Judges 3:25
New International Version
They waited to the point of embarrassment, but when he did not open the doors of the room, they took a key and unlocked them. There they saw their lord fallen to the floor, dead.

New Living Translation
so they waited. But when the king didn’t come out after a long delay, they became concerned and got a key. And when they opened the doors, they found their master dead on the floor.

English Standard Version
And they waited till they were embarrassed. But when he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them, and there lay their lord dead on the floor.

Berean Standard Bible
So they waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upper room. Then they took the key and opened the doors—and there was their lord lying dead on the floor.

King James Bible
And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

New King James Version
So they waited till they were embarrassed, and still he had not opened the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them. And there was their master, fallen dead on the floor.

New American Standard Bible
So they waited until it would have been shameful to wait longer; but behold, he did not open the doors of the roof chamber. So they took the key and opened them, and behold, their master had fallen to the floor dead.

NASB 1995
They waited until they became anxious; but behold, he did not open the doors of the roof chamber. Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold, their master had fallen to the floor dead.

NASB 1977
And they waited until they became anxious; but behold, he did not open the doors of the roof chamber. Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold, their master had fallen to the floor dead.

Legacy Standard Bible
Then they waited until they were ashamed; but behold, he did not open the doors of the roof chamber. Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold, their master had fallen to the floor dead.

Amplified Bible
They waited [a very long time] until they became embarrassed and uneasy, but he still did not open the doors of the upper room. So [finally] they took the key and opened them, and behold, their master had fallen to the floor, dead.

Christian Standard Bible
The servants waited until they became embarrassed and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upstairs room. So they took the key and opened the doors—and there was their lord lying dead on the floor!

Holman Christian Standard Bible
The servants waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upstairs room. So they took the key and opened the doors—and there was their lord lying dead on the floor!

American Standard Version
And they tarried till they were ashamed; and, behold, he opened not the doors of the upper room: therefore they took the key, and opened them, and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

Contemporary English Version
They stood there waiting until they felt foolish, but Eglon still didn't open the doors. Finally, they unlocked the doors and found King Eglon lying dead on the floor.

English Revised Version
And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlour; therefore they took the key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

GOD'S WORD® Translation
They waited and waited, but Eglon didn't open the doors. So they took the key and opened the door. They were shocked to see their ruler lying on the floor, dead.

Good News Translation
They waited as long as they thought they should, but when he still did not open the door, they took the key and opened it. And there was their master, lying dead on the floor.

International Standard Version
They waited until they were embarrassed, since he never opened the doors to the chamber. Eventually they took a key, opened the doors, and found their master dead on the ground.

Majority Standard Bible
So they waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upper room. Then they took the key and opened the doors—and there was their lord lying dead on the floor.

NET Bible
They waited so long they were embarrassed, but he still did not open the doors of the upper room. Finally they took the key and opened the doors. Right before their eyes was their master, sprawled out dead on the floor!

New Heart English Bible
They waited until they were ashamed; and look, he did not open the doors of the upper room: therefore they took the key, and opened them, and look, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

Webster's Bible Translation
And they tarried till they were ashamed: and behold, he opened not the doors of the parlor, therefore they took a key and opened them: and behold, their lord lay dead on the earth.

World English Bible
They waited until they were ashamed; and behold, he didn’t open the doors of the upper room. Therefore they took the key and opened them, and behold, their lord had fallen down dead on the floor.
Literal Translations
Literal Standard Version
And they stay until confounded, and behold, he is not opening the doors of the upper chamber, and they take the key, and open, and behold, their lord is fallen to the earth—dead.

Young's Literal Translation
And they stay till confounded, and lo, he is not opening the doors of the upper chamber, and they take the key, and open, and lo, their lord is fallen to the earth -- dead.

