But the Israelites pleaded with the Lord and said, “We have sinned. Punish us as you see fit, only rescue us today from our enemies.”
Parallel translations
- WEB The children of Israel said to Yahweh, “We have sinned! Do you to us whatever seems good to you; only deliver us, please, today.”
- KJV And the children of Israel said unto the LORD, We have sinned: do thou unto us whatsoever seemeth good unto thee; deliver us only, we pray thee, this day.
- BSB “We have sinned,” the Israelites said to the LORD. “Deal with us as You see fit; but please deliver us today!”
- NKJV And the children of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned! Do to us whatever seems best to You; only deliver us this day, we pray.”
- NASB Then the sons of Israel said to the Lord, “We have sinned, do to us whatever seems good to You; only please save us this day.”
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
Israel confesses their sin and submits to whatever God sees fit, only pleading for deliverance. Their repentance deepens under God's rebuke.
Overview
Rather than turning to idols, Israel acknowledges their guilt and surrenders to God's judgment, asking only to be rescued. This humble submission moves beyond the earlier cry toward genuine contrition. Their willingness to accept whatever God decides reflects the posture of true repentance that throws itself on divine mercy.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 13
- 1 Sam 3:18Samuel told him every bit, and hid nothing from him. He said, “It is Yahweh. Let him do what seems good to him.”
- 2 Sam 15:26but if he says, ‘I have no delight in you;’ behold, here am I. Let him do to me as seems good to him.”
- Prov 28:13He who conceals his sins doesn’t prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
- Josh 9:25Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do.”
- 2 Sam 24:14David said to Gad, “I am in distress. Let us fall now into Yahweh’s hand; for his mercies are great. Let me not fall into man’s hand.”
- 1 Jn 1:8–10If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
- Jonah 3:9Who knows whether God will not turn and relent, and turn away from his fierce anger, so that we might not perish?”
- 2 Sam 10:12Be courageous, and let us be strong for our people, and for the cities of our God; and may Yahweh do what seems good to him.”
- 2 Sam 12:13David said to Nathan, “I have sinned against Yahweh.” Nathan said to David, “Yahweh also has put away your sin. You will not die.
- Jonah 2:4I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’
- Job 33:27He sings before men, and says, ‘I have sinned, and perverted that which was right, and it didn’t profit me.
- 2 Sam 24:10David’s heart struck him after he had counted the people. David said to Yahweh, “I have sinned greatly in that which I have done. But now, Yahweh, put away, I beg you, the iniquity of your servant; for I have done very foolishly.”
- Job 34:31–32“For has any said to God, ‘I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.
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Hebrew/Greek interlinear, word definitions, and cross-references for this verse.
Christ at the center
Israel's cycle of sin and rescue through flawed deliverers cries out for a Savior who never fails — the true and final Judge and Deliverer who saves his people not for a season but forever.
How Judges 10:15 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
Each word below is tagged with its Strong’s number — tap one to see the underlying Hebrew word, its meaning, and every verse that uses it.