The Meaning of Judges 2:22 Explained

Judges 2:22

KJV: That through them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of the LORD to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

YLT: in order to try Israel by them, whether they are keeping the way of Jehovah, to go in it, as their fathers kept it or not.'

Darby: that by them I may test Israel, whether they will take care to walk in the way of the LORD as their fathers did, or not."

ASV: that by them I may prove Israel, whether they will keep the way of Jehovah to walk therein, as their fathers did keep it, or not.

KJV Reverse Interlinear

That through them I may prove  Israel,  whether they will keep  the way  of the LORD  to walk  therein, as their fathers  did keep  [it], or not. 

What does Judges 2:22 Mean?

Context Summary

Judges 2:16-23 - Ineffectual Penitence
This paragraph is an epitome of this book, which covers some 450 years, Acts 13:20. Israel lacks unity and kingship; and in that reminds us of the heart of the man which has not become united under the reign of Jesus. See Judges 17:6; Judges 18:1. Such rites as were associated with Baal and Ashtaroth were both cruel and demoralizing; a distressing picture is given in Psalms 106:34, etc., of the condition of Israel at this period. What wonder that such practices ate out the heart of the people, and left them exposed to the surrounding nations! When the blood becomes thin and impoverished, we can no longer repel the pestilence that walketh in darkness, nor the temptations that assail us at noonday!
Notice God's great patience and pity. He was against the people when they sinned, but as soon as the groans of their misery arose, they touched Him to the quick, and He raised up a deliverer. Note Psalms 106:43-44 : "Many times did He deliver them; but they were rebellious in their counsel; nevertheless He regarded their distress; and remembered his covenant." Herein we may take heart of hope for ourselves! [source]

Chapter Summary: Judges 2

1  An angel rebukes the people at Bochim
6  The wickedness of the new generation after Joshua
14  God's anger and pity toward them
20  The Canaanites left to prove Israel

What do the individual words in Judges 2:22 mean?

so that I may test through them - Israel whether will keep they the ways of Yahweh to walk in them as kept [them] their fathers or not
לְמַ֛עַן נַסּ֥וֹת בָּ֖ם אֶת־ יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל הֲשֹׁמְרִ֣ים הֵם֩ דֶּ֨רֶךְ יְהוָ֜ה לָלֶ֣כֶת בָּ֗ם כַּאֲשֶׁ֛ר שָׁמְר֥וּ אֲבוֹתָ֖ם אִם־ לֹֽא

לְמַ֛עַן  so  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: לְמַעַן 
Sense: purpose, intent prep.
נַסּ֥וֹת  I  may  test 
Parse: Verb, Piel, Infinitive construct
Root: נָסָה  
Sense: to test, try, prove, tempt, assay, put to the proof or test.
בָּ֖ם  through  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
אֶת־  - 
Parse: Direct object marker
Root: אֹות 
Sense: sign of the definite direct object, not translated in English but generally preceding and indicating the accusative.
יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל  Israel 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יִשְׂרָאֵל  
Sense: the second name for Jacob given to him by God after his wrestling with the angel at Peniel.
הֲשֹׁמְרִ֣ים  whether  will  keep 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Participle, masculine plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
דֶּ֨רֶךְ  the  ways 
Parse: Noun, common singular construct
Root: דֶּרֶךְ  
Sense: way, road, distance, journey, manner.
יְהוָ֜ה  of  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
לָלֶ֣כֶת  to  walk 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: הָלַךְ  
Sense: to go, walk, come.
בָּ֗ם  in  them 
Parse: Preposition, third person masculine plural
שָׁמְר֥וּ  kept  [them] 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Perfect, third person common plural
Root: שָׁמַר  
Sense: to keep, guard, observe, give heed.
אֲבוֹתָ֖ם  their  fathers 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural construct, third person masculine plural
Root: אָב  
Sense: father of an individual.