Smith's Literal Translation
And they will delay till being ashamed: and behold, he opened not the doors of the upper chamber; and they will take a key and will open: and behold, their lord fallen upon the earth, dead.
Catholic Translations
Douay-Rheims Bible
And waiting a long time till they were ashamed, and seeing that no man opened the door, they took a key: and opening, they found their lord lying dead on the ground.

Catholic Public Domain Version
And after waiting a long time, until they were embarrassed, and seeing that no one opened the door, they took the key, and opening it, they found their lord lying dead on the ground.

New American Bible
They waited until they were at a loss when he did not open the doors of the upper room. So they took the key and opened them, and there was their lord lying on the floor, dead.

New Revised Standard Version
So they waited until they were embarrassed. When he still did not open the doors of the roof chamber, they took the key and opened them. There was their lord lying dead on the floor.
Translations from Aramaic
Lamsa Bible
And they waited for a long time; and seeing that he did not open the doors of the upper chamber, they took keys and opened them; and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the floor.

Peshitta Holy Bible Translated
And they waited long, and seeing he did not open the door of the upper room, also they took the keys and they opened and they saw their Lord fallen on the ground, and he was dead
OT Translations
JPS Tanakh 1917
And they tarried till they were ashamed; and, behold, he opened not the doors of the upper chamber; therefore they took the key, and opened them; and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

Brenton Septuagint Translation
And they waited till they were ashamed, and, behold, there was no one that opened the doors of the upper chamber; and they took the key, and opened them; and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead upon the earth.

Additional Translations ...
Audio Bible



Context
Ehud
24After Ehud was gone, Eglon’s servants came in and found the doors of the upper room locked. “He must be relieving himself in the cool room,” they said. 25So they waited until they became worried and saw that he had still not opened the doors of the upper room. Then they took the key and opened the doors— and there was their lord lying dead on the floor. 26Ehud, however, had escaped while the servants waited. He passed by the idols and escaped to Seirah.…

Cross References
Revelation 3:20
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and dine with him, and he with Me.

Acts 12:13-16
He knocked at the outer gate, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer it. / When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside and announced, “Peter is standing at the gate!” / “You are out of your mind,” they told her. But when she kept insisting it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” ...

1 Kings 18:27
At noon Elijah began to taunt them, saying, “Shout louder, for he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or occupied, or on a journey. Perhaps he is sleeping and must be awakened!”

2 Kings 4:32-35
When Elisha reached the house, there was the boy lying dead on his bed. / So he went in, closed the door behind the two of them, and prayed to the LORD. / Then Elisha got on the bed and lay on the boy, mouth to mouth, eye to eye, and hand to hand. As he stretched himself out over him, the boy’s body became warm. ...

Luke 11:7
And suppose the one inside answers, ‘Do not bother me. My door is already shut, and my children and I are in bed. I cannot get up to give you anything.’

Matthew 25:10-12
But while they were on their way to buy it, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet, and the door was shut. / Later the other virgins arrived and said, ‘Lord, lord, open the door for us!’ / But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I do not know you.’

2 Samuel 13:31-33
Then the king stood up, tore his clothes, and lay down on the ground. And all his servants stood by with their clothes torn. / But Jonadab, the son of David’s brother Shimeah, spoke up: “My lord must not think they have killed all the sons of the king, for only Amnon is dead. In fact, Absalom has planned this since the day Amnon violated his sister Tamar. / So now, my lord the king, do not take to heart the report that all the sons of the king are dead. Only Amnon is dead.”

1 Samuel 26:7-12
That night David and Abishai came to the troops, and Saul was lying there asleep in the inner circle of the camp, with his spear stuck in the ground by his head. And Abner and the troops were lying around him. / Abishai said to David, “Today God has delivered your enemy into your hand. Now, therefore, please let me thrust the spear through him into the ground with one stroke. I will not need to strike him twice!” / But David said to Abishai, “Do not destroy him, for who can extend a hand against the LORD’s anointed and be guiltless?” ...

