164. Ehud

Lexical Summary

Ehud: Ehud

Original Word: אֵהוּד
Part of Speech: Proper Name Masculine
Transliteration: Ehuwd
Pronunciation: ay-HOOD
Phonetic Spelling: (ay-hood')
KJV: Ehud
NASB: Ehud
Word Origin: [from the same as H161 (אוֹהַד - Ohad)]

1. united
2. Ehud, the name of two or three Israelites

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

Ehud

From the same as 'Ohad; united; Ehud, the name of two or three Israelites -- Ehud.

see HEBREW 'Ohad

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from the same as Ohad
Definition
the name of several Isr.
NASB Translation
Ehud (9).

Brown-Driver-Briggs

אֵהוּד proper name, masculine 1. a Benjamite, son of Gera, deliverer of Israel from Moab Judges 3:15,16,20 (twice in verse); Judges 3:21,23,26; Judges 4:1.

2 a Benjamite, son of Bilhan (= fore-going ?) 1 Chronicles 7:10.

Topical Lexicon

Identity and Setting

Ehud, son of Gera of the tribe of Benjamin, emerges in the era when “the Israelites again did evil in the sight of the LORD” (Judges 3:12). God used Moab, under King Eglon, to oppress Israel for eighteen years. In answer to Israel’s repentance, the LORD raised up Ehud as the second judge, following Othniel.

Left-Handedness and Tribal Significance

Benjamin means “son of the right hand,” yet Ehud is repeatedly described as “left-handed” (Judges 3:15). This detail stresses divine irony: the deliverer from the “right-handed” tribe overcomes the enemy by what appears a weakness. The left-handed skill also allows him to conceal his dagger on the opposite thigh, escaping suspicion during his audience with Eglon. Later Scripture notes that Benjamin produced an entire corps of ambidextrous warriors (Judges 20:16), hinting that Ehud may have begun a martial tradition within the tribe.

Deliverance Narrative (Judges 3:15–30)

1. The Tribute Mission: Israel “sent him with tribute to Eglon king of Moab” (3:15). Ehud moves within enemy territory under the guise of subservience.
2. The Hidden Weapon: He fashions “a double-edged sword about a cubit long” (3:16) and straps it to his right thigh under his clothing.
3. The Private Audience: After presenting the tribute, Ehud dismisses his escort and returns, saying, “I have a secret message for you, O king” (3:19). Eglon clears the room, underestimating the threat.
4. The Divine Message Delivered: “I have a message from God for you” (3:20). Ehud’s proclamation, followed by the swift thrust of the dagger, frames the assassination as an act of divine judgment, not personal vengeance.
5. Escape and Rally: Ehud locks the doors, slips past the guards, and rallies Israel at Seirah, sounding the ram’s horn (3:26–27).
6. Moab Overthrown: Israel strikes down “about ten thousand Moabites, all robust and valiant men; not a man escaped” (3:29).
7. Eighty Years of Rest: “So Moab was subdued… and the land had rest for eighty years” (3:30), the longest period of peace recorded in Judges.

Theological Themes

• God’s Sovereignty through Weakness: Ehud’s left-handedness symbolizes human limitation transformed by divine empowerment (cf. 1 Corinthians 1:27).
• Faith Expressed in Courage: Ehud trusts God’s call enough to risk solitary action behind enemy lines.
• Judgment Leading to Mercy: The execution of Eglon is both punitive—ending Moab’s tyranny—and redemptive—securing national rest.
• Covenant Renewal: The horn blast recalls Sinai’s trumpet (Exodus 19:16) and signals renewed allegiance to the LORD.

Additional Occurrence: 1 Chronicles 7:10

Outside Judges the name appears in a Benjamite genealogy: “The sons of Bilhan were Jeush, Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah, Zethan, Tarshish, and Ahishahar” (1 Chronicles 7:10). This Ehud, likely distinct from the judge, illustrates the name’s continued use within the tribe and anchors the historicity of the lineage.

