Now Ehud had made for himself a double-edged sword a cubit long. He strapped it to his right thigh under his cloak
Parallel translations
- WEB Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length; and he wore it under his clothing on his right thigh.
- KJV But Ehud made him a dagger which had two edges, of a cubit length; and he did gird it under his raiment upon his right thigh.
- NKJV Now Ehud made himself a dagger (it was double-edged and a cubit in length) and fastened it under his clothes on his right thigh.
- NASB Now Ehud made himself a sword which had two edges, a cubit in length, and he strapped it on his right thigh under his cloak.
- NLT So Ehud made a double-edged dagger that was about a foot long, and he strapped it to his right thigh, keeping it hidden under his clothing.
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
Ehud crafts a short double-edged sword and hides it on his right thigh.
Overview
Ehud's left-handedness lets him conceal the weapon where guards would not search, since most warriors drew from the left. The narrative highlights careful, resourceful planning under God's providence. The hidden sword sets up the deliverance to come, with God working through the ingenuity of His chosen servant.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 7
- Ps 45:3Strap your sword at your side, O mighty warrior; appear in your majesty and splendor.
- Heb 4:12For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it pierces even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It judges the thoughts and intentions of the heart.
- Rev 2:12To the angel of the church in Pergamum write: These are the words of the One who holds the sharp, double-edged sword.
- Judg 3:21And Ehud reached with his left hand, pulled the sword from his right thigh, and plunged it into Eglon’s belly.
- Song 3:8All are skilled with the sword, experienced in warfare. Each has his sword at his side prepared for the terror of the night.
- Ps 149:6May the high praises of God be in their mouths, and a double-edged sword in their hands,
- Rev 1:16He held in His right hand seven stars, and a sharp double-edged sword came from His mouth. His face was like the sun shining at its brightest.
Themes, concepts, people & topics
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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 3:16 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.