1 Samuel 24:3-4
Soon Saul came to the sheepfolds along the road, where there was a cave, and he went in to relieve himself. And David and his men were hiding in the recesses of the cave. / So David’s men said to him, “This is the day about which the LORD said to you, ‘Behold, I will deliver your enemy into your hand, that you may do with him as you wish.’” Then David crept up and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

1 Samuel 3:2-3
And at that time Eli, whose eyesight had grown so dim that he could not see, was lying in his room. / Before the lamp of God had gone out, Samuel was lying down in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was located.

Genesis 19:11
And they struck the men at the entrance, young and old, with blindness, so that they wearied themselves trying to find the door.

2 Kings 6:32-33
Now Elisha was sitting in his house, and the elders were sitting with him. The king sent a messenger ahead, but before he arrived, Elisha said to the elders, “Do you see how this murderer has sent someone to cut off my head? Look, when the messenger comes, shut the door to keep him out. Is not the sound of his master’s footsteps behind him?” / While Elisha was still speaking with them, the messenger came down to him. And the king said, “This calamity is from the LORD. Why should I wait for the LORD any longer?”

2 Kings 9:30-37
Now when Jehu arrived in Jezreel, Jezebel heard of it. So she painted her eyes, adorned her head, and looked down from a window. / And as Jehu entered the gate, she asked, “Have you come in peace, O Zimri, murderer of your master?” / He looked up at the window and called out, “Who is on my side? Who?” And two or three eunuchs looked down at him. ...

1 Kings 22:25
Micaiah replied, “You will soon see, on that day when you go and hide in an inner room.”

1 Kings 1:21
Otherwise, when my lord the king rests with his fathers, I and my son Solomon will be counted as criminals.”


Treasury of Scripture

And they tarried till they were ashamed: and, behold, he opened not the doors of the parlor; therefore they took a key, and opened them: and, behold, their lord was fallen down dead on the earth.

Jump to Previous
Anxious Ashamed Chamber Confounded Dead Doors Earth Key Lay Master Open Opened Opening Parlor Point Roof Room Shamed Shut Stretched Tarried Upper Utterly Waited Waiting
Jump to Next
Anxious Ashamed Chamber Confounded Dead Doors Earth Key Lay Master Open Opened Opening Parlor Point Roof Room Shamed Shut Stretched Tarried Upper Utterly Waited Waiting
Judges 3
1. The nations which were left to prove Israel
5. By communion with them they commit idolatry
8. Othniel delivered them from Chushan-Rishathaim
12. Ehud from Eglon
31. and Shamgar from the Philistines














So they waited
The Hebrew root for "waited" is "חָכָה" (chakah), which implies a sense of anticipation or expectation. In the context of this verse, the servants of Eglon, the Moabite king, are waiting outside the door, expecting their lord to emerge. This waiting period is significant as it reflects a moment of divine intervention and human hesitation. The servants' delay allows Ehud, the Israelite judge, to escape, highlighting God's providential timing in delivering Israel from oppression.

until they were embarrassed
The phrase "until they were embarrassed" suggests a growing sense of awkwardness and concern among the servants. The Hebrew word "בּוּשׁ" (bush) conveys a feeling of shame or confusion. This embarrassment underscores the servants' realization that something is amiss, yet they are hesitant to act due to cultural norms of privacy and respect for their king. This moment of human hesitation contrasts with the decisive action of Ehud, emphasizing the theme of God's deliverance through unexpected means.

but when he did not open the doors
The act of not opening the doors signifies a breach in expected protocol. In ancient Near Eastern culture, a king's privacy was paramount, and the closed doors would have been a signal for the servants to wait. The phrase highlights the tension between cultural expectations and the unfolding divine plan. The closed doors serve as a metaphor for the barriers that God can overcome to achieve His purposes.

of the upper room
The "upper room" refers to a private chamber, often used for rest or private meetings. In the context of ancient architecture, upper rooms were typically more secure and secluded. This setting emphasizes the vulnerability of Eglon, who is isolated and unaware of the impending judgment. The upper room becomes a place of divine justice, where God uses Ehud to bring about deliverance for Israel.