Ministry Lessons and Contemporary Application

• Availability Over Apparent Ability: God deploys servants whose limitations highlight His power. Ministries today flourish not by natural advantage but by surrendered obedience.
• Moral Courage in Cultural Compromise: Ehud infiltrated enemy courts without adopting their values; believers engage society while maintaining allegiance to God’s standards.
• Single-Minded Mission: Ehud’s two-edged dagger pictures the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12). Effective ministry wields Scripture with precision against spiritual strongholds.
• Shofar Leadership: The sounding horn gathered Israel into united action. Pastoral leaders rally God’s people through clear, Spirit-led proclamation.

Legacy

Ehud’s account serves as an early Old Testament model of messianic deliverance: an unlikely savior who confronts oppressive power, secures decisive victory, and ushers in rest for God’s covenant people.

Forms and Transliterations

אֵה֔וּד אֵה֖וּד אֵה֜וּד אֵה֤וּד אֵהוּד֙ אהוד וְאֵה֖וּד וְאֵה֣וּד ׀ וְאֵה֤וּד וְאֵה֥וּד ואהוד ’ê·hūḏ ’êhūḏ eHud veeHud wə’êhūḏ wə·’ê·hūḏ

Englishman's Concordance

Judges 3:15
HEB: מוֹשִׁ֗יעַ אֶת־ אֵה֤וּד בֶּן־ גֵּרָא֙
NAS: up a deliverer for them, Ehud the son
KJV: a deliverer, Ehud the son
INT: the LORD A deliverer Ehud the son of Gera

Judges 3:16
HEB: וַיַּעַשׂ֩ ל֨וֹ אֵה֜וּד חֶ֗רֶב וְלָ֛הּ
NAS: Ehud made himself a sword
KJV: But Ehud made him a dagger
INT: made Ehud A sword had two

Judges 3:20
HEB: וְאֵה֣וּד ׀ בָּ֣א אֵלָ֗יו
NAS: Ehud came to him while he was sitting
KJV: And Ehud came
INT: Ehud came about

Judges 3:20
HEB: לְבַדּ֔וֹ וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵה֔וּד דְּבַר־ אֱלֹהִ֥ים
NAS: roof chamber. And Ehud said,
KJV: parlour, which he had for himself alone. And Ehud said,
INT: alone said and Ehud message God

Judges 3:21
HEB: וַיִּשְׁלַ֤ח אֵהוּד֙ אֶת־ יַ֣ד
NAS: Ehud stretched out his left hand,
KJV: And Ehud put forth his left
INT: stretched Ehud hand his left

Judges 3:23
HEB: וַיֵּצֵ֥א אֵה֖וּד הַֽמִּסְדְּר֑וֹנָה וַיִּסְגֹּ֞ר
NAS: Then Ehud went out into the vestibule
KJV: Then Ehud went forth
INT: went Ehud the vestibule and shut

Judges 3:26
HEB: וְאֵה֥וּד נִמְלַ֖ט עַ֣ד
NAS: Now Ehud escaped while
KJV: And Ehud escaped while they tarried,
INT: now Ehud escaped while

Judges 4:1
HEB: בְּעֵינֵ֣י יְהוָ֑ה וְאֵה֖וּד מֵֽת׃
NAS: of the LORD, after Ehud died.
KJV: of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
INT: the sight of the LORD Ehud died

1 Chronicles 7:10
HEB: ק) וּ֠בִנְיָמִן וְאֵה֤וּד וּֽכְנַעֲנָה֙ וְזֵיתָ֔ן
NAS: Benjamin, Ehud, Chenaanah,
KJV: and Benjamin, and Ehud, and Chenaanah,
INT: Jehush Benjamin Ehud Chenaanah Zethan

9 Occurrences

Strong's Hebrew 164
9 Occurrences

’ê·hūḏ — 5 Occ.
wə·’ê·hūḏ — 4 Occ.