What is the meaning of Judges 3:21? And Ehud reached with his left hand - Ehud, “a left-handed man” (Judges 3:15), uses the very trait the Lord gave him. Because warriors normally drew with the right hand, this unexpected motion bypasses suspicion—God turning perceived weakness into strength (1 Corinthians 1:27). - The action is simple but Spirit-directed, much like David’s sling (1 Samuel 17:45-50); God’s deliverers act in obedience and faith, not mere bravado. pulled the sword from his right thigh - Earlier Ehud “strapped [the] sword to his right thigh under his clothing” (Judges 3:16). Most swords were worn on the left; this deliberate placement keeps it hidden, showing foresight trained by the Lord who “trains my hands for battle” (Psalm 144:1). - The detail underscores literal accuracy while picturing readiness: believers today are to keep “the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17) close and accessible. and plunged it into Eglon’s belly - With one decisive thrust God judges Moab’s king after eighteen years of oppression (Judges 3:12-14). It fulfills the truth that “Vengeance is Mine” (Deuteronomy 32:35) while proving no tyrant escapes divine justice. - The irreversible nature of the blow—blade, hilt, and all (v. 22)—parallels the completeness of God’s salvation; when the Son sets us free, we are free indeed (John 8:36; Romans 8:1). - The private act yields public peace: “Moab was subdued… and the land had rest for eighty years” (Judges 3:30), a foretaste of the lasting peace the Messiah brings (Isaiah 9:6-7). summary Judges 3:21 records, with literal precision, how God used an unlikely left-handed judge, a concealed sword, and a single thrust to topple an oppressor. The verse testifies that the Lord deliberately equips His servants, executes righteous judgment, and secures lasting freedom—truths fully realized for us in Christ. |
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