they took the key and opened them
The act of taking the key and opening the doors signifies a shift from hesitation to action. The key, a symbol of authority and access, represents the servants' decision to breach protocol due to their growing concern. This moment of action reveals the unfolding of God's plan, as the servants' discovery of Eglon's death marks the beginning of Israel's liberation from Moabite oppression.

and there was their lord lying dead on the floor
The discovery of Eglon "lying dead on the floor" is the climax of the narrative. The phrase underscores the finality of God's judgment against the oppressor. Eglon's death is a turning point in the story, symbolizing the end of Moabite domination and the beginning of a new chapter for Israel. This moment serves as a reminder of God's sovereignty and His ability to use unlikely instruments, like Ehud, to accomplish His purposes. The imagery of the fallen king on the floor highlights the theme of divine justice and the reversal of human power structures.

(25) Tarried till they were ashamed.--See 2Kings 2:17; 2Kings 8:11. It is a dangerous matter to intrude on the privacy of an Oriental king.

A key.--Literally, the opener. The ancient key was simply a bar of wood, hooked at the end, which passed through a hole in the door and caught the bolt inside.

Their lord was fallen down dead.--Comp. Judges 4:22.



Parallel Commentaries ...


Hebrew
So they waited
וַיָּחִ֣ילוּ (way·yā·ḥî·lū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 2342: To twist, whirl, to dance, to writhe in pain, fear, to wait, to pervert

until
עַד־ (‘aḏ-)
Preposition
Strong's 5704: As far as, even to, up to, until, while

they became worried
בּ֔וֹשׁ (bō·wōš)
Verb - Qal - Infinitive construct
Strong's 954: To pale, to be ashamed, to be disappointed, delayed

and saw
וְהְנֵּ֛ה‪‬‪‬‪‬ (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

that he had still not
אֵינֶ֥נּוּ (’ê·nen·nū)
Adverb | third person masculine singular
Strong's 369: A non-entity, a negative particle

opened
פֹתֵ֖חַ (p̄ō·ṯê·aḥ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

the doors
דַּלְת֣וֹת (dal·ṯō·wṯ)
Noun - feminine plural construct
Strong's 1817: Something swinging, the valve of a, door

of the upper room.
הָֽעֲלִיָּ֑ה‪‬ (hā·‘ă·lî·yāh)
Article | Noun - feminine singular
Strong's 5944: Something lofty, a stair-way, a second-story room, the sky

Then they took
וַיִּקְח֤וּ (way·yiq·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 3947: To take

the key
הַמַּפְתֵּ֙חַ֙ (ham·map̄·tê·aḥ)
Article | Noun - masculine singular
Strong's 4668: An opener, a key

and opened [the doors]—
וַיִּפְתָּ֔חוּ (way·yip̄·tā·ḥū)
Conjunctive waw | Verb - Qal - Consecutive imperfect - third person masculine plural
Strong's 6605: To open wide, to loosen, begin, plough, carve

and there
וְהִנֵּה֙ (wə·hin·nêh)
Conjunctive waw | Interjection
Strong's 2009: Lo! behold!

was their lord
אֲדֹ֣נֵיהֶ֔ם (’ă·ḏō·nê·hem)
Noun - masculine plural construct | third person masculine plural
Strong's 113: Sovereign, controller

lying
נֹפֵ֥ל (nō·p̄êl)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 5307: To fall, lie

dead
מֵֽת׃ (mêṯ)
Verb - Qal - Participle - masculine singular
Strong's 4191: To die, to kill

on the floor.
אַ֖רְצָה (’ar·ṣāh)
Noun - feminine singular | third person feminine singular
Strong's 776: Earth, land


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OT History: Judges 3:25 They waited until they were ashamed (Jd Judg. Jdg)
Judges 3:24
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