if only to teach warfare to the subsequent generations of Israel, especially to those who had not known it formerly:
Parallel translations
- WEB only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at least those who knew nothing of it before:
- KJV Only that the generations of the children of Israel might know, to teach them war, at the least such as before knew nothing thereof;
- NKJV (this was only so that the generations of the children of Israel might be taught to know war, at least those who had not formerly known it),
- NASB only in order that the generations of the sons of Israel might be taught war, those who had not experienced it previously).
- NLT He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle.
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
A further purpose was to teach the inexperienced generations the discipline of war. It matters as God preparing his people through struggle.
Overview
God also leaves the nations so that those untrained in battle might learn warfare. This points to a maturing of the people through trial rather than ease. It illustrates the broader biblical truth that God strengthens his people through conflict, a principle echoed in the believer's call to spiritual warfare.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 11
- 2 Tim 2:3Join me in suffering, like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.
- 2 Tim 4:7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
- 1 Cor 9:26–27Therefore I do not run aimlessly; I do not fight like I am beating the air.
- Eph 6:11–18Put on the full armor of God, so that you can make your stand against the devil’s schemes.
- John 16:33I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!”
- 2 Chr 12:8Nevertheless, they will become his servants, so that they may learn the difference between serving Me and serving the kings of other lands.”
- Gen 2:17but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil; for in the day that you eat of it, you will surely die.”
- 1 Tim 6:12Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made the good confession before many witnesses.
- Gen 3:7And the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; so they sewed together fig leaves and made coverings for themselves.
- Matt 10:34–39Do not assume that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword.
- Gen 3:5“For God knows that in the day you eat of it, your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.”
Themes, concepts, people & topics
Resources, by level
Commentaries & study tools
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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 3:2 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.