10,000 of their soldiers. The land enjoys peace for eighty years. After Ehud, Shamgar son of Anath is mentioned, who strikes down 600 Philistines with an oxgoad, also saving Israel.

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