Early Access: Sign up to unlock all Pro features free through the end of 2026.
Biblexika
Verse MeaningJudgesSome background helps

Judges 4:2: Meaning Explained

And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose host was...

Judges 4:2
Yahweh sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor; the captain of whose army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
What it means

God allowed King Jabin of Canaan to defeat Israel because of their disobedience. Jabin's general is Sisera, a powerful military commander.

What’s Happening Here

Israel suffers under Canaanite oppression because God allowed Jabin and his general Sisera to dominate them as punishment.

Key Words

soldallowed to fall into the power of
kingthe ruler
captainthe top military leader

Why It Matters

God sometimes allows bad things to happen to get people's attention and bring them back to him.

Did You Know?

Hazor was one of the biggest cities in Canaan, making Jabin a powerful enemy.

Tradition Spectrum

Word Study

H4376
soldוַיִּמְכְּרֵ֣ם
H3068
And the LORDיְהוָ֗ה
H3027
them into the handבְּיַד֙
H2985
of Jabinיָבִ֣ין
H4428
kingמֶֽלֶךְ
H3667
of Canaanכְּנַ֔עַן
H4427
that reignedמָלַ֖ךְ
H2674
in Hazorבְּחָצ֑וֹר
H8269
the captainוְשַׂר
H6635
of whose hostצְבָאוֹ֙
H5516
was Siseraסִֽיסְרָ֔א
H3427
which dweltיוֹשֵׁ֖ב
H2800
in Haroshethבַּֽחֲרֹ֥שֶׁת
H1471
of the Gentilesהַגּוֹיִֽם׃

Frequently asked questions

What does Judges 4:2 mean?

God allowed King Jabin of Canaan to defeat Israel because of their disobedience. Jabin's general is Sisera, a powerful military commander.

What is the context of Judges 4:2?

Israel suffers under Canaanite oppression because God allowed Jabin and his general Sisera to dominate them as punishment.

Why does Judges 4:2 matter?

God sometimes allows bad things to happen to get people's attention and bring them back to him.

What's a surprising detail about Judges 4:2?

Hazor was one of the biggest cities in Canaan, making Jabin a powerful enemy.

Continue Exploring
Read Judges 4:2 in the Bible reader, or explore the full chapter summary.

References

  1. Orr, J. (ed.) (1915) The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia. Chicago: Howard-Severance Company. [Public Domain]
  2. Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
  3. Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
  4. Church of England (1769) The Holy Bible, Authorized (King James) Version. [Public Domain]

View all sources & licensing →

See our editorial standards →

People in Judges 4:2

Places in Judges 4:2